Cream of Mushroom

🥘 Ingredients

• all-purpose flour
  40 g
• bay leaves
  2 small
• black pepper
  1/2 tsp
• butter
  50 g, 1 small nub
• button mushrooms
  500 g
• cloves
  2
• croutons
  6
• dry sherry or port wine (optional)
  1 dash
• milk
  3 oz
• nutmeg
  1 pinch
• onion
  1/2
• parsley
  1 tsp
• pepper
  1/2 tsp
• salt
  2 tsp
• shallots
  3 medium
• unsalted butter
  40 g
• whipping cream
  200 ml
• whole milk
  800 ml

🍳 Cookware

• saucepan
• small saucepan
• fine-mesh strainer
• rubber spatula
• stick blender

1. 1

   Add the butter to a saucepan over medium-low heat.

   butter: 50 g
2. 2

   When butter melts, add the shallots and cook (sweat) the shallots for 2 to ⏱️ 3 minutes while stirring. Avoid browning the shallots.

   shallots: 3 medium
3. 3

   Then add the button mushrooms and stir to combine with the shallots. Cook for 2 to ⏱️ 3 minutes .

   button mushrooms: 500 g
4. 4

   When moisture starts to release from the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper . Continue cooking over medium-low heat and keep stirring the mushrooms so they release most of their moisture (about ⏱️ 10 minutes ). Turn the heat off when the mushrooms just begin to dry and set them aside.

   salt: 1 tsp, pepper: 1/2 tsp
5. 5

   To make the béchamel sauce, start by preparing a roux. Add some unsalted butter to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. When the butter melts, add the all-purpose flour and mix to combine. Cook for ⏱️ 2 minutes while stirring occasionally and then turn the heat off and set the saucepan aside to allow the roux to cool.

   unsalted butter: 40 g, all-purpose flour: 40 g
6. 6

   Now you need to make a flavored milk for the béchamel. In another saucepan, add the whole milk , 2 small bay leaves , 1/2 onion with cloves , sea salt , black pepper and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg . Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a gentle boil while stirring. The flavored milk is ready when the onion starts "dancing" or bobbing around.

   whole milk: 800 ml, bay leaves: 2 small, onion: 1/2, cloves: 2, salt: 1 tsp, black pepper: 1/2 tsp, nutmeg: 1 pinch
7. 7

   Remove the milk from heat and let it rest/infuse for ⏱️ 5 minutes . Remove the onion, cloves and bay leaves after infusing.
8. 8

   Add the roux to the flavored milk and whisk to combine.
9. 9

   Place the saucepan over medium heat and, while whisking constantly, bring the béchamel to a simmer. The sauce should start to thicken slightly when ready.
10. 10

    Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pot of cooked mushrooms and slowly pour in the béchamel. Use a rubber spatula to help scrape off any sauce stuck to the saucepan.
11. 11

    Mix to combine. Use a stick blender to further break down the mushrooms and help extract more flavor. Another round of straining and pressing the mushrooms through the wire mesh sieve adds more flavor and smoothness to the soup.
12. 12

    To finish the soup, add 3 ounces of milk and some whipping cream and mix well to combine. Gently heat to a simmer over medium heat. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.

    milk: 3 oz, whipping cream: 200 ml
13. 13

    This creamy mushroom soup can be served in a bowl with croutons , a small nub of butter and chopped parsley . A drizzle of dry sherry or port wine (optional) further enhances the flavor.

    croutons: 6, butter: 1 small nub, parsley: 1 tsp, dry sherry or port wine (optional): 1 dash