Creamy Mushroom Bisque

A bowl of mushroom bisque.

What is it about bisque that’s so luxurious?  Is it the velvety texture?  The way it slides down your throat with no effort at all?  Maybe it’s the cream that coats your tongue?  Maybe that hint of sherry that makes it feel so highbrow?  All of the above?  Probably.

chopped mushrooms

Whatever the draw — in my mind, bisques are automatically elevated  past mere soup-dom.  Bisques exist in the land of servants and Downton Abbey, not in my 3-bedroom ranch.

sauteed onions
mushrooms in a pot with wooden spoon

Except this one.   Ready in under an hour and  it doesn’t require any special tools or experience.  A pot and a blender are all you need.

mushrooms broth and herbs with spoon

And oohh, is it good!  Perfumed with Manzanilla Sherry (the lightest variety) and made lush with a solid dose of cream, this bisque delivers flavor!

Newsletter Signup
Join our community of food lovers!

Get my latest recipes, helpful kitchen tips and more good things each week in your inbox.

mushroom bisque in a blender

Serve it with a salad and crust of bread for a delicious vegetarian dinner, or ladle out a cup to company before the main course.  Wouldn’t this be a fine starter for Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas?  

creamy mushroom bisque on a wooden board
creamy mushroom bisque in a bowl with a spoon

Tried this recipe? Leave a rating and review.

Your comments and shares are invaluable to me and the thousands of readers who use this site daily. If you've made the recipe, leave a star rating and review. We want to hear how you liked it.

We'd love it if you shared the recipe with your friends on social media!

Print Pin
3.57 from 16 votes

Creamy Mushroom Bisque

Make this creamy mushroom bisque ahead of time and reheat it just before serving.  Makes a delicious appetizer before a main course.
Author: Lisa Lotts
Course Appetizer, Soup
Cuisine American
Keyword bisque, mushrooms
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6

INGREDIENTS:

for soup

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 24 ounces crimini or button mushrooms trimmed and quartered
  • teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 cups homemade vegetable broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 sprigs thyme
  • 1 small sprig rosemary
  • 1 cup cream
  • 2 tablespoons sherry preferably Manzanilla
  • salt and pepper to taste

for garnish

  • a drizzle of cream
  • sauteed mushroom slices
  • chopped fresh chives

DIRECTIONS:

  • In a large dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add onions and sauté until softened and slightly translucent. Add the mushrooms and salt, stir to combine. Cover and cook for 5-6 minutes until the mushrooms start to give off their liquid.
  • Meanwhile, secure a small piece of kitchen string around the thyme and rosemary. Set aside.
  • Add the broth, bay leaf and thyme-rosemary bundle to the mushrooms. Stir to combine and simmer, covered for 15 minutes, until the herbs have wilted — but haven’t fallen off the stem. Remove the herbs and bay leaf and simmer uncovered for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Working in batches, ladle the mushrooms and broth into a blender. Puree until smooth. Continue until all the soup has been pureed.
  • Add the cream and sherry and mix well. Taste for seasonings, adding salt and pepper if needed.
  • Reheat the soup and ladle into bowls, topping with a swirl of cream, chopped chives and additional sautéed mushrooms, if desired.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 916mg | Potassium: 426mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 780IU | Vitamin C: 5.5mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Don’t Forget To “Pin It” For Later!

Who needs Campbell's? Homemade cream of mushroom soup is way better! This Creamy Mushroom Bisque is ready in under an hour!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Made this tonight. OMG-SOOOO good! I omitted the cream to keep it dairy free and it still had an incredible flavor. Will definitely make this again.

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed it Jill – and that the modification worked!

  2. Eat Well Outside the Box says:

    This sounds fantastic!! I need to try this ASAP! I love a good bisque the thickness of a bisque just elevates a “soup” to a whole new level! Great step by step photos I love them 🙂

    1. I’m so glad you like it! I’m planning on serving this the first course for Thanksgiving!

  3. Yum, yum , yum, I LOVE mushroom soup! This sounds amazing! 🙂 Can’t wait to try!