Shiitake Mushroom Soup (2024)

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Substitutions and Optional Add-ins

If you don’t have all the exact ingredients on hand or if a few of them aren’t compatible with your dietary restrictions, rest assured that you can still enjoy these delicious shiitake mushrooms in soup with a few simple swaps. Feel free to get creative with the toppings, too! There are many fun variations on this dish to serve every palette. Here are a few suggestions:

• Type of oil: This recipe calls for you to saute the onion in butter. You can also use olive oil. Using a plant-based oil will also help if you want your shiitake mushroom soup to be vegan.
• Mushrooms: Fresh shiitake mushrooms are used in this recipe for their bold flavor, but you can use many varieties of mushrooms for this recipe.
  • Baby Bella, Cremini mushrooms, and white mushrooms would all be delicious. You can even make a portobello mushroom soup with this recipe.
  • While the recipe below uses sauteed shiitakes as the base of the soup, Roasted Shiitake Mushrooms would also be delicious. The slightly softened and caramelized shiitakes would work perfectly, delivering an even more flavorful shiitake mushroom broth which then yields a more flavorful soup.
• Liquid: This recipe calls for vegetable broth, but you could also use a Homemade Chicken Stock or store-bought chicken broth.
• Cream: This light and fresh mushroom shiitake soup call for half and half, and it uses a small amount as a drizzle at the end just for flavoring. It is totally optional, and the soup would still be delicious (and creamy without the use of the cream.) However, if you prefer more of a traditional cream of mushroom soup, here are a few other options:
  • If you are looking for an even richer texture, you can use heavy cream. Feel free to double the amount for an extra creamy mushroom soup.
  • If you want to make a vegan cream of mushroom soup, substitute half and half for coconut milk or coconut cream. The end result will have a slightly sweeter flavor in the soup but still, be delicious.
• Dried shiitake mushrooms: This recipe is designed for fresh shiitake mushrooms, but if you want to use dried mushrooms in soup, there are two approaches I recommend. The first option is to soak the dried mushrooms for 8 hours or overnight. There are many methods for Cooking with Dried Shiitake Mushrooms. You can also grind dried mushrooms in a spice grinder, as I do in this delicious Vegan Chili recipe. ¼ ounces of dried, ground mushrooms will work for this recipe. If you go in that route, I would recommend that you use it in combination with fresh shiitake mushrooms for a hearty and creamy soup.
• Asian style adaptations: Many shiitake mushroom soup recipes are rich in Asian flavors. My recipe is a great base for experimentation. If you want to explore different flavor profiles with your soup, here are some options.
  • You can add ½ teaspoon of fresh ginger with the sauteeing onions at the start of the recipe.
  • Use sesame oil instead of olive oil.
  • A spoonful or two of miso paste and soy sauce stirred into the mushroom broth before you blend it would also deepen the umami flavor of the mushrooms and make a delicious shiitake mushroom miso soup. With that being said, if you are adding the miso or soy sauce, wait to add any additional salt until the end and then salt to your taste.
  • Green onions (aka scallions) would make a lovely and delicious garnish.
• Tofu: If you want to add extra protein and vitamins to your soup, silken tofu is a good option. Tofu is low-fat and low-calorie, and it is also a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Silken tofu is very soft and can be easily pureed into soups. It will add an extra creamy texture and thickness to your soup. Your family will be asking, what is your delicious secret ingredient?
• Garnishes: There are many ways to make your soup feel and look more decadent when you serve it. Reserve slices of fresh mushroom to add on top of your soup. Fresh thyme or parsley can add a pop of color and a taste of freshness as well. Croutons can add a nice crunch. You might even enjoy an extra drizzle of cream around the edges of your soup for richness and a visually impressive presentation.

How to Store, Heat, Freeze, and Thaw Leftovers?

On the off chance that you don’t finish all this delicious shiitake soup at once, here are some tips on how to store leftovers.

• Storage: After the soup comes to room temperature, store it in an airtight container for 4-5 days in the fridge.
• Heat it in the microwave: Place the leftover soup in a bowl and heat in the microwave in 30 second increments stirring in between intervals until warmed thoroughly.
• Reheat on the stove: Pour the soup into a saucepan. Add in a few tablespoons of water if it is too thick. Warm, over medium heat, stirring often until hot.
• Freezing: Soup can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. If you plan on freezing, I recommend that you skip adding the half and half. Rather, reserve the portion you plan to freeze and add the cream right before serving after it is thawed.
• Thawing: The best way to thaw the soup is to leave it overnight in your fridge. Follow the reheating instructions to heat it up.

Can you make mushroom soup with shiitake mushrooms?

Yes, you can! Shiitake mushrooms are a wonderful choice for making soup and deliver a rich and creamy mushroom soup just like one that you would make with more popular button mushrooms and baby bella mushrooms.

Is shiitake mushroom soup good for you?

Yes, shiitake mushrooms are considered a healthy food with diverse health benefits. They are high in fiber, vitamin B, and minerals. In addition, they are delicious and help create flavorful, umami-rich dishes. With fresh shiitake mushrooms being the key ingredient, this soup is a great way to include them in your diet.

Where to buy shiitake mushrooms?

Nowadays, most grocery stores carry shiitake mushrooms in their refrigerator section in small containers wrapped with stretch film. You can also find them in your local Asian market as it is widely used in Asian cooking (mostly in stir fry dishes.)

Shiitake Mushroom Soup Recipe

Yields: 4

This Shiitake Mushroom Soup is creamy, silky, and packed with rich umami flavor. Made in one pot and ready in 30 minutes, this delicious soup is the perfect weeknight meal! Serve it with your favorite crusty bread for a warming meal on cold winter nights or any time of the year.

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 796mg | Potassium: 442mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 645IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg