Delicious Tokyo Mushroom Soup Recipe to Warm Your Soul

When the chill of the evening sets in, nothing comforts quite like a warm bowl of soup. My Tokyo mushroom soup offers a unique blend of earthy flavors and delicate textures that can brighten any meal or serve as a satisfying snack. This recipe brings together the rich umami of mushrooms with subtle seasonings, creating a dish that feels both nourishing and elegant. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or new to Japanese cuisine, this soup is fast, approachable and rewarding to make.

Any mushrooms can be used to create a delicious easy soup

What Makes Tokyo Mushroom Soup Special

Tokyo mushroom soup stands out because it highlights the natural flavors of mushrooms without overpowering them.

The soup typically features a mix of mushrooms such as shiitake, enoki, and maitake, each bringing a different texture and taste. Shiitake mushrooms add a meaty, smoky note, enoki mushrooms provide a delicate crunch, and maitake mushrooms contribute a rich, woodsy flavor. Together, they create a balanced and satisfying experience. However you can use any mushrooms you have, and any combination of them. So make it easy for yourself, go to the nearest store, and just grab what you see.

Ingredients You Will Need

To prepare Tokyo mushroom soup, gather the following ingredients:

• A large bowl of mushrooms. Japan is covered (literally) in mushrooms and Tokyo is the same. You will see racks and racks of them in supermarkets and tubs of them in every vegetable market. Don't be intimidated and just buy some that look fun. You will probably need more than you think as they cook down fast.

• Large onion

• Three cloves garlic

• Glass white wine

• Salt, pepper, and some herbs (thyme, or Herbes De Provence work well).

• Pouring cream (or sour cream)

• Half to a full stick of butter.

• Stock (either dried cube stock or liquid stock). Vegetable or chicken stock can be used.

• Flour

  
  

These ingredients are easy to find in most Asian grocery stores or well-stocked supermarkets.

Easy Ten Step Prep

Follow these steps to create a delicious Tokyo mushroom soup:

1. Get a large & deep saucepan on a medium/high heat and add the butter. We are going to be using just one pan for everything. A clever cook is an efficient cook!

2. Dice onions and garlic and add to the pan.

3. Chop mushrooms and add to the pan.

4. Stir and add salt, pepper and herbs.

5. Cover pan with lid (if you have one) and cook until the vegetables are soft. This will take longer than you think. Sporadically throw some of the white wine into the pan to keep the ingredients soft and prevent overcooking. Aim to sauté everything. It should take 10-15 minutes.

6. Kill the heat. Throw a cup of flour into the pan and stir, making sure everything gets a thin coating. If you are using cube stock, break it up and throw than into the mixture also. Let this flour/vegetable mixture cook using the residual heat of the pan for 2-3 minutes, stirring. This part is key since it takes away the taste of the flour. You will end up with a very stickly mushroom mixture with it all tasting of mushrooms. Ignore this step and the end result is actually disgusting. Flour must be cooked.... Or it tastes of flour.

7. Slowly, incrementally, add the water (if using dried stock cubes) or stock (if you are using a fancy liquid vegetable/chicken stock. Use a whisk (or two forks) and mix the liquid in. Only add enough liquid to keep it thick, and add liquid slowly. After five minutes of gradual adding and stirring, you should have enough volume for the soup you want to serve.

8. Add a teaspoon of cream. The cream is very powerful so only add a tiny amount. You just want to make the soup 'pop'. Adding too much is easy, and you end up with a bowl of cream and no mushroom taste. Go slow as you can always add more if needed.

9. Serve 'rustic/farmhouse style' (no blender) or 'bistro style' by putting it in the blender to make it smooth and fancy.

10. Serve with some bread and white wine. A good French white wine will complement the soup nicely.

It is as easy as that. Good luck making the soup, and make sure to enjoy it with a friend.