Description
Comforting creamy mushroom chicken and wild rice soup brings rustic warmth to winter dining tables. Hearty ingredients meld together, delivering rich flavors that soothe and satisfy you with each delightful spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 1/2 cups chicken (cooked and diced or shredded)
- 6 cups chicken broth
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1 pound mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 onion (diced)
- 2 carrots (diced)
- 2 stalks celery (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon thyme (chopped)
Grains and Dairy:
- 1 cup wild rice (or a blend of rice including wild rice)
- 1 cup milk or cream
- 1 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté mushrooms in butter over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes until liquid evaporates, then set aside on a separate plate.
- In the same pan, soften onions, carrots, and celery over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until vegetables become translucent.
- Add minced garlic and thyme, stirring continuously for 60 seconds to release aromatic flavors.
- Pour chicken broth into the vegetable mixture, then incorporate wild rice, cooked chicken, and previously prepared mushrooms.
- Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 20-25 minutes until rice reaches tender consistency.
- Gently stir in milk and shredded cheese, allowing the dairy to melt completely and create a smooth, creamy texture.
- Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Let the soup rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and develop a rich, harmonious profile.
Notes
- Perfectly sauté mushrooms by waiting until their liquid completely evaporates, concentrating their rich, earthy flavor and creating a deeper caramelized texture.
- Choose wild rice blends for added nutritional complexity and varied texture, which enhances the soup’s overall depth and visual appeal.
- Ensure chicken is pre-cooked or shredded for quicker integration and more even distribution throughout the soup, preventing large chunky pieces.
- Substitute dairy ingredients with plant-based alternatives like coconut milk and nutritional yeast for a vegan-friendly version that maintains creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 264 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg