Parsnip soup with mushrooms

Ingredients

• 4 Dutch carrots washed, peeled and roughly chopped
• 4 extra large Parsnips washed, peeled and roughly chopped. Discard inner stem if tough and woody
• 2 large white onions roughly chopped
• 50g pkt of whole dried shitake mushrooms
• 4 large Chestnut mushrooms roughly sliced
• Bunch of thyme
• 1l chicken or vegetable stock
• 2 bay leaves
• A couple of large knobs of butter
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Begin by putting the shitake mushrooms into a bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to sit.
2. Now put the onion, parsnip and carrots and little bit of the thyme into a deep, heavy-based pan with the butter and cook until well softened.
3. Add the stock, bay leaves, some more thyme, shitake mushrooms, half the chestnut mushrooms, a little more butter, a good pinch of salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for around 15-20 minutes.
4. Allow to cool slightly, remove the bay leaves and and woody stems from the thyme and then blitz in the blender of your choice. If it’s too thick, add a little water.
5. In a small fry pan, quickly cook the remaining mushrooms in some butter.
6. Assemble the soup into some bowls, garnish with the cooked mushrooms, a sprinkle of thyme leaves, a swirl of crème fraiche (optional) and serve with some toasted buttery sourdough and a lovely glass of Zinfandel.

http://caroandco.com.au/2019/08/parsnip-soup-with-mushrooms/