If I had to list some of my favorite things about fall, soup would be one of them. I mean, fall foods, in general, are my favorites, but soup is definitely high on my list. As I probably said last year as well, I have a new soup recipe lined-up for every week this month. I’m not losing inspiration any time soon, as my “to make” list continues to grow daily… And while my list grows, I continue to have the hardest time deciding exactly what recipes to make. For some reason, making the actual decision is always the hardest part. I have all the ideas, but choosing just a handful to make is HARD. But I’ve known for a while that this was the fall I wanted to create an extra creamy, velvety smooth, cream of mushroom soup. This has been on my list for a couple of years now. I really wish I wouldn’t have waited so long to make this, because wow, it’s so good.
The inspiration…
Funny enough, this recipe was inspired by a somewhat similar soup I made a few December’s back for a Crate and Barrel Christmas Dinner shoot that I sadly can no longer be accessed. It was a creamy chestnut soup and I do believe it also had a pesto swirl too. I remember it being so delicious. Creamy, hearty, so warming, and so flavorful. This is kind of like the updated (easier) version, with mushrooms instead of chestnuts. And you know what? I think this might be BETTER. It’s a touch buttery, herby, and has so many mushrooms. It’s super creamy, and a little cheesy too. I topped each bowl with oven-toasted breadcrumbs…which are only just a little addicting. PS. you guys must scroll through this post from that same Christmas Crate and Barrel shoot. While it’s not perfect, and it’s definitely not how I would do a holiday dinner today (because I’ve learned so much and grown so much since then), I still find it so adorable. And do you see littler Asher in these photos? She’s the cutest. I so wish she was still that little.
How to make this savory cream of mushroom soup…
What I love about mushrooms is that they have so much flavor. The key here is to caramelize the mushrooms in a mix of olive oil and butter, along with shallots, garlic, and fresh herbs. I like to use a mix of wild mushrooms and cremini mushrooms for best flavor. But you can also just use one or the other. Bottom line? You just need a lot of mushrooms, so use what you have, or whatever varieties are your favorites. Once the mushrooms have been caramelized, add a touch of balsamic vinegar for even more flavor, then puree them into a creamy soup with broth. The mushrooms themselves make the soup incredibly creamy. But to take things a step further I stir in a little cream and nutty manchego cheese. If you’re not one to cook with dairy, I highly recommend using canned coconut milk. It’s super creamy and works just as well as cream.
No soup is complete without toppings…
Yes, you should make breadcrumbs! I’m sure you guys have noticed, but when it comes to soup, I do not just do soup. No, I serve soup with something. It could be something like soup and dumplings, or soup and cheesy pastries, or even soup topped with crumble. If there’s one thing my mom taught me about soup, it’s that it needs to be paired with something carby. She’d add rice to her home chicken soup…and then top with popcorn. So you see, soup just needed toppings. In come the breadcrumbs, which I actually ended up leaving pretty chunky. But either way, these (chunky) breadcrumbs are the perfect topper to this bowl of creamy soup. I used a really good loaf of crusty whole-grain sourdough, tore it into large chunks, and then tossed the chunks with olive oil, herbs, garlic, and salt. Then, while the soup simmered away, I oven-roasted the breadcrumbs. Then pulled them out just in time for topping and eating. Warning? These breadcrumbs are just a little bit addicting…crunchy, herby, and perfectly salted.
Putting this soup together…
Ladle the steaming soup into your favorite bowls. Top with breadcrumbs and add a bit of cheese, if you’d like. Eat and enjoy! Preferably cozied up at home. Yes, to the homebody that lives inside me, this sounds like the BEST kind of night.
If you make this cream of mushroom soup with garlic herb breadcrumbs, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
