Hungarian Mushroom Soup Recipe {Keto & Gluten-Free}
The addition of Paprika elevates a basic soup, into a culinary delight! My Hungarian Mushroom Soup Recipe is the warm and comforting meal you’ve been craving, without the guilt. With only 5g carb it’s keto, gluten-free, grain-free, and vegetarian, too!
Whether the mushrooms are store bought, we grow them at home or we forage for them, I’ve never met a mushroom that I didn’t love. Their earthy, Unami flavor and how versatile they can be in recipes, like this one, mushrooms are a delight to my taste buds!
What is Hungarian Mushroom Soup?
Ray and I both share our ancestry from Central European countries, so it kinda feel like we are genetically drawn to the classic flavors of traditional dishes from that region, like a Hungarian cream of mushroom soup.
I’ve always enjoyed a bowl of creamy of mushroom soup, but Hungarian Mushroom Soup takes it to a whole new level of deliciousness. That is, if mushroom soup could be any more delicious, adding of paprika, brandy and herbs, served up with a generous dollop of creme fraiche is the best way to try!
Honestly, it’s all about paprika. And we’re not talking about any cheap paprika, it’s Hungarian Paprika that this vegetarian mushroom soup needs to be authentic.
According to theKitchn.com:
Paprika is considered the national spice of Hungary and it appears in the country’s most celebrated dish, goulash. Hungarian paprika is made from peppers that are harvested and then sorted, toasted, and blended to create different varieties. All Hungarian paprikas have some degree of rich, sweet red pepper flavor, but they range in pungency and heat. The eight grades of Hungarian paprika are különleges (“special quality”; mild and most vibrant red), csípősmentes csemege (delicate and mild), csemege paprika (similar to the previous but more pungent), csípős csemege (even more pungent), édesnemes(“noble sweet”; slightly pungent and bright red), félédes (semi-sweet with medium pungency), rózsa (mildly pungent and pale red), and erős (hottest and light brown to orange). In the US, what is marketed as Hungarian sweet paprikais usually the édesnemes variety.
The best part is that Hungarian Paprika is easy to find and not an expensive addition to your spice cabinet. It an also easily be used in many other recipes that call for paprika as well, so don’t worry you won’t use it anywhere else!
Which mushrooms are best for Hungarian Mushroom Soup?
When making this Keto Hungarian mushroom soup, the most obvious mushroom to use is the standard white button mushroom, which are totally fine. But I suggest trying baby bella/crimini mushrooms, if you can find them. Other similarly bodied mushrooms like oyster, king trumpet and shiitakes, etc. would be great choices as well. Feel free to use a combination of several mushrooms, if you feel like it.
They only type of mushroom that I specifically wouldn’t recommend is using in this healthy mushroom soup are black trumpet mushrooms, the are simply too delicate in texture.
I’m looking forward to making this gluten-free mushroom soup next fall with wild foraged maitake mushrooms, they are my most favorite variety. Keep your fingers crossed that the season will be bountiful for us, so that we can make this rustic Hungarian mushroom soup!
Oh and what ever you do, don’t skimp on the mushrooms. This soup needs to almost considered a Hungarian Mushroom Stew, since is so hearty!
Is Hungarian Mushroom Soup Keto?
As much as I TRY to keep the recipes that I share here varied, it’s undeniable that most of you are looking for low carb recipes and to be honest, I feel my best when I keep my carbs super low and eat keto.
The short answer is No, generally speaking Cream of Mushroom Soup and Creamy Hungarian Mushroom Soup recipes are not keto friendly since they are traditionally thickened with flour and milk. Both are high in carbs.
However, you can always count on me!! My Keto Hungarian Mushroom Soup Recipe is deliciousness in a bowl and you’ll never miss the excess carbs.
And if you aren’t keto, no worries! This recipe is also perfect if you are gluten free, grain free or vegetarian!
To make a Keto Mushroom Soup, you need to make some minor adjustments and embracing low carb ingredients. Instead of the flour thickener, we’ll rely on high fat dairy and glucomanan to provide the thickening for the soup.
The Best Keto Thickener for Soup
As someone who’s dabbled in low carb and keto eating since 1999, literally not figuratively. I have tons of experience, so when I say Glucomanan is the Best keto thickener for Soup, I mean it.
I’ve been using glucomanan as keto thickener in other recipes, too, so you might already be familiar. Like my Keto Broccoli Cheese Soup and Diary free Keto Tuna Noodle Casserole.
What is Glucomanan?
Glucomanan is a natural, water-soluble dietary fiber extracted from the roots of the elephant yam, also known as konjac. It’s available as a supplement, in drink mixes and is also added to food products, such as pasta and flour. It’s also the main ingredient in shirataki noodles.
It absorbs so much liquid that a small amount of glucomannan added to a glass of water turns the entire content into a gel, thus making it a wonderful thickening agent.
Oh, yes and it’s virtually tasteless and 100% fiber so there’s zero carbs!
Tips for Making Keto Hungarian Mushroom Soup
Now that you have your mushrooms, Hungarian paprika and glucomanan, all the other ingredients are probably things you already keep stocked in your fridge and pantry regularly.
I wanted to share a few tips for you, but if you have any other questions PLEASE feel free to comment on this post and I’ll do my best to answer you quickly!
- If you’re dairy free, use canned coconut milk instead of the heavy cream and cream cheese.
- The recipe calls for Chicken Bone Broth, but feel free to use beef broth if you have it available or vegetable broth to keep things vegetarian. For a deeper mushroom flavor you can also use mushroom broth.
- When sautéing white button mushrooms, adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice on to the raw mushrooms when you just start cooking them will help them to stay bright white and not turn brown. (my grandma taught me that trick when I was just a little kid!)
- This recipe calls for coconut aminos, but high quality fermented soy sauce or Tamari can be used instead. Choose organic and be cautious of gluten, if necessary.
- I choose to top my creamy Hungarian mushroom stew with Crème Fraîche , because I know how healthy it is to incorporate fermented foods at every meal, so I always have homemade on hand. But you can also use sour cream, if that’s easier for you.
- Dried herbs work great IN the soup, but go the extra step and make sure you’re garnishing your bowls with fresh herbs. We eat with our eyes, take pride in the foods you make for your family. Celebrate every day with them! I value fresh herbs so much that I keep them growing year round thanks to my indoor smart garden.
Here are a few related healthy mushroom soup recipes you might enjoy:
- Creamy Morel Mushroom Barley Soup
- Morel Mushroom and Ramp Chowder
- {Pressure Cooker} Creamy Shiitake Mushroom Soup
- {Pressure Cooker} Wild Mushroom Broth
- Chanterelle Mushroom Chowder with Crab & Corn
- Shiitake, Kale & White Bean Soup
I can’t wait to hear how much you love my Low Carb Hungarian Mushroom Soup! Don’t forget to share this post with your friends on Facebook, Instagram and Pin it to Pinterest, too!
Yours in Health,
Hungarian Mushroom Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 24 ounces Mushrooms, Sliced baby bella, white button, etc.
- 2 tablespoons Butter (or ghee)
- 1 medium Onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic minced or pressed
- 1 rib celery finely chopped
- 1/2 medium lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoons Hungarian Sweet Paprika
- 2 tablespoons brandy
- 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese cut into bite sized pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon organic dried dill weed
- 1/2 teaspoon organic dried chives
- 1/2 teaspoon organic dried thyme
- 4 cups Chicken Bone Broth or vegetable broth, if vegetarian
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1+ teaspoon Sea Salt to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Glucomannan or more, for desired thickness
- creme fraiche or sour cream, for garnish
Instructions
- In a dutch oven or other simiar pot, saute mushrooms in ghee over medium/high heat. Season with sea salt and lemon juice. Cook rouhgly 5 mintues or until the mushrooms have started to appear cooked.
- Add celery, onion and garlic, continue to saute for an additional 3-5 mintues.
- Increase heat to high, add brandy and cocnout aminos. Simmer until most of the liquid is evaporated (including the alcohol from the brandy)
- Add the cream cheese, stirring or using a whisk to melt until smooth. Add heavy cream and cointiue to stir.
- Pour in broth, while stirring to incorporate, add spices and seasonings. Add salt to taste. Allow soup to simmer for 5-10 mintues for the flavors to come together.
- Glucomannan can be added for a thicker soup, it does not change the taste only the consistency. I suggest starting out with 1/2 teaspoon and adding additional in 1/4 teaspoon incraments slowly.
- Garnish individual bowls with creme frachie or sour cream and additonal fresh herbs, if desired.