A can of cream of mushroom soup makes for a convenient lunch, but homemade soup is an even better option and isnt a huge culinary challenge. Whether its chunky and rustic or blitzed into smooth perfection, it promises a comfort-food bowl for lunch or supper. To make cream of mushroom soup, you really dont need many ingredients. Tweaks here and there to recipes can seriously enhance the flavor, taking an everyday-style soup to a gourmet level. Small changes count, such as the type of mushrooms you add to the way you cook them, and some clever ingredient extras can also elevate your efforts. If you want, you can deepen the mushroom flavor and give the soup a creamier taste and texture.
Here are a few ways to upgrade cream of mushroom soup, and some of them are real game changers. Why not try them all individually or combine them and create your own unique recipe?
You can garnish your mushroom soup with a variety of ingredients to make it visually appealing. Options include a drizzle of olive oil, a sprinkle of fresh herbs, a dollop of sour cream, a sprinkle of grated cheese, or even some crispy croutons.
Use heavy cream or whipping cream
One ingredient can make baby bella mushroom soup deliciously decadent – heavy cream. A bowl of sautéed mushrooms in an herby vegetable broth is given a luxurious upgrade with a cup of heavy cream stirred into the pan once its off the heat. If youre feeling alarmed at the indulgence, then you could add a cup of whole milk instead. Whipping cream has a slightly lower fat content than heavy cream and is also added to mushroom soups to give them a creamy taste. Be wary of swapping out cream for half-and-half or low-fat milk, however. Not only will you lose the richness of the flavor, but these ingredients arent as resilient to heat in the same way. You may end up with a grainy, milky consistency rather than a velvety, smooth one. Instead of downgrading your soup, maybe serve smaller portions.
There is another option if you really dont want to add high-fat cream. Combine a little cornstarch with some milk or regular cream before mixing it into your soup. It can turn a watery mushroom soup into a thicker, creamier soup. If youre making a wild mushroom soup you can add potatoes and less heavy cream and youll get the same silky consistency. Then, you can add runny crème fraîche for a creamy, sour finish.
Top with croutons
Crunchy cubes of carby croutons are an upgrade to the most flavorful cream of mushroom soup. With a generous spoonful of croutons on top, theres no need to bulk up on bread. If youre serving a creamy mushroom soup at a dinner party, then toasted croutons are a splendid alternative to bread rolls. They look great and are easy to make your own homemade croutons.
All you need is some French bread, as well as olive oil and seasonings. Hand-torn bread gives your soup a rustic look, but if you prefer, you can cut the loaf into neat, uniform squares for a more sophisticated finish. Bake the croutons in the oven, and season with salt and pepper. You can also add other flavorful ingredients such as Parmesan cheese. Rosemary, basil, cayenne pepper, and paprika all make ideal seasonings. Instead of garlic powder, you can grate fresh garlic into olive oil and toss the crustless cubes of soft bread in this mixture before cooking them in the oven. Add parsley to olive oil in a pan with some butter. Sauté the croutons in the herby pan and spoon onto bowls of cream of mushroom soup when they crisp up.
Pro Chef Turns Canned Soup Into 3 Meals For Under $9 | The Smart Cook | Epicurious
FAQ
How do you spruce up Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup?
How to make canned cream soup better?
What to add to canned cream of mushroom soup reddit?
What goes good with cream of mushroom soup?
What can I add to canned cream of mushroom soup?
There are several herbs and spices that can enhance the flavor of canned cream of mushroom soup. Popular options include thyme, rosemary, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and paprika. These additions can add depth and complexity to the soup’s overall taste. Can I add vegetables to canned cream of mushroom soup? Absolutely!
Can cream of mushroom soup be canned?
Cream of mushroom soup contains both cream and a thickener like flour or arrowroot, but neither of those items can be safely canned. But you can safely home can the soup base and when it’s time to heat just quickly thicken and add cream. So easy! Is Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe Healthy?
How do you make canned cream of mushroom soup more velvety?
If you find that canned cream of mushroom soup lacks creaminess, you can fix that easily. Stir in a little heavy cream or half-and-half to enrich the texture and make it more velvety. Alternatively, you can use milk or even Greek yogurt for a lighter option. Just remember to add the cream gradually and adjust according to your desired consistency.
How do I improve cream of mushroom soup?
Small changes count, such as the type of mushrooms you add to the way you cook them, and some clever ingredient extras can also elevate your efforts. If you want, you can deepen the mushroom flavor and give the soup a creamier taste and texture. Here are a few ways to upgrade cream of mushroom soup, and some of them are real game changers.