Enter your email & we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from us every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Hurry the Food Up. If you’re not looking for it, you’ll never find it. We’ve ignored them so well, found their substitutes so good that they never really needed to appear before. They come in all shapes and sizes, all types and textures. Guessed yet? I’ll give you a clue – there are pictures of them everywhere through this post. Yep, you got it – we’re talking about mushrooms of course. I won’t bore you as to why I have a personal grudge against the slimy little bastards, but I really do not like them. I am however aware that I’m in the minority here, and if you’ve searched for this recipe then there’s a very good chance you like mushrooms. And if that is indeed the case, you’re in the right place. Sometimes a recipe comes along that’s just too good to turn down. This mushroom soup is the one used at the Muse Cafe in the UK (thanks for sharing the recipe Clare and Jan!), and as a best-seller it has thousands of happy customers willing to attest to just how tasty this soup is. Just to be sure, Hauke made it for a dinner party – it went down a storm. It’s really quite the soup. If you’ve been looking for a vegetarian mushroom soup, then look no further. It might not be for me, but I do enjoy a good bit of investigation.
Vegetarian Mushroom Soup – The Investigation
To wash or not to wash? I remember reading an article a while back on the myths and various pros and cons of washing mushrooms, but I hadn’t realised there was quite such a war going on. Let’s take a look at the mushroom washing fears and realities. Fear: Washed mushrooms will take on extra water. They will lose texture and take longer to cook. Reality: Mushrooms are already 90% water and any extra is negligible. In fact, several tests have shown the water absorption is 2% (or less) and it has no impact on cooking time or texture. (Plus, in a mushroom soup you wouldn’t have to worry about too much water anyway. Fear: Washed mushrooms won’t take on oil properly, and won’t crisp up as nicely. Reality: True – but only if they’re sopping wet. Give your washed mushrooms a quick pat try (or use a salad spinner) and they’ll be more than fine. A tiny bit of water will evaporate in heat at an exceedingly quick rate. Fear: Unwashed mushrooms may harbour all kinds of unwanted baddies. Reality: True – Hand picked mushrooms could literally have anything clinging to them, and even farmed mushrooms could have something unpleasant on them. Why would you want to eat that? Fear: Washed mushrooms will turn slimy. Reality: True – A washed mushroom that is left uncooked will not be nice. Anyone who has ever left a wet mushroom sitting around can testify to this. So, don’t wash until you’re ready to cook! Fear: Washed mushrooms just don’t taste as good. Reality: False. The people we force-fed noticed no difference, nor did the tester in this review. This forum also has plenty to say on the matter. Summary Definitely wash your ‘shrooms! Using a brush or towel takes an inordinate amount of time and is just not necessary. Instead, use water and a colander, and pat them dry or use a salad spinner. Cook them right away. Fineline: washing is important to get rid of all sorts of nasties and won’t impact on taste or texture.
