Blue cheese twist: Elevating classic mushroom soup

Mushroom soup is a staple of many cuisines, which has enjoyed steadfast popularity for years. Its creamy consistency and aromatic smell make it a favourite among many people. However, I have my own way of making it, adding cheese. But it's not just any cheese. I opt for blue cheese, like Lazur or gorgonzola. It imparts the soup with a distinctive, slightly spicy flavour. I invite you to try my recipe.

Your first task will be to gather a few ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 3 chicken wings,
• soup vegetables (carrot, celery, and leek),
• a few allspice berries,
• 450 grams of mushrooms,
• 1 onion,
• 2 cloves of garlic,
• 1 tablespoon of butter (or olive oil),
• 120 millilitres of 30% cream (if you want a dairy-free version, I recommend coconut milk),
• 85 grams of blue cheese,
• salt and pepper to taste,
• parsley.

Instructions:

1. First, prepare the broth. Clean the meat, cover it with 2 litres of cold water, and begin heating. While cooking, remove the scum. Add soup vegetables and spices. Cook the broth for 30 minutes.
2. Dice the onion and slice the mushrooms. Sauté the onion in butter until browned, then add the mushrooms and season them. Fry for a few minutes and finally add the garlic, pressed through a press. Wait until all the water evaporates from the mushrooms.
3. Add the mushrooms to the boiling broth. The mushroom soup needs about 10 minutes for the flavours to meld and the ingredients to achieve the right consistency.
4. Thicken the dish with cream or coconut milk and immediately add the crumbled blue cheese. Mix everything, simmer for a while, and pour into bowls. Serve with chopped parsley. You can also cook pasta as an additional accompaniment.

Many people think that mushrooms are just empty calories and do not contribute to improving our health. This is a misconception because mushrooms are rich in valuable nutrients. They contain B-group vitamins, vitamins C and D, as well as minerals such as zinc, copper, potassium, phosphorus, and selenium. They also contain beta-glucan and lectins, which have anti-inflammatory effects. Mushrooms aid digestion and have a positive impact on metabolism. They are also low in calories – 100 grams are only about 22 calories.

Blue cheese is an invaluable addition. In addition to high-quality and easily digestible protein, it also contains B-group vitamins, vitamins D, E, K, and healthy fats. Dairy is rich in probiotics that improve gut function and positively affect digestion. We just have to be careful not to overdo it because blue cheese is quite calorie-dense (approximately 350-360 calories in 100 grams).