Creamy Mushroom Soup

Contributed by: Tricia Poon

My mother was an excellent cook, and her mushroom soup recipe is one of my favorites. Many of her friends love her mushroom soup too and even asked her for the recipe. One day, she told me she needed to write the recipe down as she only cooks from memory. She bought all the necessary ingredients and while cooking, she noted down every measurement and method of cooking.

I asked my mother where she learned to cook such yummy mushroom soup. She shared that she had always loved mushroom soup but could never find one that satisfied her, so she decided to create her own. She experimented with different types of mushrooms and herbs until she found the perfect combination. The soup had a rich, velvety texture with a deep, earthy flavor and often goes well with toasted garlic bread too.

I often helped my mother with the preparation and watched how she cooked, and I will always remember this mushroom soup recipe as a connection to my family’s history and a reminder of the warmth and comfort of home. This recipe has become a cherished family tradition, and I look forward to cooking it for my own children and sharing fond memories of their grandmother’s culinary skills.

Portion: 8 pax
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• 15g butter

• 2 big onion, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 3 pkt shitake mushrooms, cut small

• 1 pkt of chicken stock

• 2 pc of bay leaf (Remove before serve)

• 1 tsp thyme / oregano (Optional)

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 500g pack of whipped cream

• 2 tbsp corn starch / potato starch with ¼ cup water

• Garnish – coriander, pepper, cream


Method

1. Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat.

2. Add onion, stirring frequently, until translucent for about 2 – 3 mins.

3. Add garlic and fry till fragrant

4. Add chopped mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally until tender for about 5 – 6 mins.

5. Add in some chicken stock and use a handheld blender to grind mushroom into tiny bits.

6. Stir in balance chicken stock, bay leaf & oregano, salt & pepper to taste.

7. Once boiled, slowly add whipped cream and bring to boil.

8. In a small bowl, mix corn starch with ¼ cup of water. Stir in mixture to the soup until slightly thickened for about 1 – 2 mins. If the soup is too thin, add more corn starch as needed until desired consistency is reached.

9. Serve hot – sprinkle coriander, pepper, cream before serving.


Helpful Tips

Can use Heinz or Swanson brand chicken stock. I prefer President brand whipped cream.