Mushroom Magic

Mushroom Soup is a classic, comforting soup, perfect for this time of year. Mushrooms are having a moment! They are popping up at traditional grocery stores, farmer’s markets, doctor’s offices, and even on our screens with informative films like Fantastic Fungi – and scary zombie apocalypse shows like The Last of Us.

Read on for this great recipe, more info on a best life living tip that explains what mushrooms and ham bones have in common, and a self-care technique that can change your brain.

What is Umami?

Mushrooms are a rich, low-calorie source of fiber, protein, and antioxidants. (I am a huge fan and even added mushroom coffee to the very rich and delicious  Mocha Mushroom Chocolate Pudding!)

They are also celebrated as mood enhancers, plant-forward meat replacements, and functional foods to benefit our brain and nervous systems. And, mushrooms may also help to lessen the risk of developing serious health conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Best Life Living Tip

The “best life living tip” I can share is to eat food that tastes good! No one wants sad food. Food science and the concept of umami are important when it comes to building flavor without excess sugar, salt, and fat.

Umami is the savory flavor you find in foods such as meat, cheese, mushrooms, and soy sauce. It is the fifth taste after sour, salty, bitter, and sweet.

According to the Mushroom Council umami is important as

• Flavor enhancement: The more umami present in food, the more flavorful it will be.
• Enhances satisfaction: Umami creates both appetite appeal and satiety, the feeling of being gratified to the fullest extent.
• Less salt use: Umami counterbalances saltiness and allows up to a 50 percent salt reduction without compromising flavor.
• Brings out the best: Umami highlights sweetness and lessens bitterness.

Scientifically, umami is the distinctive flavor of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Umami-rich foods have big bold flavors. Think about classic Caesar salad dressing, a combination of egg protein and salted anchovies. Or old-fashioned greens simmered with ham. Or this cream-less creamy soup, in which the mushroom flavor is complemented by a dollop of miso and freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Self Care Technique

Mushrooms are considered “brain food.” There’s brain health in terms of consuming foods that are good and good for your brain. This includes salmon, beans, berries, dark greens, and more. Another side of “brain health” is not what we ingest through our mouths, but also what we consume with our thoughts.

John Hopkins Medicine reports, “The mechanism for the connection between health and positivity remains murky, but researchers suspect that people who are more positive may be better protected against the inflammatory damage of stress.”

Our brain’s chemistry affects how we feel! Cortisol decreases when we think happy thoughts or feel joy, and the brain creates serotonin in response to our positive emotions. When serotonin levels are normal, one feels happy, calm, less anxious, more focused, and emotionally stable

Ideas and Inspiration from Experts

Super excited about this book, Mushroom Gastronomy coming out in June. You can pre-order now. It’s by Krista Towns, aka @themushroomgourmet on IG and the Culinary Editor of Fungi magazine. Check her out at FungiMag.com

Check out my IG reel of how to make this amazing Umami-Bomb Creamy Mushroom Soup.

Bon Appétit Y’all!

Virginia Willis

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Umami-Bomb Creamy Mushroom Soup

Porcini, or cèpes as they are known in French, are incredibly rich, meaty, and fragrant mushrooms. I like to combine an inexpensive mushroom, such as white button, with dried porcini, as the fairly benign white mushrooms will take on the earthy flavor of the porcini. Given the fact that fresh porcini are about thirty dollars a pound when you can find them, this is a very economical alternative.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

20 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, dinner, lunch, Soup, supper

Cuisine: American, French

Keyword: baked potato soup, healthy recipes, mushroom, umami

Servings: 6

Calories: 137kcal

Author: Virginia Willis

Ingredients

• ½ ounce dried porcini mushrooms
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 T EVOO more for serving
• 1 onion preferably Vidalia, chopped
• 2 pounds fresh mushrooms such as white button, cremini, or shiitake, sliced
• 1 tablespoon white miso
• 3 cups homemade chicken stock or vegetable stock
• Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons 0 % skyr or light sour cream, for serving
• 6 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Instructions

• Add the dried porcini mushrooms to the boiling hot water to plump, about 15 minutes. Remove the mushrooms and squeeze out the excess liquid. Place the mushrooms in a bowl. Strain the soaking liquid through a fine sieve or coffee filter into another bowl. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat and add the onion. Cook until the onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the fresh mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the stock, reserved mushroom liquid, and miso. Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat to simmer. Cook until the mushrooms are very soft, about 30 minutes.
• Purée the soup with an immersion blender. Leave it coarse for a more rustic soup, or purée it until smooth for a more elegant soup. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• Ladle into warmed bowls. Dollop with optional skyr or light sour cream. Run a skewer through the cream to create decorative swirls. Garnish with parmesan. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 368mg | Potassium: 680mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1mg

food styling by Cynthia Graubart 

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I am not a doctor, RD, or health professional. I am simply sharing what works for me. My blog is for informational or educational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.

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Good and Good for You with Virginia Willis is a lifestyle brand that shares food, fun, and fitness through digital channels and online community; events, seminars, and speeches; and print media. For more information visit virginiawillis.com