Description
Comforting winter nights welcome this creamy mushroom chicken and wild rice soup, blending earthy mushrooms with tender chicken in a luxurious broth. Hearty ingredients simmer together, creating a soul-warming meal that wraps you in delicious comfort from first spoonful to last.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound mushrooms, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded
- 1 cup wild rice or a blend
- 6 cups chicken broth
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
Dairy and Seasoning:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup milk or cream
- 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a deep skillet and activate medium-high heat. Gently melt butter, introducing sliced mushrooms and allowing them to caramelize, releasing their intrinsic moisture until liquid completely dissipates, approximately 10-15 minutes.
- Without cleaning the skillet, introduce additional butter and incorporate diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté vegetables until they soften and develop slight translucency, around 8-10 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and fresh thyme to the vegetable mixture, stirring thoroughly to awaken aromatic qualities and distribute flavors evenly, continuing for roughly 1 minute.
- Pour chicken broth into the skillet, carefully folding in wild rice, cooked chicken pieces, and previously caramelized mushrooms. Elevate temperature until liquid reaches a rolling boil, then immediately reduce heat.
- Cover the skillet and allow ingredients to gently simmer, enabling wild rice to tenderize and absorb surrounding flavors, approximately 20-30 minutes.
- Gradually incorporate milk and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring consistently until cheese melts completely and creates a luxurious, smooth consistency.
- Taste and calibrate seasoning with salt and pepper, ensuring balanced flavor profile throughout the soup.
Notes
- Enhance mushroom flavor by using a mix of wild and cultivated varieties like shiitake, cremini, and oyster for a deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Prevent rice from becoming mushy by using parboiled or pre-cooked wild rice, which maintains better texture during longer cooking times.
- Make the soup gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with cornstarch or arrowroot powder when thickening the base.
- Create a lighter version by using half-and-half or coconut milk instead of full-fat milk, reducing overall calorie content while maintaining creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg