This Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup recipe uses veggies to thicken the rich and flavorful broth. It’s the perfect bowl of warm comfort food that’s ideal on a cold winter’s day.
The past few weeks our Alaskan weather has been a little nutty. There were several days that were sub-zero (-20 degrees F at my house, up to -60 below further up north… crazy, right?!), and then it warmed up and we got a TON of snow (like, 2-3 feet)! This is the most snow we’ve gotten in the past 4-5 years. It’s been wonderful (and refreshing), but has made driving a little more challenging.
With the cold temps, especially the sub-zero ones, I’ve been making a lot of soup for dinner, including this Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup recipe.
This is a recipe I’ve made variations of for years – I just never kept track of what I threw in the pot. I finally got my act together and wrote the recipe down, and I’m confident several of you will be thrilled that I did.
Cream of mushroom soup was my favorite soup when I was a kid. My mom used to buy me the canned variation in bulk. While I never would buy the canned soup now, I definitely wanted to recreate it and make it healthier (not to mention dairy-free).
There is no starch used in this recipe to thicken the broth, instead I use the veggies. The result is a rich and velvety soup, with small chunks of mushrooms and other veggies scattered throughout; it’s incredibly flavorful.
The 3 different mushrooms (white button, crimini & porcini) create the distinct mushroom flavor I love.
How to make Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup
- In a 6 to 8-quart stockpot or Dutch oven, warm the oil over high heat. Add the white button mushrooms, crimini mushrooms, leaks, carrots, sweet onion, garlic cloves, dried thyme, and dried parsley. Season with sea salt and ground pepper, and cook 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the dried porcini mushrooms, canned coconut milk, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, and then simmer 20 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, and blend half of the soup in a blender until smooth (this makes the “cream” base). Pour the blender contents back into the soup pot, and stir well.
- Taste the soup, and season with more sea salt to taste. Enjoy!
If you are a meat eater, you could serve this soup as a side to roast chicken or steak. If you aren’t a meat eater, or simply want a lighter meal, serve it with a side salad, or even on its own. The soup is so hearty and filling everyone will be satisfied.
Happy cooking!
xoxo,
Megan (with a long E)
Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe:
Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup
This Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup recipe uses veggies to thicken the rich and flavorful broth. It’s the perfect bowl of warm comfort food that’s ideal on a cold winter’s day.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or ghee for non-vegan)
- 16 ounces white button mushrooms, sliced & then chopped
- 8 ounces crimini mushrooms, sliced & then chopped
- 3 cups chopped leaks
- 2 cups diced carrots
- ½ cup diced sweet onion
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- sea salt & ground pepper
- 0.5 ounces dried porcini mushrooms
- 14 ounces canned coconut milk (full fat, I prefer the Aroy-D brand]
- 8 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth for non-vegan)
Instructions
- In a 6 to 8-quart stockpot or Dutch oven, warm the oil over high heat. Add the white button mushrooms, crimini mushrooms, leaks, carrots, sweet onion, garlic cloves, dried thyme, and dried parsley. Season with sea salt and ground pepper, and cook 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the dried porcini mushrooms, canned coconut milk, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, and then simmer 20 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, and blend half of the soup in a blender until smooth (this makes the “cream” base). Pour the blender contents back into the soup pot, and stir well.
- Taste the soup, and season with more sea salt to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
This soup really needs to be seasoned well with sea salt; however, I can’t give you an exact amount/measurement of salt to use, because every broth is different in the amount of salt it contains.
Not a fan of coconut?! My husband isn’t either, yet he really enjoys this soup. You can’t detect coconut in the end result. Part of that might also be the brand of coconut milk I use. I can’t recommend the Aroy-D brand enough – it’s exceptional.
Blender vs. Immersion BlenderI own both of these appliances, but I find with this soup recipe, I want half of the soup super creamy, and I want to leave the other half chunky. I can control this by placing half of the soup contents in a blender. I cannot control the outcome using an immersion blender, because it blends everything (and it doesn’t get the soup as creamy as a blender). That said, it’s all a matter of personal preference, so feel free to do whatever you like.
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Lanna says
Yikes, that’s really cold! My husband goes to Anchorage a lot for work, I think it’s “warmer” there than where you are. This soup sounds so good. Do you know if it can be frozen? I was looking for a recipe for cream of mushroom soup replacements.
Megan says
I’m about an hour’s drive north of Anchorage. It is a bit chillier up here because we are more inland, but not by much (maybe 10 degrees?).
Thank you! That’s a great question about the soup. I’ve actually never frozen it before. I think it would be okay though. The coconut milk might change texture a little bit, but overall, I think it would be just fine.
Hannu M. says
Good stuff – thanks for writing down this recipe, Megan! Will share it with many friends so that some of them will make some for me. 😉 Method to my madness . . .
Megan says
You bet, Hannu, thank you! And I want your friends! HA! 😉
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
I think it’s REALLY cold when it is, like, 49 degrees in Malibu. What would I ever do in -20?
Eat YOUR soup, that’s for sure!
Megan says
I guess it all depends on what you’re used to. 😉 I’ve lived here my whole life (or all but the first year of my life), you get used to it! But I’d never survive a summer in Malibu, that’s for sure! Ha ha!
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
We’ve had a lot of snow too. It is definitely refreshing but trying to shovel the driveway is a nightmare!
Megan says
I totally get that, Michelle! Same here. 😉
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
Our temperatures are NOTHING like y’all’s here in Dallas, but I get wanting a warm, comforting soup for dinner. It’s been cold here (for our standards, ha ha), and I wish I had a bowl of this tonight. Stay warm!
eat good 4 life says
This is the bomb. I hate those cream of soups that come in a can. I am sure this taste a thousand times better!
Cathy @ Noble Pig says
A creamy mushroom soup has always been a favorite of mine. This is a nice dairy free version.
Lauren @ Hall Nesting says
This came just in time one of our family friends was asking about a vegan cream of mushroom soup!
Megan says
Bravo! Cream of XXX soups can be so difficult being dairy free. This looks spot on–probably even better!
Jessica says
Could you use almond milk?
Megan says
You could, but to me, it would taste funky. I know I wouldn’t like it if I used almond milk as a replacement for the coconut milk.
Molly G says
I made this tonight it was amazing! I couldn’t find porcini mushrooms but shiitake worked in a pinch. So very yummy! I will make it again. Thanks for the recipe.
Megan says
That’s great! Thanks for sharing your substitution. Very happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Lori L Moody says
Coconut gives me a rash. Is there another milk that can be used?
Mēgan says
Maybe unsweetened almond milk?
Larissa says
I absolutely loved this milk. We made it last winter and devoured it. Will definately be part of my recipe book for cold days once or twice a year. Thanks.
Larissa says
I don’t know how to fix my last comment but it’s supposed to say “i absolutely loved this soup”. Lol.
Mēgan says
Ha!! 🙂 Thanks so much for coming back here and letting me know you loved it, Larissa! I appreciate that!