Wild Rice & Mushroom Soup

Step 1

Put the salt, thyme, whole garlic clove and 6 cups cold water in a medium heavy bottom saucepan. Bring to a boil and add the wild rice. Lower the heat but maintain a steady boil. Cover and cook until the rice is tender, about 40-45 minutes. Remove the thyme stems and garlic clove and discard. Drain the rice and set aside.

Step 2

Place the porcini in a 2-cup measure. Pour 1 1/2 cups boiling water over the mushrooms and set aside until soft, about 15 minutes.

Step 3

In a large soup pot, melt 1 tablespoon butter with the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the Crimini mushrooms, minced garlic, sliced leek and tomato paste to the butter, olive oil mixture. Cook stirring occasionally until the mushrooms release their liquid, about 10 minutes. Remove the porcini from the water using a slotted spoon (reserve liquid). Chop the porcini and add to the pot with the leeks and mushrooms.

Step 4

Sprinkle the flour over the cooking vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, until the flour starts to stick to the bottom of the pot. Add the wine, vegetable broth and the reserved liquid from the porcini (pouring slowly so as to leave any grit behind.) Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a steady simmer, and cook for 15 minutes.

Step 5

Combine the remaining 4 tablespoons butter, fine sea salt, ground black pepper and parsley in a small bowl. Set aside.

Step 6

Add the cooked wild rice to the vegetables and broth and cook for 10 minutes. Add the cream and soy sauce and cook until heated through. Serve with a dollop of parsley butter on each bowl.