Creamy Vegan Mushroom Soup: A Comforting Plant-Based Meal For Cold Days
I really love this time of year; crispy autumn leaves, snuggling up with a book on the sofa, warm comforting meals, candles, pumpkin spice, fluffy scarfs and cosy times with loved ones. It also means it’s officially soup season! Autumn brings so many delicious veggies to cook up into recipes, along with plenty of opportunities and occasions to cook lovely meals for. One of my favourite meals during the autumn winter months has to be a big bowl of soup. Soup is so easy to make at home; you just throw everything into a pot and cook it down, leaving you with a delicious, hearty, and healthy bowl of goodness! If you’re in the mood for a warm, comforting meal, this Vegan Creamy Mushroom Soup is the perfect choice. Rich, velvety, and packed with earthy mushroom flavours, this soup is both nourishing and indulgent. The blend of chestnut, white cup, and porcini mushrooms creates a deep, savoury base, while silken tofu makes it wonderfully creamy without any dairy. Perfect for a cozy lunch or dinner with some nice crusty bread, this plant-based soup is sure to become a favourite in your household this winter.
Why You’ll Love This Warming Recipe
Whether you’re looking for a dairy free version of creamy mushroom soup, or just after a delicious warming meal idea, then you’ll love this creamy mushroom soup is a must-try. Here’s why:
- Rich, Savoury Flavours: A blend of chestnut, white cup, and porcini mushrooms adds umami to every spoonful. The addition of white wine and fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme elevates the flavour profile.
- Velvety Texture: Thanks to silken tofu, this soup is ultra-smooth and creamy, making it feel indulgent without the need for dairy. The tofu also adds a tasty boost of plant-based protein to your day.
- Simple and Hearty: Made with easy-to-find ingredients, this vegan soup is quick to prepare and perfect for chilly days when you need something satisfying. You can make it up in a big batch over the weekend and store it in the fridge for lunches for the following week. It’s also super easy to transport to work in a flask or container, so you can enjoy it on the go.
- Customisable: Love mushrooms? Add more or some different varieties! Want it thicker? Simply blend it less, keeping some of the mushrooms to give a chunkier soup. You can easily adjust this recipe to your taste by adding in more herbs and seasoning with salt and pepper to your own preferences.
What You’ll Need for Vegan Creamy Mushroom Soup
Here’s what goes into this comforting soup:
- Chestnut Mushrooms: These add a meaty texture and earthy flavour.
- White Cup Mushrooms: Mild in flavour, they complement the chestnut mushrooms.
- Porcini Mushrooms: Dried porcini mushrooms give the soup a rich, deep umami flavour when rehydrated in the stock.
- Silken Tofu: Makes the soup creamy and smooth, adding a lovely texture without using dairy products.
- Mushroom Stock: The base of the soup, enhancing the mushroom flavour. You could use regular vegetable stock instead of mushroom.
- White Wine: Adds depth and a subtle tang, balancing the richness of the soup.
- Fresh Herbs: Rosemary and thyme bring a fragrant, earthy note to the soup.
How to Make Vegan Creamy Mushroom Soup
- Fry the Onions & Garlic: In a large pot, melt the vegan butter over medium heat. Add the diced shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Then, add the sliced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Sauté the Mushrooms: Add the chestnut and white cup mushrooms to the pot, stirring occasionally, until they soften and release their juices. This step builds the base of the soup’s deep mushroom flavour.
- Deglaze with White Wine: Pour in the white wine, stirring to release any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing the alcohol to cook off.
- Add the Stock and Herbs: Stir in the mushroom stock, rehydrated porcini mushrooms, rosemary, thyme, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavours to meld together.
- Blend the Soup: Add the silken tofu to the pot and blend the soup until smooth and creamy. You can use a blender or an immersion blender to get that perfect velvety texture.
- Cook the Toppings: In a separate pan, sauté the remaining chestnut mushrooms until golden brown. These will add texture and a lovely contrast to the creamy soup.
- Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls, top with the sautéed mushrooms and fresh herbs, and serve with nice crusty bread.
Serving Suggestions and Variations
This creamy mushroom soup is delicious on its own, but you can pair it with a slice of warm, crusty bread for dipping, depending on how hungry you are. If you want to add some extra flavour, a sprinkle of nutritional yeast or a drizzle of truffle oil would make a lovely finishing touch. A swirl of cashew cream at the end would also be delicious. You can also adjust the thickness of the soup by blending it to your desired consistency, leaving some of the mushrooms whole if you prefer.
If you’re meal-prepping, this soup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It also freezes well, so you can keep some portions on hand for busy days.
FAQs for Vegan Creamy Mushroom Soup
Can I make this soup ahead of time?
Yes, this soup can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.
What kind of mushrooms can I use?
While we’ve used chestnut, white cup, and porcini mushrooms for this recipe, you can definitely experiment with other mushrooms such as shiitake or portobello for different mushroomy flavours.
How do I make the soup thicker?
For a thicker soup, you can blend it less or add more silken tofu to achieve the desired consistency.
The Perfect Warming Bowl For Soup Season
This Creamy Vegan Mushroom Soup is the ultimate comfort food for chilly days. With its rich, savoury flavour and velvety texture, it’s the perfect bowl of warmth that’s also healthy and plant-based. Whether you’re serving it as a starter, a main, or a quick lunch, this soup will leave you feeling cosy and satisfied.
Looking for more delicious warming soup recipes? Check these out:
- Roasted squash, red pepper & ginger soup
- Cauliflower & white bean soup
- Mediterranean tomato & cannellini bean soup
Watch Us Make This Recipe Step-By-Step:
Creamy Vegan Mushroom Soup
Ingredients
For the soup
- knob of vegan butter for the pan
- 2 shallots diced
- 2 cloves of garlic sliced
- 100 g chestnut mushrooms
- 400 g closed white cup mushrooms
- 100 ml white wine
- 15 g dried porcini mushrooms
- 600 ml mushroom stock
- 1 tbsp chopped rosemary
- 1 tbsp chopped thyme
- large pinch of salt and pepper to taste
- 1 300 g pack of silken tofu drained
For the toppings
- 100 g chestnut mushrooms
- herbs
Method
- Fry the Onions & Garlic: In a large pot, melt the vegan butter over medium heat. Add the diced shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften. Add the sliced garlic and cook for another minute, being careful not to let it burn.
- Cook the Mushrooms: Add the chestnut and white cup mushrooms to the pot, stirring to coat them in the butter. Cook for 5-6 minutes, allowing the mushrooms to soften and release their juices.
- Add White Wine: Pour in the white wine, stirring to scrape up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. Let it simmer for about 2 minutes until most of the wine has evaporated.
- Add Herbs, Stock, and Porcini Mushrooms: Add the chopped rosemary, thyme, dried porcini mushrooms, mushroom stock, and a large pinch of salt and pepper. Bring everything to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let it cook for 15-20 minutes to allow the porcini mushrooms to rehydrate and the flavours to come together.
- Blend for Creaminess: Now add the drained silken tofu and blend using an immersion blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt & pepper if needed.
- Prepare the Toppings: Slice the remaining chestnut mushrooms and fry in a small pan with a little vegan butter until golden brown, making sure to flip so both sides go golden. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Serve: Serve the soup into bowls, top with the fried chestnut mushrooms and fresh herbs. Serve hot with some buttered crusty bread, and enjoy!