Ingredients
1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 leeks, thinly sliced
2 shallots, roughly chopped
1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
3 cups fresh wild mushrooms of choice, chopped or sliced
about 5 cups nonfat beef stock
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 tbsp fat free half and half
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Preparation
Place dried porcini in a bowl and add 1 cup of warm water; let soak for half an hour. Lift out mushrooms and squeeze well to remove as much water as possible. Strain the water and reserve. Finely chop the porcini mushrooms and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan. Add leeks, shallots and garlic and cook gently until soft, but not colored. Stir often. Add wild mushrooms to pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until they begin to soften. Stir in beef broth and bring to a boil. Add chopped porcini, reserved soaking liquid, thyme, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer, half covered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pour three quarters of the soup into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Add back to the saucepan and stir well. Stir in the half and half, and heat well. If soup is too thick stir in a little more beef broth. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
