This week we are back to posting the same recipe on the same day for French Fridays with Dorie and I was thrilled to see the first recipe for 2011 was Dorie’s Paris mushroom soup (pp 72-73). What better way to get back into healthier eating after the holidays than with a big pot of homemade soup?
Dorie suggests serving the soup as they do at the Paris bistro, Les Papilles on top of a “salad” of raw mushrooms, chives, parsley, salt, pepper and a touch of crème fraîche which I will definitely try next time. Truth is, both of us are feeling not fabulous this week and a simple soup was just the ticket (I know – ironic – we spend two weeks in Mexico eating all sorts of food and don’t get sick, yet as soon as we return, we fall ill. Must be allergic to real life!)
I am a real mushroom lover – one of my favourite simple dinners when I lived in Paris was mushrooms, sauteed in a little butter on toast – and this soup is rich and flavourful without being heavy. There is no cream in there – it’s creamy enough. I used less broth and more wine (well….) but the creaminess comes from the mushrooms themselves which I puréed with my immersion blender (I have and love this one from Cuisinart, it did a great job on this soup – I saw a few people on the FFWD forums saying their immersion blenders did not do such a good job), leaving it a little chunky and setting aside a few of the cooked mushrooms to serve on top.
It’s not the prettiest of soups – I mean, it’s brown, right – one of the hardest coloured foods you can photograph – but by golly it tasted good 🙂 Another winner – thanks Dorie, just what our tummies needed this week!
Want to join in the fun? Join French Fridays with Dorie here and follow along on Twitter.
A few people have asked for recipes from my French Fridays with Dorie entries. The group does not publish the recipes on our blogs, rather, we would prefer it if you would purchase the book yourselves (trust me, you definitely want this book!) which you can do here on Amazon (great price right now) or here on Amazon Canada (it’s also on special!). Go on, treat yourself join us in 2011!
I LOVE mushrooms. My bf, on the other hand, does not! I’d be on my own with this one… but at least I’d have it all to myself! Great job!
And that can only be a good thing – having it all to yourself!
This looks so good. I have this cookbook, but I haven’t used it yet {for shame I know!}. Things have just been so crazy with the holidays.
Also your picture is gorgeous. Feel better!
Now that life is getting back to normal, you need to get working with the book – you will love it!
Maybe it’s just the way I’m feeling this week, but this was the least successfull FFWD dish so far, methinks.
Then again, eating in the canteen without any presentation to tart it up, the dismal appearance may have swayed: looks far too boarding school.
Nice, but could have used a bit more complexity of flavours. Maybe I should have given Mardi a better bottle of wine… 😉
See I deliberately didn’t over season this because of how we were feeling – I didn’t think your tummy would like that. You’re right – we will make it again and boost the flavours a bit more.
This soup looks lovely and wholesome. It reminds me of the first soupe aux champignons I made a looong time ago 🙂 I omitted the cream but it was delicious!
I loved that this tasted creamy but had no cream in it!
More wine is always good! Hope you’re feeling better soon. Soup is good for health and the soul.
I could not agree more!
While the soup might not be the prettiest, it certainly sounds good! I love my immersion blender for soups too, although I tend to like my soups on the chunkier side!
Yes my blender did a good job of keeping some texture in there.
I didn’t have high expectations for this recipe, but it was fabulous!!! I’m glad my family wasn’t interested in it…I ate it for 4 nights straight! Yeah, not so pretty, but you did a lovely job with the garnish 🙂
Yes I ate it a few nights in a row too. My tummy was very happy!
Threat of snow today – this could be wonderful! Mushrooms are so complex…they’re fantastic!
A PERFECT snow day recipe!
Totally agree with you on the brown not being such a photographic color. But my tummy didn’t mind the brownness at all. Your soup looks fantastic! Here’s to a new year of FFwD!
Hooray for FFWD!
Gorgeous soup Mardi!! A few enoki mushrooms would work well as a garnish on this soup too.
I’m with you on the sauteed mushrooms on toast! Sometimes I even throw in a little blue cheese during the last minute of the saute… sooo good!
– Brittany
Oh yes, a little blue cheese – heaven!
Your soup looks great. Hope you feel better soon!
Thanks!
Mardi, I think your soup looks totally yummy! You’re one lucky lady to have lived in Paris for a bit and I’m sure this recipe made you feel like you were back. I’ve not always been a mushroom lover but this soup turned my head around. Love the healthy aspect of it also!
Yes it was certainly pretty tasty and much nicer tasting than it looked!
I don’t eat mushrooms…I know I’m terrible but my husband, now that’s a different story. He would love this soup.
You should make this soup and then tell me you don’t eat mushrooms!
Well, it may be brown but you did a lovely job with the photos – I think it looks very homey and comforting!!
That, it was!
So true it was just what my tummy needed this week. I have to say even though the soup was brown your photos were great. Enjoyed the visit to your site. And I learned a new phrase!!! Les Papilles..Thanks B:)
🙂 Hope you come back soon!
Agree about brown being hard to photograph yet your picture looks mighty tasty! Hope you feel better soon.
Cheers – I did what I could!
I had difficulty photographing this one as well but the taste was lovely. Hope you are feeling better
And you know what – it’s all about the taste, right?
Very pretty presentation. I think it makes a nice paint color too! Who knew?
Seriously??? 😉
Though a challenge to photo for sure; I thought the flavor wonderful. I did up it a bit by adding a chunk of Parmesan rind to the simmering soup and though I doubt I would ever do the salad in the bottom, the addition of the creamy component on top made a difference. I used Greek yogurt and it was great; creme fraiche is most definitely not a standard ingredient in my fridge!
I am so doing that next time re: the Parmesan!
Ha, allergic to real life. Ain’t that the truth! I am leaving for a two week vacation and totally know what you mean. I hope to have a bowl of this wonderful soup when I get back too!
I always find soup is calming, both to make and to eat, after a vacation!
Your soup looks delicious and the photo is beautiful. The background and the bowl make something that tastes so incredible even more so. Hope you feel better.
Thanks so much, too kind!
Mardi, for a brown food, your pictures are gorgeous! I love the remembrance about the sauteed mushrooms on toast in Paris…yum!
Sigh…..
This was on my list of things to cook this week in hopes of getting myself back into the FFWD routine, but alas, I had no time and I’m still recovering from all the holiday cooking. Looks amazing though Mardi. Wish I had made it. Will have to soon.
This is the perfect antidote to holiday food, trust me!
I love mushroom soup — I’m in the middle of a move so I can’t join in this month, but I made this recipe already and it was incredible. Mine wasn’t as pretty as yours!
Well the one I ate most nights wasn’t as pretty as that either 😉
I’ve never had mushroom soup but this looks delicious! Dorie’s recipes are so wonderful 🙂
This would be the one to start with!
Oh I love mushroom soup and all its brown-y greyness. I think I know what I’m making this weekend.
Me too. Poor mushrooms, they get a bad rap because of their colour, huh?
Beautiful photos. I used my regular blender and liked the results. I tried straining part of the soup through a fine mesh sieve, but felt it lost all the marvelous texture.
Yes part of the beauty of this soup was the lovely texture!
This soup looks lovely:) Your vacation tweets were great to follow. I hope you are both feeling better and have a lovely weekend.
Glad you enjoyed them! Posts coming up over next few weeks!
Your soup looks so creamy and delicious! I love the fact that it tastes like a creamed soup yet doesn’t have cream in it. 🙂
Me too 🙂
You know, a chunky mushroom soup isn’t so bad. Nice texture. The raw mushroom ‘salad’ topper sounds really good! So much earthy flavor going on.
Yes I much prefer a chunky soup in the cold months. And yes, that salad will be made next time!
I just recently posted a mushroom soup recipe and I agree, not the easiest thing to make look appetizing. But I’m a lover of mushrooms, so it doesn’t take a pretty picture to entice me. Hope you feel better soon.
I agree – though it’s mice to have a pretty picture to convince people!
I love a good bowl of mushroom soup. I tend to have it chilled and less thick in summer.
Yes it makes a great summer soup too!
I swear I have been talking about getting an immersion blender for two years now and have yet to purchase one. What is wrong with me? I am certan it makes finishing soups such as this one so much easier. The simplicity of this mushroom soup is what truly makes it great.
Yes I didn’t have one for years then bought the one I linked to on the post last year – wonder what I did without it!
I saw this on your Flickr and resolved to make it because it just looked so delicious. I’m really looking forward to delving into my Dorie book when I get back from my travels, especially if the results are this tasty!
Jax x
It will be the perfect food to get you back in the kitchen!
Even in a regular blender, which I usually makes a smoother soup than an immersion blender, my soup was a little bit chunky. Nice photos!
I liked the chunky factor, especially when the weather is cold…
This looks hearty, filling and nourishing all at once. I keep seeing all these wonderful dishes from Dorie’s book and I’m letting mine gather dust on the shelf. Thanks for the delicious reminder to put it to use.
No, no, no – you need to join us!
A copy of this book is on my desk and ‘Paris Mushroom Soup’ is just the inspiration I need to open it. Love the fact you’re starting the new year with something healthy and delicious. Mushrooms are the best.
You will fall in love with this book, like I have!
I love this soup!!!!!
That soup looks lovely even though I am not a big mushroom person… Love your photo!