Wild Rice Mushroom Soup

This Mushroom Wild Rice Soup is the definition of comfort – it’s packed with creamy, savory flavor! Enjoy it with crusty bread.

Here’s a soup recipe that’s cozy – we think so. Wild rice mushroom soup! What’s better than a cup of steaming wild rice soup to warm your insides on a gray day? This delivers flavor: the sweet smoke of the rice, the umami of the mushrooms and the tasty parmesan are absolutely magical. We could eat it at every meal! This is a twist on our fan-favorite wild rice soup, and it’s just as satisfying.

Wild rice and mushroom soup ingredients

This Wild Rice Mushroom Soup has a slightly creamy broth that’s creamed with parmesan cheese and milk: and a bit of the soup itself is mixed in to give it the perfect body. There is no heavy cream so you feel a lightness after eating. Here’s what you should know when looking for ingredients for wild rice and mushroom soup:

• wild rice: Do not use wild rice mix! For this soup you need 100% wild rice.
• Mushrooms: It’s nice to use a mix of mushroom types: we used a mix of baby bella (cremini) and shiitake mushrooms, but you can use all white or baby bella mushrooms if you’d like.
• Onion
• celery
• carrots
• olive oil and butter
• vegetable soup
• Spices: garlic powder, thyme, oregano and dill
• salt and pepper
• milk
• parmesan cheese
• cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
• soy pasture (or tamari or coconut aminos)

Did you know that wild rice isn’t actually…rice?

Did you know that wild rice is not rice at all? (Amazing, isn’t it?) This whole grain is actually that Seeds of a native grass which grows in lakes and streams in the northern United States and Canada. Since it looks and tastes like rice, it is treated like rice in most kitchens.

Wild rice was an important staple in the diet of the indigenous peoples of the northern United States. I’m originally from Minnesota, so wild rice is part of the heritage and history of this region. We ate wild rice a lot growing up, and I like to grab bags of Minnesota wild rice when we’re home.

Use a mushroom mix

This Wild Rice Mushroom Soup goes great with any type of mushroom! But we like it with a mix of mushrooms for maximum variety of flavors and textures. Here are the types of mushrooms we recommend and the differences between them:

• Baby Bella Mushrooms (aka Cremini) are a more mature version of a white button mushroom and therefore have a stronger flavor. It’s also a baby version of a portobello mushroom that has the meatiest flavor!
• White Mushrooms: Substitute white button mushrooms if you can’t find Baby Bella! They taste and look very similar.
• Portobello mushrooms: You can use them too! Just chop them small enough. They taste like meat!
• Shiitake mushrooms: A Japanese mushroom variety with a lot of flavor. Be sure to remove hard stems before cutting.

How to Make Wild Rice Mushroom Soup

It takes about 1 hour to make, but this healthy soup is totally worth it. Most of the time it’s hands-off because the rice takes a long time to simmer. Other than that, all you have to do is chop some veggies! Here’s the main method for this Wild Rice Mushroom Soup (or jump to the recipe):

• Chop those veggies. It takes about 15 minutes to cut all the vegetables. If you need advice, visit our Knife Skills page.
• Simmer until the rice bursts. Wild rice is known to take a long time to cook: over 50 minutes. Cook this soup until most of the rice grains are popping and tender. It may seem long, but it’s important that the rice is completely tender.
• Mix 2 cups of soup to get a creamy mass. That’s the key to this soup: blending a few cups of soup together will make it thicker and creamier. Put everything in the blender: vegetables, broth and rice, then blend!

What to serve with mushroom wild rice soup

Wanna make a meal out of this? There are many great side dishes to serve with soup – here are some of our top ideas:

Vegan variations!

Looking for Vegan Wild Rice Mushroom Soup? Go for our famous Creamy Wild Rice Soup or our Vegan Creamy Mushroom Soup! They’re both ultra creamy and contain no dairy to speak of. The secret? Cashew nuts give the broth a rich creaminess. But no one will ever know they are herbs! Do you have an instant pot? Try our Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup.

Is wild rice healthier than regular rice?

Although not actually related, wild rice is often compared to brown rice. Wondering how they stack up? Here’s what you need to know:

• Wild rice has fewer calories than brown rice, about 66% less! 1 cup of cooked wild rice has 166 calories and 1 cup of brown rice has 248 calories. (Source)
• Wild rice contains slightly more protein than brown rice. 1 cup of cooked wild rice contains 6.5 grams of protein compared to 5.5 grams of brown rice. (Source)
• Wild rice and brown rice have the same amount of fiber, about 3 grams per 1 cup cooked.

This Wild Rice Mushroom Soup recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten free. For plant-based, dairy-free, and vegan dishes, opt for the creamy wild rice soup.