One Pot Chicken Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup

Fall is in the air with leaves beginning to change.  A slight but noticeable chill is wafting through the air in the evenings. As the season changes so do our palates and our kitchen routines. We look at warm and comforting meals. This incredibly cozy and hearty fall recipe is perfect to satisfy your cravings. It's a meal meant to be shared.

One Pot Chicken Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup

Cook's notes: In the past, I have posted similar recipes but recently tweaked the original recipe with satisfying results. It's the perfect soup for using either turkey or chicken.  Add more water or chicken broth on the second day when reheating as the rice absorbs the liquid. Using apple cider instead of water adds just a bit of sweetness to the soup. If using wild rice the cooking ratio is 3-1/2 cups water to 1 cup uncooked wild rice. A time saver is making the rice up before and refrigerate it until needed.
Cooking time start to finish 1 hour and the recipe serves 6. 

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked Long Grain Brown and Wild Rice Blend or Wild Rice
• 10 cups chicken broth, low sodium, divided
• ¼ cup butter, divided
• 1 cup each of fresh mushrooms, onions, celery, carrots, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon each herbes de Provence and parsley flakes
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 cup each water and apple cider
• 1/3 cup half and a half or cream
• ¼ cup dry white wine
• 3 cups shredded cooked turkey or chicken
• Salt and pepper as needed

Directions:

• Cook wild rice or wild rice blend and set aside. You will need 3 cups cooked.
• Reserve 1 cup broth for later if soup becomes too thick.
• In a soup pot, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Sauté mushrooms, onions, celery, carrots, and minced garlic stirring for 3 minutes, and then cover until tender. Set this mixture aside and continue using the same pot.
• Add in the rest of the butter, melt and whisk in flour and cook 1 minute or until bubbly. Whisk in 9 cups broth, water, and cider, spices, mustard, and cook, stirring often until slightly thickened.
• Simmer 30 minutes on low uncovered.
• Whisk in wine, cream, mushroom mixture, turkey or chicken, and cooked wild rice or wild rice blend. Cook on low heat uncovered, 15 minutes more. (Do not let the mixture boil)

Labor Day seems to be the unofficial end of summer