Sylvie's Healthy Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe (Dairy-free!)

➤ by Sylvie Fulson

I love, love, love creamy mushroom soup! Growing up, my absolute favorite soup was Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom.

I haven’t had that soup in a very long time, and I didn't even know I missed it until I decided to create my own healthy mushroom soup recipe. It's a vegan version of Oma Gerhild's cream of mushroom soup, and it's SO good.

Just like Oma, I used button mushrooms and chopped onions, with the addition of fresh garlic. I blended raw cashews with water to replace the milk and/or heavy cream, and to give it that wonderfully rich and creamy texture. Then I topped it off with some freshly grated nutmeg for a bit of German flair.

The first time I made this comforting soup, I used water instead of vegetable broth, and it had such a wonderful mushroomy earthy flavor. The next time I made it, I decided to use vegetable broth instead, thinking it would enhance the flavors even more. 

But the vegetable stock I used had a very strong flavor and seemed to overpower the mushrooms. It was still good, but it didn't have the classic mushroom soup flavor I was going for. Perhaps a different brand would work better, but for now I'm gonna stick to water.

I ended up using the veggie broth version as a pasta sauce, and oh my goodness, was it ever good! For some reason, when mixed with the pasta, the mushroom flavor really stood out and the broth played more of a supportive role. The way it should be!

This plant-based creamy soup, made with wholesome simple ingredients, tastes so good and so creamy and so full of mushroom flavor. It brings me right back to my childhood and the wonderful memories of eating this classic comfort food.

It is absolutely one of my favorite soup recipes and will always hold a special place in my heart. And the best part is this healthy soup is so much better than the canned stuff.

Ways to use cream of mushroom soup

Just like the canned version, there are so many uses for homemade mushroom soup. Its strong earthy mushroomy taste brings so much flavor to many different dishes. Like the example above, it makes a wonderful pasta sauce.

You can also use it as a sauce or gravy with your favorite German meatballs, Schnitzel, or served over brown rice. You can incorporate it in casserole dishes like Shepherd’s Pie or scalloped potatoes. You may have to adjust the thickness of the soup depending on how you plan to use it.

And of course, it is absolutely wonderful to have just as a comforting bowl of mushroom soup with some crackers or a slice or two of Oma Gerhild’s Artisan Bread. Delicious!

What is the difference between cremini and white button mushrooms?

My creamy vegan mushroom soup calls for fresh mushrooms, either white button or cremini (baby bella) mushrooms. But what is the difference between the two?

Well, cremini mushrooms are white button mushrooms that have aged and turned brown. They have a firmer texture and are more flavorful than their white counterpart.

And, interestingly enough, portobello mushrooms are just overgrown white mushrooms! They have been left to grow for longer until they develop a large dark brown cap with a rich flavor and meaty texture.

Regardless of the variety you choose, they’re delicious, fat-free, low in calories, and packed with fibre, vitamins, and minerals. How can you go wrong?

Oma says:

• I chuckled when Sylvie told me her absolute favorite soup was Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup when she was growing up. It was mine as well. Actually, it's what my Mutti used to make her super quick "homemade" mushroom soup.
• By garnishing this soup with grated nutmeg, Sylvie's adding that extra hint of Germany that so pleases our German tastebuds.

How do you make homemade cream of mushroom soup?

Start by prepping and chopping the mushrooms, onion, and garlic. I like to use red onions, but you can use whatever you have on hand.

Cook onions in a little bit of water. (You can also chop your onions first and while they’re cooking, chop the rest of the veggies.)

Once onions are translucent, add the mushrooms and garlic, and continue to cook until onions are completely soft and mushrooms have browned. Smells so good when they’re cooking!

Add the seasonings; in this case, thyme, salt, and pepper.

In a blender, add water or veggie broth, cashews, salt, and half of the mushroom mixture. (You can use less cashews for a thinner consistency.)

Blend until completely smooth. Blending half of the mushroom mixture with the cashews makes for a very yummy, creamy mushroom broth. So good!

Pour the delicious contents of the blender back into the pot with the rest of the mushrooms.

Stir, and heat through.

Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg, and voilà! A deliciously satisfying creamy vegan mushroom soup. Enjoy!

Ready to make this delicious cream of mushroom soup?

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