Yields Makes 7 cups; 4 or 5 main-dish servings
This simple, easy-to-prepare soup uses quick-cooking rice, canned chicken broth, and matchstick-cut carrots to speed preparation.

Notes: Garnish soup with parsley.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

In a 1- to 2-quart pan, bring 1 1/4 cups broth and rice to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until rice is just tender to bite, 45 to 50 minutes.

Step 2
2

Meanwhile, in a bowl, soak shiitake mushrooms in 1 1/2 cups hot water until pliable, about 20 minutes. Squeeze mushrooms in water to loosen grit. Lift out mushrooms, reserving liquid. Cut off and discard stems, then thinly slice caps.

Step 3
3

In a 5- to 6-quart pan over medium-high heat, stir shiitakes in 1 tablespoon butter until golden brown, about 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer shiitakes to a small bowl.

Step 4
4

To large pan, add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, onion, common mushrooms, garlic, rosemary, and thyme; stir often until vegetables are golden, about 10 minutes.

Step 5
5

Carefully pour shiitake soaking liquid into pan, discarding grit in bottom of bowl. To pan, add potato and remaining 2 cups broth. Cover, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer until potato mashes easily when pressed, about 20 minutes.

Step 6
6

In a blender, whirl soup, a portion at a time, until very smooth. Return to pan. Add shiitakes, wild rice with liquid, sherry, and half-and-half. Stir often over high heat until hot, about 2 minutes.

Step 7
7

Ladle into bowls and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Ingredients

 3 1/4 cups fat-skimmed chicken or beef broth
 1/4 cup wild rice
 1 cup dried shiitake mushrooms
 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
 1 onion (1/2 lb.), peeled and chopped
 1/2 pound sliced common mushrooms
 1 tablespoon minced garlic
 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
 1 russet potato (1/2 lb.), peeled and chopped
 1/2 cup dry sherry
 1/2 cup half-and-half (light cream) or whipping cream
  Salt and pepper

Directions

Step 1
1

In a 1- to 2-quart pan, bring 1 1/4 cups broth and rice to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until rice is just tender to bite, 45 to 50 minutes.

Step 2
2

Meanwhile, in a bowl, soak shiitake mushrooms in 1 1/2 cups hot water until pliable, about 20 minutes. Squeeze mushrooms in water to loosen grit. Lift out mushrooms, reserving liquid. Cut off and discard stems, then thinly slice caps.

Step 3
3

In a 5- to 6-quart pan over medium-high heat, stir shiitakes in 1 tablespoon butter until golden brown, about 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer shiitakes to a small bowl.

Step 4
4

To large pan, add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, onion, common mushrooms, garlic, rosemary, and thyme; stir often until vegetables are golden, about 10 minutes.

Step 5
5

Carefully pour shiitake soaking liquid into pan, discarding grit in bottom of bowl. To pan, add potato and remaining 2 cups broth. Cover, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer until potato mashes easily when pressed, about 20 minutes.

Step 6
6

In a blender, whirl soup, a portion at a time, until very smooth. Return to pan. Add shiitakes, wild rice with liquid, sherry, and half-and-half. Stir often over high heat until hot, about 2 minutes.

Step 7
7

Ladle into bowls and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup

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