Description
A luxuriously creamy soup featuring earthy mushrooms and tender pearl couscous, perfect for cold evenings. This comforting dish combines savory beef broth with aromatic herbs and a touch of white wine for depth of flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 large shallot, minced
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 lb baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 5 cups beef broth
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1 cup pearl couscous
- 1/2 cup half and half
- Sour cream, for serving
- Crusty bread, for serving
Instructions
- Cook Vegetables: Add butter to a large pot over medium heat. Allow to melt, but not brown. Add sliced baby bella mushrooms, minced shallot, and minced garlic to pot. Cook and stir for 2 minutes until aromatic. This initial sauté releases the mushrooms’ natural flavors and creates a foundation for the soup’s rich taste.
- Add Seasoning, Broth, and Couscous: Sprinkle dried dill, dried thyme, and paprika into pot and stir. Whisk in Worcestershire sauce, white wine, and beef broth. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Bring pot to a boil, pour in couscous, and cover pot with a lid. Turn heat down to medium and simmer for 20 minutes. During this time, the couscous will absorb the flavorful broth and expand, creating a hearty texture.
- Finish & Plate: Check couscous for doneness. It should be soft and chewy. Add more time if needed. Once couscous is done, remove pot from heat and stir in half & half. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and crusty bread for dipping. The half and half adds a silky richness that brings all the flavors together.
Notes
- Pearl couscous (also called Israeli couscous) holds up well in soups and offers a pleasing chewy texture compared to regular couscous. For a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth for beef broth. The soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and actually tastes even better the next day as flavors continue to develop.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main-course
- Method: One Pot & One Pan
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 25mg