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    Home » Recipes » Soups

    Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup

    Posted: Dec 13, 2019 by Lori Modified: Feb 26, 2022 · This post contains affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Truly the BEST Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup! Made with whole-food ingredients, this soup is so incredibly luscious and rich tasting. Don't be surprised if you find yourself savoring every spoonful! With both fresh and dried mushrooms and a hint of rosemary, this vegan cream of mushroom is easy enough for a weekday and amazing enough for special occasions. Oil-free, gluten-free, and coconut-free.

    thick cream of mushroom soup in blue bowls.

    The Inspiration For Vegan Mushroom Soup

    Calling all mushroom fans! Portabella, baby bella, shiitake, porcini, or even white button mushrooms; if you love them you are in the right place! 

    Oh boy, does this soup have me excited! Although I wish I could take credit for this beautiful mushroom soup, credit for this recipe goes to my friend Andrew. 

    I met Andrew through mutual friends when we crossed paths at a few events. Quickly we identified our common interest in cooking healthy plant-based recipes and from then on we were instant foodie friends.

    Andrew has moved south to sunny Florida, but we stay in touch on Facebook. Recently, he reached out and suggested we partner up to create this creamy mushroom soup recipe. He had an idea in mind for the method, and we started emailing back and forth. 

    Andrew tested this soup recipe multiple times, which is no small feat amid a Florida summer. I made it a couple of times, too, but it truly only took one glance at his recipe notes for me to know it was going to be a total winner!

    overhead shot of soup in a blue bowl.

    Key Ingredients

    This soup isn't complicated at all, and the result is a delicious soup, vegan in all its glory, that does NOT call for butter, all-purpose flour, or coconut cream milk.

    One crucial step that makes this recipe different from most vegan cream of mushroom soups is the "tea" made by steeping dried porcini mushrooms with rosemary (fresh or dried). This tea adds an extra layer of flavor that puts this soup over the top.

    A small number of raw cashews plus natural arrowroot or corn starch provide thickening and an ultra-creamy mushroom soup.

    How To Make Vegan Cream of Mushroom

    Before I scare you into thinking this "mushroom tea" sounds fancy, let me reassure you, it is not! If you can boil water you can make this tea.

    The basic flow goes like this:

    1. Steep the dried mushrooms and rosemary in hot water for about 20 minutes.
    1. While the dried mushrooms and rosemary steep, sauté an onion and 1 pound of cremini mushrooms in a large stockpot.
    1. Then add the "tea" to a blender with ½ cup raw cashews. Blend until smooth (see photos below). You with me?
    making a tea with dried porcini mushrooms and rosemary.

    Back to the saute; because this is an oil-free recipe, you'll use a small amount of vegetable broth to soften the onion and mushrooms, prevent sticking, and help them along in the process.

    The mushrooms will release a lot of moisture, so you shouldn't need to add any broth while that's happening (just listen for the sizzle).

    sautéing cremini (baby bella) mushrooms, onion and garlic.

    Next, add minced garlic to the pan, more broth if needed, and two tablespoons of tamari.

    Continue to cook, occasionally stirring, until all the liquid has evaporated from the mushrooms and they're looking lovely and soft.

    The total cook time for the sauté is around 25 minutes.

    caramelizing the onion and mushrooms.

    With the tea/cashew mixture blended and the mushrooms cooked, all that's left is to add the vegetable broth to the pot and dissolve a bit of arrowroot (or corn starch) in cool water. 

    Bring the broth to a simmer. Add the contents of the blender and the arrowroot slurry to the pot. Whisk and cook until thickened.

    Voila! Swoon-worthy vegan cream of mushroom soup.

    close up showing creamy texture with large chunks of mushroom.

    What To Serve With Vegan Cream of Mushroom

    Obviously, you can enjoy a bowl of this velvety soup all by itself. It's also fantastic served over brown rice or quinoa with a side of steamed broccoli or kale.

    Another option is to omit the water to produce a slightly thicker soup. Then use the condensed mushroom soup as a sauce for pasta, or simmer it with vegan meatballs, tofu, tempeh, or seitan.

    Tips

    Make a delicious recipe better with my tried and true recommendations:

    If omitting the water to create a thicker condensed soup or sauce, whisk the arrowroot into the broth before adding it to the pot.

    If you're not familiar with thickeners like arrowroot and corn starch, the idea is to dissolve them in cool liquid first because as soon as they hit the heat they begin to thicken. If you add the starch directly to the hot soup, you'll end up with clumps of starch, which is no good.

    I don’t think it needs it, but if you like, add salt and pepper to taste once the soup is done.

    I haven't tried this yet in a casserole that calls for cream of mushroom, but I'm sure it would work beautifully. Be sure to let us know in the comments below if you experiment.

    Storage

    Store leftover soup in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Can also be frozen for up to 1 month.

    creamy vegan mushroom in blue bowls against a dark background.

    With zero coconut milk, oil, or butter in sight, you won't believe how wonderfully rich and satisfying this Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup is! I hope you give it a try and love it as much as we do. 

    As always, I would love to hear from you if you try this soup. I'm sure it would make Andrew's day, too! So please leave us a comment and a star rating below to share your feedback.

    You can also show off your soup on Instagram. Be sure to tag me with @myquietkitchen so I'll see it.

    You might also like:

    • Vegan Mushroom Stew With Potatoes
    • Easy Vegan Mushroom Gravy (oil-free)
    • Creamy Vegetable Noodle Soup
    • Cream of Kale Soup
    • Easy Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms
    • Whole-Wheat Crackers (oil-free)
    healthy mushroom soup in a blue bowl with slices of baby bella.

    Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup

    Author: Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen
    This Vegan Cream of Mushroom is so rich and loaded with flavor yet deceptively light and healthy! Dried porcini mushrooms are steeped with rosemary and then blended with a small amount of cashews, while fresh mushrooms are slowly caramelized with onion and garlic. The result is a deeply satisfying vegan cream of mushroom soup worth savoring.
    WFPB and free from oil, gluten, and coconut.
    Yield: makes 8 cups
    Servings: 6 servings
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 30 mins
    Total Time: 45 mins

    Equipment

    • pasta/soup pot
    • high-speed blender

    Ingredients 

    • ½ ounce dried porcini mushrooms - Often sold in 1 ounce packets, this allows you to make 2 batches of soup from one pack. Feel free to use .75 or 1 ounce for even more flavor.
    • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary or 1 tsp dried
    • 2 cups water, divided
    • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
    • 16 ounces cremini (baby bella) mushrooms, sliced
    • black pepper
    • 4 cloves garlic, divided; mince 2 cloves and leave 2 whole
    • ½ cup raw cashews
    • 4 cups vegetable broth
    • 2 Tablespoons tamari (or soy sauce if not gluten-free)
    • 3 Tablespoons arrowroot starch or corn starch
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Combine the porcinis and rosemary in a small bowl. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil, and pour into the bowl. Steep for 20 minutes.
    • Preheat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and ¼ cup broth. Stirring occasionally, cook 3 to 5 minutes or until translucent. Add the sliced mushrooms, and continue to cook until softened and lightly caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes.
    • In the meantime, combine the mushroom-rosemary "tea" with the cashews and 2 whole cloves of garlic in a blender. Blend until smooth, adding a bit of the broth to keep it moving, if needed. Set aside.
    • To the soup pot add black pepper, 2 cloves of minced garlic, and tamari, and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes or until all moisture has evaporated.
    • Add the remaining broth to the soup pot and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the blended mixture.
    • Dissolve the arrowroot into the remaining cup of water. Add this to the soup pot, and continue to whisk/stir. Cook until thickened, about 3 minutes.

    Notes

    Tips
    For a thicker, condensed mushroom soup omit the 2nd cup of water and dissolve the starch in the broth instead. This condensed mushroom soup can be used as a sauce for pasta, or simmered with vegan meatballs, tofu, tempeh, etc.
    Storage
    Store leftover soup in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Can be frozen for up to one month.

    Estimated Nutrition (per serving)

    Serving: 1.33cupsCalories: 121kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 6gFat: 5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 735mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 356IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1.8mg

    Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.

    Did you try the recipe?I LOVE hearing from you! Comment below to let us know.
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    Comments

    1. mppaul

      October 24, 2021 at 9:18 pm

      Would this work with portabella mushrooms

      Reply
      • Lori

        October 25, 2021 at 6:54 am

        Yes, absolutely.

        Reply
    2. Andrea

      January 22, 2021 at 1:32 pm

      I’ve made mushroom soup for years, the traditional way with butter and cream. While looking for a vegan, oil free version to use some dried mushrooms I had on hand I landed on your recipe and all I can say is wow!! I can’t believe how rich and creamy it is, better than my traditional recipe and healthy enough to enjoy anytime!

      Reply
      • Lori

        January 24, 2021 at 7:49 am

        What a wonderful review! Thanks, Andrea. I'm so glad you loved it.

        Reply
    3. Michelle

      February 21, 2020 at 5:49 pm

      My favourite mushroom soup recipe! (Vegan or not)

      Reply
      • Lori

        February 22, 2020 at 7:32 am

        Thanks, Michelle! So glad to hear it. 😀

        Reply

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    Lori Rasmussen, Owner/Creator

    Hi, I'm Lori. Welcome to My Quiet Kitchen where I share easy vegan recipes with a healthier twist. Many are special diet-friendly or easily adapted. I also have a passion for veganizing classic desserts, and sometimes even those get a healthy-ish makeover.

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