Hello! I’m Cassandre, and today on Caramel Loafing, I’m sharing a cozy, flavor-rich favorite: French Mushroom Soup (Soupe aux champignons).
This classic French mushroom soup is a comforting bistro-style dish that rivals restaurant-style chowders like clam chowder. Rich, earthy, and deeply satisfying, it pairs beautifully with crusty bread for a simple yet elegant meal.
Unlike American-style creamy mushroom soups thickened with a roux and heavy cream, this French version is naturally gluten-free, with no added flour. Its creamy texture comes from blending, not starch. Best of all, it showcases the pure flavor of mushrooms.
The base is a classic French vegetable broth made with a bouquet garni and a mirepoix of carrots, celery, and onion, along with mushroom stems for added umami. This makes it easy to adapt into a vegetarian or vegan version.
This French-style broth is incredibly versatile—perfect as a base for other soups like French Pumpkin Soup. Definitely worth trying!
When the weather cools down, there’s nothing better than a warm, creamy bowl of mushroom soup—don’t miss this one!
Love the rich, comforting flavors of this French Mushroom Soup? Then you’ll also fall in love with these other comforting and delicious recipes:
Silky-smooth with naturally sweet pumpkin flavor, a French classic: French Pumpkin Soup
Tangy, aromatic, and refreshingly spicy Thai classic soup: Tom Yum Goong (ต้มยำกุ้ง, Thai Spicy & Sour Shrimp Soup)
Creamy, comforting, and satisfying Taiwanese-style breakfast classic: Savory Soy Milk with Egg
Richly caramelized with perfectly balanced sweet and savory notes, a French classic: French Onion Soup
Sweet, creamy, and loaded with buttery corn flavor, an American classic: Corn Chowder
French Mushroom Soup Recipe
Ingredients
Serves: 3–4 people
☞ French Vegetable Broth
- 1/2 onion
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1 bunch parsley (flat-leaf or curly)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 medium carrot
- 1 stalk celery
- Whole black peppercorns, to taste
- 500ml water
☞ Mushroom Soup
- 270g (9.5 oz) fresh mushrooms, trimmed weight approx. 250g (8.8 oz)
- 15g (0.5 oz) olive oil
- 15g (0.5 oz) unsalted butter
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- Salt, to taste
- 120g (4.2 oz) heavy cream
How to Make Classic French Mushroom Soup
- Make the broth first: Gently wipe mushrooms clean with a brush or dry cloth. If they’re very dirty, rinse quickly and pat dry—do not soak. Use up rinsed mushrooms promptly.
- Twist and pull off the mushroom stems by hand—save them for broth. Slice mushroom caps and set aside.
- Peel the carrot and cut into chunks. Chop the celery into similar-sized pieces.
- Peel and halve the onion. Dice one half finely for sautéing later; leave the other half in chunks for the broth.
- In a pot, combine the chunky onion, carrot, celery, peppercorns, mushroom stems, and bouquet garni. Pour in 500ml of water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Then cover and simmer on low for 30 minutes. If doubling the recipe, extend the simmering time accordingly.
- Strain the broth and reserve the liquid. Discard solids.
- Start the mushroom soup: Heat olive oil and butter in a pot over medium heat. Once the butter melts, add chopped onions. Stir briefly, lower the heat, cover, and cook for 8 minutes until tender and translucent, without browning.
- Add mushroom slices and a pinch of salt. Stir, then cover and cook over low heat for 10–12 minutes until tender and juicy.
- Pour in the vegetable broth and heavy cream. Stir gently, cover, and simmer on low for 30 minutes. If using chilled broth and cream from the fridge, bring to a gentle simmer first over medium heat, then reduce to low for the 30-minute cook time.
- Remove about 3/4 of the soup and purée using an immersion blender, blender, or food processor until smooth. For an even silkier texture, blend in a small knob of butter or drizzle of olive oil to help emulsify.
- Return the blended soup to the pot and combine with the remaining unblended portion. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve in bowls topped with raw or pan-seared mushroom slices, toasted croutons, a drizzle of cream or a swirl of olive oil if desired.
Watch the full step-by-step process here: French Mushroom Soup Recipe Video