Cream of mushroom soup is a simple type of
soup where a basic
roux
Roux () is a mixture of flour and fat cooked together and used to thicken sauces. Roux is typically made from equal parts of flour and fat by weight. The flour is added to the melted fat or oil on the stove top, blended until smooth, and cook ...
is thinned with
cream
Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process ...
or
milk
Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modula ...
and then
mushrooms
A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans.
The standard for the name "mushroom" is ...
and/or mushroom
broth
Broth, also known as bouillon (), is a savory liquid made of water in which meat, fish or vegetables have been simmered for a short period of time. It can be eaten alone, but it is most commonly used to prepare other dishes, such as soups, ...
are added. It is well known in North America as a common type of
condensed canned soup. Cream of mushroom soup is often used as a base ingredient in
casseroles and
comfort food
Comfort food is food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value to someone, and may be characterized by its high caloric nature, high carbohydrate level, or simple preparation. The nostalgia may be specific to an individual, or it may app ...
s. This use is similar to that of a mushroom-flavored
gravy
Gravy is a sauce often made from the juices of meats that run naturally during cooking and often thickened with wheat flour or corn starch for added texture. The gravy may be further coloured and flavoured with gravy salt (a simple mix of salt ...
.
History
Soups made with cream and mushrooms are much older than the canned variety. Ancient
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
(Salsa colla) and
French (
Béchamel) cream sauces, and soups based on them have been made for many hundreds of years. In America, the
Campbell Soup Company began producing its well-known "Cream of Mushroom Soup" in 1934.
Regional usage
Canned cream of mushroom soup has been described as "America's
béchamel". In
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, the ingredient is often called "
Lutheran
Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Cathol ...
binder," in reference to its thickening properties
and its prominence in
hotdish recipes, especially in Lutheran church cookbooks.
See also
*
Bisque (food)
Bisque is a smooth, creamy, highly seasoned soup of French origin, classically based on a strained broth ( coulis) of crustaceans. It can be made from lobster, langoustine, crab, shrimp or crayfish. Alongside chowder, bisque is one of the most ...
*
Clam chowder
Clam chowder is any of several chowder soups in American cuisine containing clams. In addition to clams, common ingredients include diced potatoes, salt pork, and onions. Other vegetables are not typically used. It is believed that clams were ...
*
Green bean casserole
*
List of mushroom dishes
This is a list of notable mushroom dishes and foods, comprising foodstuffs prepared using mushrooms as a primary ingredient.
Edible mushrooms have variety of benefits when consumed. They have essential nutrients we need for a healthy life, includ ...
*
List of cream soups
*
Oyster stew
*
List of soups
This is a list of notable soups. Soups have been made since Ancient history, ancient times.
Some soups are served with large chunks of meat or vegetables left in the liquid, while others are served as a broth. A broth is a flavored liquid usua ...
*
Tuna casserole
Tuna casserole is a casserole primarily made with pasta (or rice) and canned tuna, with peas and corn sometimes added. The dish is often topped with potato chips, corn flakes, bread crumbs or canned fried onions. Tuna casserole is a common dish ...
*
Vegetable soup
Vegetable soup is a common soup prepared using vegetables and leaf vegetables as primary ingredients. It dates to ancient history, and is a mass-produced food product in contemporary times.
Overview
Vegetable soup is prepared using vegetables, ...
*
List of vegetable soups
This is a list of vegetable soups. Vegetable soup is a common soup prepared using vegetables and leaf vegetables as primary ingredients.
Vegetable soups
* Atama soup – a vegetable and palm nut soup that originates in South Nigeria.
*
*
...
*
Mushroom sauce
Mushroom sauce is a white or brown sauce prepared using Edible mushroom, mushrooms as its primary ingredient. It can be prepared in different styles using various ingredients, and is used to top a variety of foods.
Overview
In cooking, mushroom ...
References
External links
(Mushroom) Cream Soup Substitute recipe (using dried bullion)Cream of Portabella Mushroom Soup
{{Soups
Cream soups
Cuisine of the Midwestern United States
Mushroom dishes