THE FOODIE"S COMPANION: Things I Like

Mushroomalicious Canned Cream of Mushroom Soup

Among our five taste sensations, sweet, sour, salty, bitter and Umami, Umami dictates the "savory" or "succulent" taste in what you eat.. Foods which stimulate Umami taste sensations are those containing glutamic acid, or glutamates. Remember MSG (monosodium glutamate), the ingredient in the flavor enhancer, Accent? Umami containing foods include, among others, meat, tomatoes, aged cheese, seaweed, Asian sauces - soy and oyster sauces, Worchester sauce and mushrooms.

.Using the following simple recipe, you can enhance  the Umami taste in your mushroom soup when using a can of Condensed Cream of Mushroom soup.

Ingredients

one can of Condensed Cream of Mushroom soup

one soup can of very hot or boiling water, more if needed

1/2 cup dried Porcini mushrooms, broken into small pieces*

1/2 cup dried Shitake mushrooms, broken into small pieces, stems discarded*

salt and pepper TT

Directions

Pour contents of soup can into a saucepan; save can

Wash empty soup can clean, add  mushroom pieces  and fill can with very hot to boiling water.

Allow to soak until mushrooms have absorbed water and are completely soft and pliable. 

Drain the hydrated  mushrooms thru a strainer into measuring cup or other similar container and   press on  mushrooms to extract as much mushroom broth, as possible, Remove the mushrooms and reserve, saving the broth. Put the broth  back in can  and add more water, if necessary,  to make one can full.

Directions

There are two ways to finish the soup to your liking:

1 - Chunky;

Chop mushrooms into whatever size you desire, if you would like your soup to have pieces of mushroom in your final soup.

Add both mushrooms and mushroom broth into pan containing the condensed soup.

2 - Smooth

Put hydrated mushrooms and mushroom broth into food processor, blend until totally smooth and  add mixture into the pan containing the condensed soup

Whichever method  you choose, mix  mushroom /mushroom  broth with the condensed soup, mix thoroughly, adjust seasoning, heat and serve.

* You can use only one or as many other kinds of dried mushrooms in this recipe, if that is your preference.