Rustic Mushroom Soup Recipe: Julia Child’s Earthy Magic Bowl

Mushroom soup by julia child cascades with rich, earthy elegance that transforms simple ingredients into pure comfort.

Velvety textures and deep umami flavors weave through this classic French recipe like culinary poetry.

Tender mushrooms create a symphonic blend of rustic warmth and sophisticated taste.

Professional chefs and weekend warriors alike marvel at this deceptively complex dish.

Aromatic herbs dance alongside robust mushroom notes, creating a sensory experience that feels both familiar and extraordinary.

With minimal effort, you craft a bowl of pure culinary magic that celebrates traditional cooking techniques.

Grab your ladle and get ready to savor every luxurious spoonful.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 300 kcal

Servings: 4

Mushroom Soup Ingredients from Julia Child

• Fresh Mushrooms: Choose firm, unblemished caps with rich, earthy color and no signs of sliminess or wrinkles.
• Butter: Select high-quality, unsalted butter for pure, clean flavor and better control of salt content.
• Salt: Use fine sea salt for even distribution and balanced seasoning.

• Onion: Pick firm, heavy onions with tight, papery skin and no soft spots for maximum sweetness.
• Garlic: Select plump, compact cloves without green sprouts for milder, more rounded taste.
• Fresh Thyme: Look for vibrant green sprigs with strong aromatic scent and no wilting.

• All-Purpose Flour: Choose unbleached flour for natural thickening and subtle nutty undertone.
• Chicken Broth: Opt for low-sodium version to control salt levels and enhance natural soup flavors.
• Water: Use filtered water for clean, pure taste.
• Heavy Cream: Select high-fat content cream for luxurious, silky texture.
• Black Pepper: Freshly ground provides more intense, complex flavor compared to pre-ground.

Soup-Making Gear You’ll Need

• Large soup pot: Spacious cooking vessel for developing deep flavors and simmering ingredients.
• Chef's knife: Sharp tool for precise slicing of mushrooms and dicing onions.
• Cutting board: Stable surface for preparing ingredients safely.
• Wooden spoon: Perfect for stirring and preventing ingredient burning.
• Blender: Powerful appliance for creating smooth, creamy soup texture.
• Measuring cups: Ensures accurate liquid and ingredient proportions.
• Measuring spoons: Helps measure precise salt and seasoning amounts.
• Ladle: Convenient tool for serving hot soup into bowls.
• Small bundle plate: Helps remove thyme bundle easily during cooking.
• Heat-resistant bowls: Warm serving dishes for presenting the final soup.

How to Simmer Julia’s Creamy Mushroom Soup

• Sauté Mushroom Base

Transform fresh mushrooms into a flavor-packed foundation by melting butter in a large pot. Cook mushrooms until they release their natural juices and caramelize beautifully, developing a deep, rich color and intense taste. Set aside a few mushroom slices for a stunning final touch.

• Build Aromatic Layers

Introduce diced onions to the mushroom mixture, allowing them to soften and become translucent. This step creates a robust flavor base that elevates the entire soup’s character.

• Create Silky Texture

Dust flour into the pot, stirring continuously to eliminate any raw taste and create a smooth thickening agent. This technique ensures a velvety, luxurious soup consistency.

• Infuse Depth and Complexity

Combine minced garlic, fresh thyme, chicken broth, and water. Let the ingredients simmer gently, allowing flavors to meld and intensify. Remove thyme bundle to preserve a clean, pure taste.

• Blend and Refine

Carefully transform the soup into a silky-smooth puree using a blender. Work in batches to achieve a perfectly creamy texture that coats the palate with rich mushroom essence.

• Finish and Season

Swirl in heavy cream to add luxurious richness. Adjust the soup’s consistency and balance the flavors with strategic seasoning. Taste and fine-tune with salt and black pepper.

• Present with Elegance

Serve the soup in warm bowls, crowning each portion with reserved mushroom slices and delicate thyme leaves. Offer immediately to capture the soup’s peak temperature and vibrant flavors.

Tips for Earthy, Balanced Flavor

• Elevate Mushroom Texture: Slice mushrooms uniformly for consistent cooking and better mouthfeel. Thinner slices caramelize faster and create deeper flavor profiles.
• Customize Cream Consistency: Adjust heavy cream amount based on desired richness. Less cream creates a lighter soup, while more cream produces a velvety, luxurious texture.
• Enhance Flavor Complexity: Experiment with different mushroom varieties like shiitake, cremini, or porcini. Each type introduces unique earthy undertones and depth to the soup's overall taste.
• Add Protein Boost: Transform this vegetarian recipe by incorporating crispy bacon bits, shredded rotisserie chicken, or sautéed shrimp as optional protein garnishes. These additions provide extra layers of flavor and nutritional value.

Serving This French Soup with Bread

• Pair with Crusty Bread: Slice a warm, rustic baguette or sourdough to dip into the creamy mushroom soup, soaking up every delicious drop.
• Create a Hearty Meal: Serve alongside a crisp green salad with light vinaigrette to balance the soup's rich, velvety texture.
• Elevate with Wine Pairing: Pour a glass of earthy Pinot Noir or crisp Chardonnay to complement the deep mushroom flavors and enhance the dining experience.
• Add Protein Boost: Top with crispy pancetta bits, roasted chicken shreds, or toasted pumpkin seeds for extra crunch and protein.

Soup Storage to Keep It Tasty

• Meal Planning & Storage Advice
• Prep Ahead Strategy: Chop mushrooms and onions in advance, storing them in sealed containers in the refrigerator up to 2 days before cooking to save time during meal preparation.
• Refrigeration Technique: Store leftover soup in airtight containers, keeping fresh for 3-4 days. Cool soup completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth and maintain optimal flavor profile.
• Freezing Method: Transfer cooled soup to freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch space for expansion. Freeze up to 3 months for convenient future meals. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and reheat gently to preserve creamy texture.
• Reheating Wisdom: Warm soup slowly over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add small splash of broth or cream if needed to restore original consistency and prevent separation of ingredients.

Velvety Julia Childs Mushroom Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Julia Child’s classic French mushroom soup blends earthy porcini with rich cream and herbs. Culinary enthusiasts will savor this comforting Parisian-style recipe that delivers elegant simplicity on your dinner table.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 packages (16 oz / 453 g) fresh sliced mushrooms
• 4 cups (946 ml / 32 fl oz) chicken broth
• 1 cup (237 ml / 8 fl oz) water
• 1 cup (237 ml / 8 fl oz) heavy whipping cream
• ¼ cup (57 g / 2 oz) unsalted butter
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme (tied in a bundle)
• 1 ½ tbsps all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (for garnish)
• 1 pinch salt
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Sauté Mushrooms: Melt unsalted butter in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add sliced mushrooms with a pinch of salt, allowing them to release moisture and caramelize deeply for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally until most liquid evaporates and mushrooms turn rich golden brown.
2. Build Flavor Base: Incorporate diced onions into the caramelized mushrooms, cooking until soft and translucent. Sprinkle all-purpose flour over the mixture, stirring continuously for 2 minutes to create a smooth roux and eliminate raw flour taste.
3. Develop Aromatic Profile: Add whole thyme bundle and minced garlic cloves to the pot. Pour in chicken broth and water, then lower heat and simmer gently for 60 minutes, allowing ingredients to meld and develop complex flavors.
4. Purée and Cream: Remove thyme bundle and transfer soup to blender, working in batches to achieve smooth, consistent texture. Return puréed soup to pot, stirring in heavy cream and adjusting consistency with additional chicken broth if needed.
5. Season and Finish: Taste and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Ladle into serving bowls, garnishing with reserved mushroom slices and fresh thyme leaves for an elegant presentation.

Notes

• Caramelize Mushrooms Carefully: Patience is key when developing deep, rich flavors; low and slow cooking intensifies the mushroom’s natural umami and prevents burning.
• Flour Technique Matters: Cooking flour briefly eliminates raw taste and creates a smooth, velvety base that thickens the soup without lumps.
• Blending in Batches: Work carefully when puréeing hot soup to prevent explosive splatters; fill blender only halfway and use a towel to cover the lid for safety.
• Cream Consistency Control: Add cream at the end and heat gently to prevent separation, adjusting liquid volume for desired soup thickness.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg