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Christmas mushroom soup
Zupa grzybowa wigilijna: clear dark Christmas Eve broth of dried porcini with noodles
In many Polish homes the Christmas Eve supper opens with either beetroot barszcz or this soup, and families argue about which is better. Dried porcini picked and threaded on strings in September are soaked and simmered with root vegetables into a clear, deep-brown broth with a smoky, almost meaty depth, then served with thin noodles or łazanki. It is fully meat-free, as Wigilia tradition requires, and kept dairy-free here. A common mistake is pouring the soaking water in with its grit; let it settle and leave the last spoonfuls behind. Chef's tip: soak the mushrooms overnight in cold water and cook them in that water for the most flavour.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the soup
- 1 ¾ oz dried porcini mushrooms
- 2 cups cold waterfor soaking
- 6 ¼ cups water
- 2 carrotspeeled
- 1 parsley root or parsnippeeled
- 3 ½ oz celeriacpeeled, in one piece
- 1 leekwhite part
- 1 onionhalved and charred in a dry pan
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried marjoram
To serve
- 7 oz thin dried durum wheat noodles or łazankicheck they are egg-free
- 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley (optional)chopped
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Rinse 1 ¾ oz dried porcini mushrooms and soak in 2 cups cold water for at least 1 hour, or overnight in the fridge, until soft.
5 minStep 2: Lift the mushrooms out and squeeze them over the bowl. Let the soaking liquid settle for a few minutes, then pour it carefully into a large pan, leaving any grit behind.
3 minStep 3: Add 6 ¼ cups water, 2 carrots, 1 parsley root or parsnip, 3 ½ oz celeriac, 1 leek, 1 onion, 2 bay leaves, 4 allspice berries and 6 black peppercorns. Bring to the boil and simmer gently, half-covered, for 40 minutes, until the vegetables are very soft.
40 minStep 4: Slice the porcini into thin strips. Strain the broth, discarding the vegetables and spices (or slice the carrot into the soup), and return it to the pan with the mushrooms.
5 minStep 5: Simmer for 15 minutes more, until the broth is dark and fragrant. Season with 1 ½ tsp salt and 1 tsp dried marjoram.
15 minStep 6: Meanwhile cook 7 oz thin dried durum wheat noodles or łazanki in salted water according to the packet, until just tender, and drain.
10 minStep 7: Put a little pasta in each bowl, ladle the hot broth and mushrooms over and scatter with 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does christmas mushroom soup take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 70 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of dried porcini mushrooms?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
- What can I use instead of carrots?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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