Recipe For Mushroom And Gorgonzola Soup

GORGONZOLA MUSHROOM BOULE

Steps:

• Put the butter and olive oil into a large skillet and set over medium heat. Slice the onion into thin slivers and add them to the melted butter. Reduce the heat to low and cook the onions for 15 minutes until translucent. Add the mushrooms, rosemary, salt and pepper, and raise the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms give up their liquid. Let the mixture simmer until the mushroom liquid has reduced by 3/4. Add the white wine and reduce again until the pan is almost dry. (The recipe can be made to this point the day before if you like. Reheat the mushroom mixture to continue with the recipe.) Add the crumbled gorgonzola and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer and reduce by half. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper, and spoon into the hollowed out boule. Garnish with a few rosemary sprigs and serve immediately with sliced baguettes for dipping.

MUSHROOM-GORGONZOLA CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook 1 pound sliced assorted mushrooms in 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat, stirring, until browned and tender, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook, stirring, until softened, 30 seconds. Add 1 cup heavy cream; bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Toss with 12 ounces cooked fettucine, adding up to 1/4 cup pasta-cooking water to loosen the sauce. Off the heat, stir in 2 ounces crumbled gorgonzola until creamy; season with salt and pepper.

CHEF JOHN'S CREAMY MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium-high heat; cook mushrooms in butter with 1 pinch salt until the mushrooms give off their juices; reduce heat to low. Continue to cook, stirring often, until juices evaporate and the mushrooms are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Set aside a few attractive mushroom slices for garnish later, if desired. Mix onion into mushrooms and cook until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 more minutes.
• Stir flour into mushroom mixture and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes to remove raw flour taste. Tie thyme sprigs into a small bundle with kitchen twine and add to mushroom mixture; add garlic cloves. Pour chicken stock and water into mushroom mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 hour. Remove thyme bundle.
• Transfer soup to a blender in small batches and puree on high speed until smooth and thick.
• Return soup to pot and stir in cream. Season with salt and black pepper and serve in bowls, garnished with reserved mushroom slices and a few thyme leaves.

CREAM OF WILD MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Clean the mushrooms by wiping them with a dry paper towel. Don't wash them! Separate the stems, trim off any bad parts, and coarsely chop the stems. Slice the mushroom caps 1/4-inch thick and, if they are big, cut them into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
• To make the stock, heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large pot. Add the chopped mushroom stems, the onion, carrot, the sprig of thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until the vegetables are soft. Add 6 cups water, bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Strain, reserving the liquid. You should have about 4 1/2 cups of stock. If not, add some water.
• Meanwhile, in another large pot, heat the remaining 1/4 pound of butter and add the leeks. Cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the leeks begin to brown. Add the sliced mushroom caps and cook for 10 minutes, or until they are browned and tender. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the white wine and stir for another minute, scraping the bottom of the pot. Add the mushroom stock, minced thyme leaves, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the half-and-half, cream, and parsley, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and heat through but do not boil. Serve hot.