This vegan cream of mushroom soup is pure comfort food. It’s rich, creamy, and full of delicious flavour from plenty of mushrooms and nutritional yeast (which gives it a dairy-like flavour). Whether you’re strictly vegan, prefer to avoid dairy, or are just trying to incorporate more plant-based meals in your diet, you should absolutely get to enjoy a rich, creamy bowl of soup.
Main Ingredients
This soup tastes like it’s full of cream and butter, but the creaminess actually comes from cashews that have been soaked and then blended. The cashews provide all the creaminess one could want, and act as the perfect dairy substitute in this plant-based mushroom soup recipe.
Mushrooms and thyme are a classic flavour combination, so fresh thyme is my herb of choice in this recipe. If you don’t have any fresh thyme you can substitute dried thyme, basil, or parsley.
Nutritional yeast gives the soup a slightly “cheesy” flavour that pairs well with creaminess of the blended cashews. It also enhances the flavour of the mushrooms. If you’re not a fan of nutritional yeast, or simply don’t have any, you can omit it and the soup will still be delicious.
Method
To make this dairy-free cream of mushroom soup, start by soaking the cashews. Place the cashews in a bowl, then pour freshly boiled water over the cashews and allow them to soak for one hour.
While the cashews are soaking you can sauté the mushrooms and onions. The secret flavour booster in this soup comes from sautéing the mushrooms and onions until they’re caramelized. That golden caramelization adds a lovely depth of flavour to the soup, so I definitely wouldn’t skip that step.
Once the mushrooms and onions have been sautéed to golden, caramelized perfection, you can reserve a few of the mushrooms to use as a garnish if you like.
Next you’ll blend everything together until a creamy puréed texture is achieved.
The last step is to heat the soup to your desired temperature, garnish with a few of those mushrooms you reserved, and enjoy.
This is such a delicious and easy vegan soup recipe that even dairy lovers will approve of.
More Vegan Soup Recipes
For another rich and creamy dairy-free soup, try this vegan cream of cauliflower soup. It’s filling, delicious, and easy to make.
Or try this paleo butternut squash soup recipe. It’s full of flavour and perfect during the colder months.
This vegan cream of asparagus soup is perfect in the springtime or whenever you can get your hands on some fresh asparagus.
Vegan Cream Of Mushroom Soup (with Nutritional Yeast)
Equipment
- Blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 4 cups of chopped mushrooms
- 2 cups chopped onions
- 2 cloves chopped garlic
- 1 cup of soaked cashews (soak for 1 hour in 1 cup of boiling water, then drain and rinse)
- 3 cups water
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme (or substitute 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pot or frying pan, sauté the mushroom, onions, garlic and thyme until everything is golden and caramelized.
- Once they’re ready you can reserve a few mushroom for garnish if you like.
- In a food processor (or blender), add the soaked cashews and 1 cup of water and process until smooth and creamy.
- Add the sautéed mushrooms/onions to the food processor and process for a couple more minutes until a purée texture is achieved.
- Add the purée to the pot along with the remaining 2 cups of water, salt, pepper and nutritional yeast and simmer on low heat until the soup is heated through.
- Serve hot.
- Makes approximately 5 cups of dairy-free cream of mushroom soup.
Notes
- Store the soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days and reheat before serving.
Nutrition
I’m Jennifer, the author at A Sweet Alternative. I create simple, gluten-free recipes made with nutritious ingredients.