Hungarian mushroom soup

What are mushrooms exactly?

Before discussing the details of our recipe for Hungarian mushroom soup, let’s take a closer look at the key ingredient. People have been using mushrooms for thousands of years, both for culinary purposes and for medicinal ones. Although we often think of them as a vegetable, mushrooms are actually a type of fungus. Other kinds of fungi include moulds and yeasts. Specifically, a mushroom is the fruiting body of a fungus, which produces spores that help the fungus to spread. Unlike plants, mushrooms do not get their nutrients via photosynthesis. Instead, they absorb them from organic substances in the surrounding environment. Likewise, fungi take in oxygen and emit carbon dioxide – just like humans and other animals do. There are over 10,000 known types of mushrooms, and experts believe we have far more still to discover. In fact, it may be that as many as 93% of the world’s fungal species are currently unknown to us.(1) Perhaps unsurprisingly therefore, there’s enormous variation in size, shape, and colour between different kinds of mushrooms. Some are even bioluminescent, meaning that they glow in the dark! Interestingly, scientists believe that one of the largest organisms in the world is a colony of honey fungus that covers approximately 2,400 acres of land in Oregon.(2) Some mushrooms are edible, while others are toxic to humans. That’s why you should never forage for mushrooms unless you’re very confident you know how to tell the difference! Happily, many of those which are safe to eat offer a wealth of health benefits, as we’ll discuss below. And this Hungarian mushroom soup recipe is a delicious way to harness them!

The health benefits of mushrooms

Mushrooms are rich in all sorts of wellness-enhancing nutrients, providing us with plenty of potential health benefits. For example, they are one of the few non-animal sources of vitamin D.(3) This makes Hungarian mushroom soup especially useful for those on a plant-based diet. Mushrooms that are grown in sunlight or exposed to UV light have the highest concentration of this key vitamin. There’s also evidence to indicate that mushrooms could help to protect the health of the heart. Studies have found that consuming them may work to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.(4) This might be partly because mushrooms have anti-inflammatory properties and are a good source of potassium. However, further research is required to confirm how effectively they can reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. Moreover, eating mushrooms may be beneficial for the gut. Compounds they contain called polysaccharides act as prebiotics, supporting the growth of good bacteria and keeping your gut microbiome healthy.(5) This is crucial because the condition of your gut influences your physical and mental wellbeing in a multitude of ways. That includes everything from your immune system to your mood. Another potential advantage of tucking into Hungarian mushroom soup is that mushrooms are high in antioxidants. These work to prevent damage from free radicals, which experts have linked to a number of chronic health conditions. For example, the antioxidant ergothioneine in mushrooms could help reduce the risk of developing cancer and metabolic disease.(6) Interestingly, there is also evidence to suggest that consuming mushrooms can benefit your cognition. Studies have found that a higher mushroom intake might protect the brain against neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.(7)

Hearty and wholesome: our Hungarian mushroom soup recipe

If you’re after a health-boosting and fungi-filled recipe Hungarian mushroom soup is a fantastic choice. Not only that, it’s also blissfully simple to make! To begin, heat the oil and vegan butter in a pan before adding the diced shallot and chopped celery. You can always swap the shallot for onion if you’d prefer a stronger taste, or use leek for extra greenery. Sauté these for five minutes to flavour the butter and oil. This will bring a deeper overall flavour to your Hungarian mushroom soup. Then you’ll add the sliced mushrooms. We’ve recommended portobello mushrooms, but feel free to substitute these for another variety if you like. Alternatively, use an assortment of fungi so that you get a mixed Hungarian mushroom soup! Once the mushrooms are cooked, add the flour, paprika, black pepper and chilli flakes, then give the mix a stir. If you’ve made our Hungarian mushroom soup recipe before, you might like to bring some variation by using different seasonings. Rosemary, garlic, oregano, and thyme can all be great choices. Now it’s time to add the liquid ingredients. Pop the soy sauce, milk, and vegetable stock into the pan, then stir well before leaving the soup to simmer. Although we’ve suggested soy milk in the recipe, you can swap this for another plant-based milk if you prefer. Once your Hungarian mushroom soup has been simmering for about 15 minutes, leave it to stand for another five. Then it will be ready to serve! Garnish each bowl with some fresh parsley and dill, plus about a teaspoon of our organic immunity mushroom blend. This is what makes our Hungarian mushroom soup recipe extra special, as you’ll see below. But first let’s examine the health benefits of some of the seasonings.

Sensational seasonings: good for more than just flavour

Here at Erbology, we like every ingredient in our recipes to earn its place – right down to the seasonings! That’s why the spices in our Hungarian mushroom soup offer health benefits of their own in addition to flavour. Taking paprika as an example, this vibrant spice can help to promote healthy vision. This is because it contains lutein, beta-carotene, and zeaxanthin, all of which protect the eyes from damage and reduce the risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.(8) Paprika is additionally rich in iron and vitamin E, two key nutrients for creating healthy red blood cells. Similarly, black pepper contains a plant compound called piperine that could be effective at fighting inflammation.(9) This is important because inflammation contributes to a number of harmful conditions, including arthritis, heart disease and diabetes. Piperine is also a potent antioxidant, helping to reduce the damage from free radicals. Moreover, piperine may be beneficial for the health of the brain. Evidence suggests it could protect against neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease, although further research is required to confirm this.(10) Another reason to add both spices to your Hungarian mushroom soup is that they could reduce the risk of heart disease by improving your cholesterol levels.(11) Likewise, both piperine and capsaicin – a carotenoid in paprika – may enhance blood sugar management.(12) This is partly because they can improve insulin sensitivity. Finally, both black pepper and paprika contain compounds that might have cancer-fighting properties.(13) More research is necessary to clarify this, but so far, the results are looking very promising. Interestingly, as well as killing cancer cells, piperine may help to improve the efficacy of cancer treatments.

Supporting your immune system with medicinal mushrooms

The above seasonings bring plenty of benefits to this Hungarian mushroom soup. However, what truly makes the recipe special is our immunity mushroom blend. It’s time to find out why. Practitioners of traditional healthcare systems have been using medicinal mushrooms for centuries. What’s great is that modern scientific research is finding evidence to support their wellness-enriching powers. There are several types of fungi that people prize for their health benefits, from energy-boosting cordyceps to mood-enhancing lion’s mane. However, one of the main reasons for their enduring popularity is their effect on the immune system. So, how exactly do medicinal mushrooms help with immunity? Experts believe that one key factor is their high levels of beta-glucans. These are a type of polysaccharide that can stimulate the immune system. Studies indicate they may work to activate immune cells and enhance their function.(14) This in turn could reduce your risk of developing certain infections. Another reason beta-glucans have a positive effect on immunity is because they boost the health of your gut. As a prebiotic, they nourish the good bacteria in your digestive system. This is key because your gut microbiome has a significant impact on your immune function. As a bonus, beta-glucans also work to support the health of your heart. This is because they could help to lower cholesterol levels and fight inflammation, reducing your risk of developing heart disease. Navigating the world of medicinal mushrooms can be confusing, and it’s not always easy to know which fungus to choose. That’s one of the reasons why we created our immunity mushroom blend. It’s specially curated to help you harness the power of these fantastic fungi to support your immune system. Here’s why it makes such a wonderful addition to this Hungarian mushroom soup recipe.

All about our immunity mushroom blend

Our Immunity Mushroom Blend combines eight different immune-stimulating medicinal mushrooms into one convenient powder: reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane, turkey tail, shiitake, hen-of-the-wood, China root, and mushroom of the sun. Each brings its own unique benefits to the mix, providing your natural immune defences with the ultimate support. We grow all our mushrooms in small batches, under carefully controlled conditions. Our teams cultivate the fungi on natural and organic substrates, in order to ensure they are as nutritious as possible. The mushrooms are also quality-checked by an independent and accredited tester to confirm that they are high in beta-glucans. Once ready, we dry the mushrooms and grind them into a fine powder. We ship this out to you in environmentally friendly amber glass jars, which you can reuse or recycle once empty. In addition to this Hungarian mushroom soup recipe, there are plenty of other ways you can use our immunity blend. For example, it also goes beautifully in stews and risottos. The best technique for extracting the nutrients from the powder is with hot water. Therefore, you might like to try taking it the traditional way by making a mushroom tea. Alternatively, stir half a teaspoon into your morning coffee or a cup of black or green tea. One of our personal favourites is to whip up an indulgent yet wellness-boosting mushroom hot chocolate. Both coffee and cocoa pair perfectly with the mild, earthy bitterness of the immunity blend. We recommend taking our immunity blend up to twice a day, then having a break after 6-8 weeks of use. Because the mushrooms it contains activate your immune cells, as discussed above, it’s important to give your body time to rest and rebalance. Most healthy people can do 3-4 cycles of medicinal mushrooms a year.

Top tips for enjoying this recipe for Hungarian mushroom soup

In addition to the immunity blend, we suggest serving your Hungarian mushroom soup with a garnish of fresh parsley and dill. The green of the herbs creates a gorgeous contrast with the orange of the soup, plus gives the dish a greater depth of flavour. Of course, you’re by no means restricted to these recommendations, so feel free to experiment with other toppings. For instance, a swirl of white coconut cream makes an eye-catching addition. Alternatively, sprinkle on some pumpkin seeds or pine nuts for a bit of crunch to complement the soup’s creamy texture. In terms of what to serve Hungarian mushroom soup with, you can’t go wrong with warm, freshly baked bread. Although, if you fancy something lighter, crisper, and more nutritious, our activated crackers might be just what you’re looking for! This Hungarian mushroom soup recipe makes eight servings. If you don’t need that much, instead of scaling down the recipe, you can always freeze the extra portions. Then simply reheat it on those evenings when you’re too busy or tired to cook an entire meal from scratch. The earthiness of the mushrooms and rich flavours of the stock make Hungarian mushroom soup a truly soul-warming dish. It’s perfect for chilly days and dark nights, helping you get warm and cosy no matter what the weather’s doing. Pass us a spoon!