Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Hungarian Mushroom Soup - Mushroom Festival - Outdoor Wednesday











From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...
We've attended the mushroom festival at our local arboretum for ten years now. Bob's first observations of the event led him to conclude it wasn't a venue where the Junior League was likely to meet and greet. I'm not so sure. I suspect they had an understated presence and were peppered throughout the crowd of academics, students and farmers or could be found wandering alongside those who buy and sell mushrooms. Yes, there still are folks who supplement their incomes hunting mushrooms and, while it may not be politically correct, they call themselves hoobie hunters - swear to God. While the event is enormous fun, it's primary purpose is to teach and provide an opportunity for mycologists and mushroom lovers to socialize. Once prizes have been awarded, they do just that. The weather, almost always damp, chills the bones and causes sensible folks to question the sanity of those who traipse through the woods on the the mycological equivalent of a treasure hunt. The day is filled with food and music and good family fun, including a scarecrow competition for the children. Photos of some of their entries appear at the bottom of this post. The children come bundled head to toe, wearing muffs and gloves and "wellies" to keep the chill at bay. I spend as much time as possible with the chefs and cooks and food purveyors who set up shop for the day. Everything they sell must be mushroom based and it's really interesting to see what they come up with. I have a series of recipes that I'll be sharing with you over the next few weeks, but I wanted to start with this soup because it's so easy to do. I had a version of this as a child. Back then the onions and mushrooms were cooked in bacon drippings and the soup had enormous layered flavor. Alas, we no longer use bacon drippings, but there was a time when every kitchen had a container to hold them. I know some of you remember that, but I won't force you to fess up. Having said how wonderful this is made with bacon, today's recipe uses butter in its place. It's almost as good and it's marginally better for you. This soup comes from the steppes of Hungary and it's laced with sweet rose paprika. If you enjoy heat, and know your tolerance, hot Hungarian paprika can be substituted.

Hungarian Mushroom Soup
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 pound fresh mixed mushrooms (Shiitake, Maitake, Oyster etc.) or 1 pound fresh crimini mushrooms
2 cups chopped onions
4 tablespoons butter, divided use
3 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon fresh dill fronds or 1 teaspoon dill weed
1 tablespoon sweet Hungarian paprika
1 tablespoon Tamari or soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock, divided use
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
1) Using a large skillet, saute onion in 2 tablespoons butter until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, dill, 1/2 cup stock, tamari and paprika. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 25 minutes.
2) Melt reserved 2 tablespoons butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, for two to three minutes. Add milk, stirring frequently over low heat until thick, about 10 minutes. Stir in mushroom mixture and remaining 1-1/2 cups stock. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes. Just before serving add salt and pepper to taste; stir in lemon juice, sour cream and, if desired, additional dill. Garnish with parsley. Yield: 4 servings.

This is being linked to:

Outdoor Wednesday, an event sponsored by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.









57 comments :

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Mary, that soup sounds so good, and I wish I had a big bowl right now to accompany me on my blog visits for Outdoor Wednesday! I am crazy about mushroom soup. The best I ever had was served at a wedding reception as one of the courses, and they used some fancy wild mushrooms for it. Oh, I could have eaten seconds! It was that good.

Enjoyed seeing the fun yard art, too. Made me smile.

Happy Outdoor Wed to you, dear lady...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Glenda/MidSouth said...

The soup looks so good. The first picture of the yard art sent a chill down my spine. :)

Coleens Recipes said...

Would you believe that I've never had real mushroom soup...only Campbell's. I'd love to try this.

Diann @ The Thrifty Groove said...

Hi Mary!

Oh this sounds great! I LOVE mushroom and mushroom soup! We make different variations all the time. I am going to have to make this one soon!

Foodiewife said...

Gorgeous selection of mushrooms. I need to venture into trying new ones. They're a little scary looking, but I need to get over that mindset. This soup is a beautiful version. I love Hungarian Paprika, so I think this soup is in queue for our next cold and rainy day. Look fantastic-- so do the photos, as always.

Ebie said...

Hoobie hunters! You made me smile! I've read somewhere that mushrooms could be soo expensive!

I will just skip the Hungarian pepper.

Happy OW!

Chubskulit Rose said...

Oh that giant spider is a scary thing!

We explored the Mountain park

Selba said...

Wow, so many unusual interesting mushrooms that I've never seen before. They do look pretty though :)

Creamy mushroom soup is always the best soup especially on a cold day.

tracieMoo said...

Hello, I have passed you an award. Feel free to pick it up from my blog =)

P. said...

I like mushrooms to see and to eat. These ones are beautiful.
Alfazema

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

Wonderful OW post, Mary.

We have hunted mushrooms, in our neck of the woods. We used to, just about every year. These days hardly ever. Our quest was always for Morel's. There are special places where hunters look for these mushrooms and these places are secret. The hunters never reveal where they find their Morel's.:-) My late stepfather told us to look under May Apples, the little umbrella looking wild flowers. Although we found many Morel's over the years, we never spotted any under May Apples.:-)

I slice the Morel's in half, down the center, dip the slices in egg, then flour, then egg and flour again and pan fry them, like pan fried chicken. Our family loved Morel season, enjoying these wonderful mushrooms, for a very brief time, each spring.

Hootin Anni said...

Oh excellent!! Everything about your post today, Mary!

But I must admit, that spider creeped me out.


My post for Wednesday is now published. Click Here to join me. I'd love for you to stop by today.

George Gaston said...

Mary, what a delicious sounding soup. I love food festivals like the one your describe, because I usually discover ingredients that I never knew existed. And get to taste new & different things.

Great photographs of all the creative Halloween displays... Thanks

NKP said...

Oh my! I am going to have nightmares about that spider!
What a fun festival! The soup looks so warming and nourishing.
I remember keeping bacon fat - and I still would if the bacon wasn't so filled with water and mysterious chemicals and such. Now it seems best to just drain it.

Donna-FFW said...

I love the scarecrows!

Plan on raking leaves today, this would have been perfect for me when I am through. Sounds warm, and delicious.

SmilingSally said...

What a shame that bacon is so bad for us; we learn this after growing up with bacon and eggs as a healthy breakfast! I actually remember one elementary teacher scolding the class for not eating enough meat for breakfast!

From the Old InkWell said...

Hi Mary, enjoyed reading about the mushroom festival. Never knew there was such a thing. And yes, I remember my mother having a bacon drippings container on the stove. They came in a set with the salt and pepper shaker. How times have changed. :)

Cathy said...

Homemade mushroom soup is such a treat and what fun to attend a festival in honor of the main ingredient. I will miss the varieties that were available at my farmers market. Looking forward to future recipes, Mary, thanks.

Mumzie said...

Mary, You always have such interesing posts and great food. Thanks for sharing your talents. Yvonne

Happily Retired Gal said...

Wonderful outdoor photos this week ... love the various mushrooms and the kewl Halloween shots. That spider is something else!!! Love mushroom soup ;-)
Hugs and blessings,

susan said...

Hoobie hunters--I love it! Bob's observations were probably pretty accurate! Mushrooms do seem to get a bad rap sometimes :) The soup sounds wonderful. I love soups of all kinds and it is that time of year!

My Little Space said...

The mixed mushroom soup sounds terribly delicious. Will try it out some day. Awesome Halloween decoration pictures! I love the spider one, looks stunning! Thanks for sharing.

bj said...

I do love mushroom soup...and this recipe is going in my files!! It seems simple enough that even I can do it. Maybe tonight, for dinner!!

Love all the cute yard art...thanks for adding those cute photos.
xo bj

Lori E said...

I look at the mushrooms and wonder how hungry someone must have been the first time they put one of those in their mouths. Who would think you could eat that fluffy white thing or the weird orange umbrella?
I have never heard of the word hoobie before?
That spider at the bottom is fabulous.

tracy said...

Hi Mary
I love mushroom soup,I make it all the time but I only use one type of shroom...I didn't realize you could make it with more than one type with out interfering with flavors...I will be putting this one in my cook book.I can hardly wait to see the rest of the mushroom recipes you have to offer...thanks
I like the picture too,they really are beautiful.The spider is kinda freaky though:0
Gracie

LV said...

I enjoyed all your Halloween shots. I have missed having meals with you. Your soup today would be great. I enjoy most all soups when it is cool weather.

penny said...

The soup sound so delicious, Mary. And I love all the fall decorations.

Farmer Jo said...

This is one of my favorite soups! I wish I could have gone to the mushroom festival! How fun.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

The variety is wonderful. This soup looks very creamy. Loved the pictures, the spider made me shudder.

Maryrose said...

Hi Mary,
Terrific post. You are such a good writer, I enjoyed your post so much. Your pictures are wonderful and that soup.... wow... I need to make that. (and I do remember bacon fat)
Enjoy your day
Maryrose

Pam said...

I was just wishing for a bowl of homemade mushroom soup yesterday! This sounds so good.

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Oh...yummy!!! Love those shots of the beautiful mushrooms...

Debbie said...

Oh that does sound good. I have never had a homemade mushroom soup before...

My name is Riet said...

THis is a wonderful soup. Mushrooms and paprika are great together. Love the yards pictures. So colourful

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I like mushrooms of all kinds, Mary, so I know I would enjoy your creamy mushroom soup! I would also have enjoyed the mushroom festival -- I always wonder if a poison one ever gets mixed into a batch?


I still indulge and have bacon from time to time...nothing compares to it! My Mom use to save bacon grease in a tin on the stove to use again and again. It is a miracle how we didn't all fall ill from all those layers of old grease sitting for days at room temperature!

Loved the scarecrows! The spider was scary!

happy Outdoor Wednesday!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

I would absolutely hang with those 'shroomers. That sounds like a great day. wonderful pictures, and love the Lord of the Rings spider

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

I was almost going to say I have never had mushroom soup before but of course , I have had canned cream of mushroom soup. The soup looks delicious. The festival sounds looks like a cool place to go. We did have a container on our stove to put bacon grease in when I was a child & it was used to season other dishes. I love the pics of the scarecrows!
~Myrna

Bill said...

Hi Mary,
Your soup sounds fantatic!
Your mushroom photographs are beautiful, and the festival sounds really interesting. So glad I stopped by today! ;)

Bill

The Stylish House said...

Mary,
I used to live in the soggy, but beautiful Pacific Northewest where mushroom hunters thrived. However, a big bowl of this wonderful soup would definitely have warmed me up!
Cathy

My Slice of Heaven said...

Mary, your soup looks delicious! I plan on trying the recipe since my husband and I love mushrooms. I enjoyed visting your blog! Anita

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Dear Mary, Thank you for taking us along to the mushroom festival ~ don't know I would have the chance to enjoy one otherwise. The scarecrow competition was great, especially the spider!

kindly, ldh

Toni said...

Hi Mary! The festival sounds fun!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! You always leave such kinds words for me! Sending you a hug from Wyoming... where mushrooms don't usually grow... too dry here!

Pam said...

The mushroom festival sounds fantastic! Your soup looks really tasty, I've never had Hungarian mushroom soup before.

Unknown said...

The soup sounds delicious and the Halloween critters are very cute.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

Oh my goodness that is quite the spider!

noble pig said...

Love all the photos and the soup sounds wonderful, love the color too.

The Blonde Duck said...

This was such a fun post!

Katy ~ said...

Still have a container of bacon fat in my fridge, grins.

Yumm, mushroom soup is often underrated and overlooked as an appreciable soup on its own. This would change anyone's mind.

Ms.Daisy said...

Mary,
Wow! I've never seen so many different types of mushroom! I love mushroom soup especially during these cold, dark days of November. Thanks for stopping by my O.W. post.

Nancy said...

I have read some of your older posts and all you recipes sound fantastic. Come and cook for me! Thanks for visiting Porch Days.

annies home said...

love mushrooms but that spider scared me from here wow

sherri@lavenderfields said...

Beautiful Halloween pictures! The soup looks so yummy! There are so many types of mushrooms it is just amazing to see of them. Hope you have a great Outdoor Wednesday and have a wonderful week : )

Deborah said...

I never knew mushrooms came in all those colors. That soup and the lasagna in your other post look wonderful. I must try both of them. I love the scarecrows in the pictures especially the first and second ones. Thank you for visiting my place.

theUngourmet said...

My mother and her husband used to go "mushrooming" for money. I've heard it can actually be dangerous because some take it way too seriously.

My mom never was too big on trudging through the forest in the cold and eventually told her husband he was on his own.

Your soup is beautiful. I'd love a big bowl of it right now! :D

Olga said...

gorgeous mushrooms! reminds me of the ones I'v won :)

also, those meatballs in the previous post look great for any potluck party.

chriesi said...

Amazing mushrooms! Your blog is fantastic!

Sara said...

This soup sounds lovely, and I am super jealous of your mushroom festival. I was delighted to be greeted by the first Chanterelles at my grocery store last weekend :) I can't wait to read through all your mushroom recipes.

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