Description
Hearty Creamy Mushroom Chicken and Wild Rice Soup promises comfort in every spoonful, blending earthy mushrooms with tender chicken and nutty wild rice. Warmth from this delightful recipe will embrace you, making cold evenings feel wonderfully inviting.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1.5 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded
- 6 cups chicken broth
Grains and Vegetables:
- 1 cup wild rice or a blend
- 1 pound mushrooms, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
Dairy and Seasonings:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup milk or cream
- 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Enhance mushroom depth by steeping dried mushrooms in boiling water for 20 minutes, reserving the flavorful liquid.
- Create a flavor foundation by sautéing sliced mushrooms in butter over medium-high heat until moisture evaporates completely, approximately 12 minutes.
- Without cleaning the pan, melt additional butter and gently cook diced onion, carrots, and celery until vegetables soften and become translucent, around 9 minutes.
- Introduce minced garlic and thyme, stirring quickly to release aromatic oils without burning, about 45 seconds.
- Pour in chicken broth, incorporate wild rice, cooked chicken, sautéed mushrooms, and reserved mushroom liquid. Bring mixture to a robust boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered, allowing rice to become tender, roughly 25 minutes.
- Gradually blend milk and grated Parmesan cheese into the soup, stirring continuously until cheese melts smoothly and incorporates completely.
- Enhance final flavor profile by whisking in white miso paste, then season with salt and pepper to individual taste preferences.
- Let soup rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and develop deeper complexity.
Notes
- Elevate mushroom depth by using a mix of fresh and dried mushrooms for complex, layered umami flavors.
- Transform this soup into a gluten-free version by replacing regular Parmesan with nutritional yeast and using certified gluten-free wild rice.
- Reduce dairy content by substituting heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream for a lighter, plant-based alternative.
- Boost protein content by adding extra shredded rotisserie chicken or plant-based chicken substitute for more substantial meal prep.
- Prep Time: 29 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg