Cream of shiitake mushroom soup

4 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1quartMilk; whole, low-fat or skim
1smallOnion; peeled and stuck with
2Cloves
:Tie in cheesecloth,
6Fresh parsley stems,
4tablespoonsRice flour (or barley or oat flour)
6tablespoonsHeavy cream
2tablespoonsMadeira
6Whole peppercorns (or more)
1pinchSalt
½teaspoonDried leaf thyme
½Bay leaf
4tablespoonsCold milk (about)
8ouncesShiitake mushrooms
Reserved mushroom slices

Directions

BOUQUET GARNI

SOUP, CON'T

OPTIONAL

This rich, earthy soup has but 100 calories per serving if made with non-fat milk.

PLACE THE MILK, ONION, peppercorns, salt and bouquet garni in a saucepan and bring slowly to a boil. Form a smooth paste of the rice flour and the cold milk. Put into the just-boiling milk and stir briskly until there are no lumps. Simmer over very low heat for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cut off the tough ends of the mushroom stems.

Reserve a few mushroom slices for garnish and chop the remaining mushrooms coarsely, then place in a food processor with a steel blade and chop as finely as possible. Strain the milk mixture through a fine sieve back into the saucepan; add the chopped mushrooms and continue simmering 5 minutes. Add the cream and Madeira, if you wish, and serve in hot bowls, garnished with a slice of mushroom.

PETER KUMP - PRODIGY GUEST CHEFS COOKBOOK