Porcini Mushroom Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 oz dried porcini mushrooms
2 tbsp sunflower oil
3 None shallots, finely diced
1 lb white mushrooms, chopped
4 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves, plus extra to garnish
1-2 None bay leaves
3-4 tbsp sherry

Preparation

Place the porcini mushrooms in a bowl and pour in 4 1/2 cups boiling water. Let stand 2 hours. Drain and reserve soaking liquid. Finely chop 3/4 of soaked mushrooms and thinly slice the rest.
Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the shallots and saute 2-3 mins. Add the white mushrooms, chopped porcini mushrooms, thyme and bay leaf and saute 3-5 mins, until just soft. Pour in the mushroom soaking liquid and season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer gently 1 hour. Stir in the sherry and season to taste. Divide between 4 bowls and scatter with the sliced porcini mushrooms and extra thyme to serve.