Wild Rice Mushroom Soup

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Delicious and filling Wild Rice Mushroom Soup

 

 

This soup is nutty, rich and filling with fantastic mushroom flavor.

It’s hard to beat a comforting bowl of soup on a chilly day. Vegetarian Wild Rice Mushroom Soup does just that by warming your belly with earthy mushrooms and hearty, chewy wild rice. Our soup is very filling and incredibly flavored with two kinds of mushrooms, wine, shallots and plenty of nutty wild rice.

 

Ingredients needed to make Wild Rice Mushroom Soup:

For the wild rice:

• salt
• garlic clove
• fresh thyme sprigs
• water
• wild rice or use a wild rice blend

For the soup base:

• dried porcini mushrooms
• unsalted butter
• olive oil
• fresh mushrooms – any kind will do in this soup. I usually select whichever small mushroom looks best such as Cremini, button or white, and Baby Bella.
• shallots or a small leek – we often make this soup with either one, or even a small sweet onion.
• garlic
• tomato paste
• all-purpose flour
• vegetable broth –  use low-sodium or salt free
• dry white wine
• heavy cream or half and half
• soy sauce

For the parsley butter (optional):

• unsalted butter
• salt
• ground black pepper
• fresh parsley leaves

 

What is wild rice?

Wild rice is actually a semi-aquatic grass grown and cultivated in the Great Lakes region of the United States. It contains an impressive amount of several key nutrients, including protein, manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. Wild rice contains more protein than other types of rice, but has the same amount of fiber as brown rice.

You can find wild rice with other rice and grains, or in the bulk bins of your local grocery store. It’s also available from Amazon, of course.

 

Where to find dried porcini mushrooms in the grocery store:

Most well stocked grocery stores and even Walmart carry dried porcini mushrooms. They are often found in a small clear plastic clamshell container in 1/2-ounce portions.

However, each store may stock them in different departments. Save yourself a little time hunting and gathering and ask the customer service representative at your store where to find dried mushrooms.

I usually find dried porcini mushrooms in the Italian specialty section with the capers and pasta. Dried mushrooms might also be in the produce section with the garlic, onions or the fresh mushrooms. Finally, check in the canned vegetable aisle where you find canned mushrooms.

Porcini mushrooms are worth the effort!

 

How to make Wild Rice Mushroom Soup:

1. First, prepare the wild rice. Combine salt, thyme, garlic and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and add the wild rice. Cook for 30 to 35 minutes. Discard the thyme sprigs and garlic, and drain the rice. Set aside.
2. Place the dried porcini in a 2-cup heatproof measuring cup. Cover with boiling water and set aside to soften.
3. Next, brown the mushrooms in a stainless soup pot or light colored (inside) Dutch oven. I like to use a light colored pot because I’m able to see the browned bits on the bottom and better tell when they’re done. Add the garlic, shallots and tomato paste. Sauté briefly then add the chopped, softened porcini.
4. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook until a dark fond forms on the bottom of the pot.
5. Next, pour the wine over the vegetables and deglaze the bottom, scraping up any browned bits.
6. Add the vegetable broth and porcini soaking liquid to the soup pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
7. While the soup is simmering, make the parsley butter if using.
8. Stir in the wild rice and cook for 10 minutes more. Finally, remove from the heat and add the cream and soy sauce.
9. Serve immediately with a dollop of parsley butter and a hunk of crusty Artisan bread.

If stored for several days the rice will eventually soak up some of the liquid. This is not a bad thing however, and only makes the soup thicker and more stew-like. Add a splash of additional vegetable broth to thin, if preferred.

 

TIPS for making a deeply flavored, golden hued soup

The first few steps of this recipe are easy but critical to building the best flavor. If you don’t cook the mushrooms properly they’ll end up gray and therefore their full potential for flavor will be diminished.

• First, spread the mushrooms out in the hot butter and olive oil. Even though all the mushrooms will not fit in a single layer, most of them will be browned properly. Cook undisturbed until the moisture is released and evaporated, and the mushrooms are dark brown on the bottom. This step takes 8 to 10 minutes.
• Next, and most importantly, cook the floured vegetables until a dark fond forms on the bottom of the pot. This is just like making amazing gravy by starting with a dark roux.
• Finally, deglaze the pot with white wine, then scrape up all those flavorful browned bits.

These simple little steps build flavor, and as a result, make a big difference in the finished soup.

 

 

Shortcuts:

For example you can purchase pre-sliced, pre-cleaned fresh mushrooms to speed the prep time.

Also, plan ahead and cook the wild rice then refrigerate until needed.

Finally, you can buy a pre-cooked wild rice product like this Cultivated Wild Rice Pouch sold at Target stores. Simply open the pouch and then add it to the soup!

 

Earthy, hearty and seriously comforting, this Wild Rice Mushroom Soup is for mushroom lovers!

We love both wild rice and mushrooms and incorporate them into our recipes every chance we get. In other words, if you’re a mushroom love too, try these amazing recipes!

Skillet Chicken and Mushroom Wine Sauce is our most popular recipe year after year. Serve over wild rice, mashed potatoes or noodles for an incredible meal the whole family will love. And, all our readers say you should double the sauce, it’s that good.

Chicken Wild Rice Casserole is another personal favorite of mine and I bet it will be one of yours, too!

Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup is another hearty soup with a nutty bite from the wild rice and a wonderful, flavor packed broth.

And finally, Wild Rice and Mushroom Pilaf is a deliciously filling side dish that goes great with just about any meal. Enjoy!

 

 

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Originally published September 2015, updated February 2021

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