Creamy Mushroom Soup (façon Cappuccino)

Published: Dec 26, 2021 · Modified: May 31, 2023 by Jill Colonna39 Comments

Creamy Mushroom Soup, a healthy French champignon soup made without cream and with a delicious touch of coffee. Surprise guests by serving in coffee cups and dust with unsweetened cocoa powder like a cappuccino. What makes the soup creamy? It's thickened using a roux.

French Mushrooms (Champignons de Paris)

When I first bought mushrooms at the market in France, I was surprised to see how they were sold with such large stalks and earthy feet. They were totally different to the pale, pre-packaged mushrooms presented in cellophane punnets looking as clean as a button in supermarkets. While we can get the latter in our French supermarkets, why would I pick these if I can get the freshest, tastier ones at the local market for the same price?

Use Parisian, cremini or portobello (giant cremini) mushrooms - since I find they have more flavour than the normal white button mushrooms.

French Apéritif or Pre-Drinks Fun Teaser Dish

Have you tried savoury macarons? In France, they're great as an apéritif - my favourite part BEFORE the meal that's just so French. However, served with a mini coffee cup, this makes the best little amuse-bouche or teaser before the entrée, (starter or appetizer).

Want to take this creamy mushroom soup to the next level? Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche with truffle and the most fun mini mushroom and truffle savoury macarons.

Mushrooms with Coffee - A Combination That Works

I often serve this creamy soup as a mushroom cappuccino, served in a dinky little coffee cup. This way it guarantees surprises at the table. Especially as the touch of coffee is a delicious surprise. Added with French mini mushroom and truffle macarons, you'll have them laughing! I love seeing guests' faces when I serve this.

What wines to serve with mushrooms? Serve with Champagne or a white wine from the Jura, an Alsatian Riesling or a fruity, almost honey-like Chenin blanc.

What's more, it has coffee in it! Inspired by a starter of creamy mushroom soup in Brittany recently, the chef added a hint of coffee to the soup. Who would have thought that mushrooms and a subtle hint of coffee could work so well? On return, French scientist Raphaël Haumont also talked about this on 'Allo Docteurs, a French TV show, pointing out that mushrooms and coffee share the same taste molecules.

So my previous little cups of creamy mushroom soup have been given a make-over.

From a few experiments with this recipe, I recommend adding coffee granules at the end of cooking. For this quantity, I suggest two teaspoons but taste it for yourself and see, as it may need a touch more. It's entirely up to your taste but the secret is to have just enough to taste it but create the intrigue.

How do you Thicken Up Mushroom Soup?

Before I made this recipe without any milk or flour. However, the end result left a slight wateriness to it that seemed to split. I felt it needed a creamier texture for a better consistency - plus without the cream to keep it healthy.

So, by using the same method used for the Crème Dubarry (French cauliflower cream soup), I make a roux to create a creamy texture and gradually mix it into the soup. Here's how, step-by-step.

How to Make a Roux for Soup

Adding flour to melted butter in a saucepan — The creaminess of the soup comes by making a roux. First melt butter and whisk in flour

whisking together a paste or roux in a saucepan — then once the flour and butter are creamy, add the milk until the paste is thick then whisk in some mushroom stock and add it to the soup

I use a little milk to make a liaison with a roux of butter and flour but apart from that, there's no cream in it.

However, if you're not afraid of cream, add a small dollop of crème fraîche with a little truffle oil (or truffle shavings if you have them).

Finally top with a dusting of unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Dutch Van Houten 100%) - as this completes the cappuccino look. I use crème fraîche to make this quickly.

For an authentic cappuccino look, froth up some whipped cream (crème fleurette, 30% fat) and top to serve.