I don’t know about you, but before we switched over to “real food” we used to make quite a few recipes that called for canned cream of mushroom soup. With over a dozen ingredients (including MSG in some brands) this item definitely doesn’t pass the “real food” test. Even when Michael Pollan discusses the importance of cooking food yourself (to ensure you know where your food comes from) he specifically says “all bets are off…[if] you’re the kind of cook who 
starts with a can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup.”
I just assumed I would have to give up all of those old casserole, stuffing, dip, and potpie recipes…but not anymore! Thanks to a casserole recipe (pictured) that I found in Eating Well Magazine I was able to extract an easy-to-make “cream of mushroom” binding agent to use in other dishes as well. A blog reader even suggested making extra and freezing the leftovers. Now instead of reaching for a factory made ingredient out of a can how about something similar (but better of course) right out of your freezer? You certainly can’t beat knowing exactly what’s in your food!
Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup
From Eating Well magazine.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 leeks, chopped and then rinsed (or I think an equivalent amount of onion would work)
- 1 1/2 pounds mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup dry sherry, (you could experiment with other wines as well)
- 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup parsley, flat-leaf, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
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Heat oil over medium heat. Add leeks (or onion) and cook, stirring occasionally, until just starting to brown, 4 or 5 minutes.
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Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until their liquid has been released and has evaporated, 10 or 12 minutes.
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Add sherry (or other wine), increase heat to high and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
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Sprinkle the vegetables with the flour and stir to coat.
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Add milk; bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute while stirring.
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Stir in Parmesan, sour cream, parsley, salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
Recipe Notes
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
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Hi. Other than the addition of rice starch, they keep their ingredients pretty clean: https://www.pacificfoods.com/organic-cream-of-chicken-condensed-soup.
How do you feel about the Pacific organic, gluten free, condensed cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups?
I am reading your first book, and in it, there is a recipe for condensed cream of mushroom soup. Now, this is kind of a stupid question, but because it is condensed, I am assuming that I would have to add a can of milk, water, or stock to it if I wanted to serve just as soup, and not use it as part of another recipe? The final note is to use it in place of store-bought cream of mushroom soup or freeze.
It is more soupy than a typical can of condensed soup.
I just wanted to say thank you for this recipe… I’ve made it three out of four weekends this past month. I substitute chicken broth for the sherry and it works great!
Does the amount of soup that this yields, basically work as 1 can of cream soup when subbing into recipes?
It yields a bit more.
Does anyone know if this would freeze well? I would love to make a large batch and store it for later use.
Hi there. Any cream soup can separate a bit when frozen but I have found that an immersion blender works great when reheating.
Could you use potatoes instead of mushrooms and have a good recipe for Cream of Potato Soup? THANK YOU!
Hi there. I think you should give it a go and let us know. :)
Can you use coconut flour for the wheat flour?
Hi. We’ve not tried. But, coconut flour absorbs a lot more liquid so you could not sub it 1:1.
Love your Recipes!! I too love to cook from scratch. I have a question regarding cream soups. I recently substituted cornstarch for flour in a cream soup recipe to make it gluten free for a friend. It turned out great, exactly the same as with flour. My question is which is healthier wheat flour or cornstarch. I want to make it as healthy as possible.
Marcia, was your cornstarch substitution 1:1? I’d like to make with cornstarch as well. My mom and aunt make all their gravies with cornstarch and my past experience, if I didn’t get the ratio of cornstarch to liquids correct, it either didn’t thicken enough or the taste was a bit off. But I don’t quite consider myself in the ‘grandmother’s cooking’ category yet! I’m getting really close! ;)
Can this be used for most types of cream soups? Cream of Chicken, etc.
HI Sarah. While we’ve not tried, I don’t see why it would not be a good base for other cream soups.
Is there anything that is non alcoholic that can be substituted? Thanks!
Also, the wine is just to add flavour so could add stock, chicken or veg stock would be best
Hi Rebecca. I often use apple cider vinegar as a sub for wines in recipes.
Thanks Amy! I had never thought to use apple cider vinegar. I’m really excited to try it!
Do you know if this would freeze well to be able to use in future recipes?
Hi. Sure, you can freeze this.
I made the soup from the book. it says condensed so really thick.
If I want to eat as a soup, do add water or milk or more broth?
Hi Maggie. I would add milk and water to taste.
This is so delicious!!! I didn’t have wine on hand so I used homemade chicken stock instead. So yummy! Already looking forward to making it again!!
This is great, thank you. Do you have a similar substitution recipe for cream of chicken soup? I was shocked to discover MSG as an ingredient. Thanks!
Hi Jodi. We do not but this one looks pretty real: http://realfoodandrealfitness.com/2014/01/homemade-clean-eating-cream-of-chicken-soup/. :)
I just made for first time and i consider it a little condensed i added a little more sour cream and milk and will use with meat drippings to make a gravy. It is a good amount would compare to 3 cans of the “cambells” version and i only had 16oz mushrooms. I also tried to use food processor to chop up mushrooms but that resulted in a thick lumpy mushroom paste : -/ next time i will cut small and then use an immersion blender to make smoother. (If smooth is what u want i think this will work!)
Overall very easy! I think a regular onion would perhaps add a little more onion flavor. (Oh i added 2 chopped bulbs of garlic since i like garlic flavor in my gravy!
This looks wonderful. I was wondering if there’s an alternative to the Dry Sherry? We live in an alcohol free home. :)
Hi Ginger. The typical non-alcohol replacement would be cider vinegar. ~Amy
Hello,
Was wondering if you know where I can find a real food recipe for cream of chicken soup? I have a white bean chili recipe that calls for cream of chicken soup, and I’d like to make it myself. I’ve tried a few on Pinterest but they weren’t very good. Thought you could direct me to a good one. Thanks!