Ingredients

  • 1 ounce dried mushrooms (about 1 cup), such as porcinis or shiitakes
  • 1 bunch beets (4 medium or 3 large), with greens, the beets peeled and quartered, the greens stemmed, washed and coarsely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, 2 thinly sliced and 1 minced
  • Salt
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • ½ pound white or cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
  • A bouquet garni made with 10 parsley stems, 2 bay leaves, 6 black peppercorns, 2 sprigs thyme and 3 allspice berries, tied in a cheesecloth bag
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt for garnish (optional)
  • Nutritional Information
    • Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

      137 calories; 4 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 22 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 10 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 106 milligrams sodium

    • Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.

6 servings

Preparation

  1. Place dried mushrooms in a bowl and pour on 3 cups boiling water. Let sit 30 minutes, then strain through a cheesecloth-lined strainer set over a bowl. Squeeze mushrooms over the strainer to extract any remaining flavorful liquid. Rinse mushrooms in several changes of water, and chop.
  2. While mushrooms are soaking, combine beets, sliced garlic and 1 quart of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt and the sugar, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
  3. Remove beets from water using a slotted spoon or skimmer and transfer to a bowl; allow to cool until you can handle them. Cut into small dice or into julienne (about 1/4-inch wide by 1 inch long). Add enough of the broth from the beets to the mushroom broth to make 6 cups combined broth.
  4. Heat oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven and add onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring, until just tender, about 5 minutes, and add a generous pinch of salt and the minced garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute, and add white mushrooms. Cook, stirring often, until mushrooms begin to sweat. Add chopped dried mushrooms, the 6 cups combined mushroom and beet broth, the simmered beets and the bouquet garni. Bring to a boil, add salt to taste, reduce heat, cover and simmer 30 minutes.
  5. Add chopped beet greens and simmer another 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar. Taste and adjust seasonings. Remove bouquet garni, stir in chopped parsley and serve, garnishing each bowl with a generous dollop of yogurt if desired.

Tip

  • You can make this soup a few days ahead, and it freezes well for a couple of months. Don’t add the parsley until serving.

1 1/2 hours

Dining and Cooking