Creamy French Mushroom Soup with Tarragon
A velvety mushroom soup enriched with cream and fresh tarragon, perfect for a comforting French-inspired starter. This french-inspired soups ready in about 40 minutes pairs sliced button mushrooms, unsalted butter, medium, finely chopped yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 250 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz, sliced button mushrooms
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium, finely chopped yellow onion
- 2, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh tarragon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat. Add 1 medium finely chopped yellow onion and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent.
- Step 2: Add 2 minced garlic cloves and 12 oz sliced button mushrooms. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms release their moisture and become golden.
- Step 3: Sprinkle 2 tbsp all-purpose flour over the mushrooms and stir well to coat, cooking for 2 minutes to remove raw flour taste.
- Step 4: Gradually pour in 4 cups vegetable broth while stirring to avoid lumps. Bring soup to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Step 5: Remove from heat and use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth but still slightly textured.
- Step 6: Stir in 1 cup heavy cream, 2 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves. Warm soup gently over low heat for 3-4 minutes without boiling.
- Step 7: Serve hot, garnished with additional tarragon if desired.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Creamy French Mushroom Soup with Tarragon take to make?
Total time is about 40 minutes (10 min prep + 30 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Creamy French Mushroom Soup with Tarragon?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep sliced button mushrooms from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Creamy French Mushroom Soup with Tarragon?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Creamy French Mushroom Soup with Tarragon for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Creamy French Mushroom Soup with Tarragon?
French soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
