Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

Name: Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 1 1/2 cups (1 can)
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) salted butter; 1/4 cup white onion, finely chopped; 3/4 cup mushrooms, finely chopped (I used 1/2 crimini + 1/2 button); 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup mushroom broth (beef broth or vegetable broth is fine too); 1/2 cup milk (I used 2%); 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 pinch salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

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This creamy, condensed cream of mushroom soup is easy to make, and it’s perfect to use in soups, casseroles, and lots of other dishes. Plus, it can be kept in the fridge for up to 1 week and kept frozen for 2 months. Simply defrost to room temperature before using in your recipes!

Guess what day it is? Make-your-own-homemade-cream-of-mushroom-soup, day!

Hurray! Gone are the days of eating goopy, gloppy ‘cream of crap soup’ in your favorite soups and casseroles. I’ll admit i’ve used my share of condensed cream of [something or other] soup cans in the past, countless times. But once you’ve tried the taste of homemade condensed mushroom soup, you’ll never enjoy the taste of gunky, goopy canned soup ever again. Of course there are several questionable ingredients in those soup cans and whether you choose them or not is totally your choice. No soapbox foodie issues here, thankyouverymuch.

Once you’ve made my version of homemade condensed mushroom soup, trust me, you’ll think twice before using the canned stuff, simply because 1.) it tastes WAY better. Like, bringing casseroles and soup to a whole new playing field, better. Like Paula Deen or Ina Garten made it, better. 2.) you can make a large batch ahead of time and refrigerate/freeze it for later use.

Have you noticed how all the best, creamy and comforting recipes call for condensed soups? Like the classic green bean casserole that graces almost every other table on Thanksgiving. Or the easiest shortcut to good tasting chicken pot pies. And how sometimes cream of mushroom soup is used to transform other soups, like, chicken and wild rice.

I have to say, I do have a little proud-housewife-moment when I use butter, milk, flour, fresh mushrooms, and spices to make a homemade condensed soup. Rather than dumbing a can of jiggly, grey matter into my chicken and rice casserole, I can add in my homemade version and completely transform any recipe.

A few ingredients that you’ve already got in the pantry and a handful of mushrooms is all you need to make condensed mushroom soup at home. It’s simpler than simple! And might I add, the taste of homemade condensed soup takes whatever recipe you’re adding it to 10x better. If you’re using it to just make cream of mushroom soup, use equal parts condensed soup and equal parts milk. Voila!

An ingredient that you’ll find in my cream of mushroom soup that isn’t an ingredient in most condensed soup recipes is the mushroom broth that’s used to enhance the mushroom flavor. If you can’t find mushroom broth in your local grocery store, beef broth (or vegetable broth for the vegetarians) works just fine too. The mushroom and/or beef broth gives the condensed mushroom soup a much heartier flavor.

A double or triple batch of this stuff is perfect to make ahead of time and store in ‘can size’ portions in the freezer. All you need to do is defrost it before you use it for your recipe.

How simple is that? And the taste — TOTALLY WORTH IT.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups (1 can)