Mushroom Soup with Mini Caramelised Onion and Goats Cheese Toasts

I never tried mushroom soup until about a year ago; the look of it always put me off. I never believed that anything consisting of a grainy brown colour could ever taste that great, but my how wrong was I?! Mushroom soup is delicious and now one of my favourites (nothing will ever beat my bacon minestrone!), and this recipe is mega tasty. I even tried to make it look appetising by dressing it with little toasts; which were a really great edition and added that something special to the flavours.

–          2 portobello mushrooms –roughly chopped

–          1 small white onion – finely chopped

–          25g butter

–          1 clove garlic – crushed

–          1 medium leek – roughly chopped

–          1 pint of chicken stock

–          ½ tsp dried thyme

–          100ml milk

–          2 tsp cornflour

–          Salt and pepper

For the caramelised onion and goats cheese toasts

–           1 slice of white bread – cut into shapes or squares

–          Crumbly goats cheese

–          1 red onion – sliced

–          ½ tbsp. olive oil

–          Heap tsp butter

–          1 tsp sugar

–          1.5 tbsp balsamic vinegar

–          Fresh parsley – to serve

Serves 2

Fry the onions in the butter until they turn golden and then add the mushrooms, garlic and the leek and fry off for 5 minutes, stirring every minute or so.

Add the stock and the thyme, bring to the boil and then reduce and simmer for ten minutes

While that is simmering away, gently fry the red onion in the oil and the butter and when it starts to loosen add the balsamic and the sugar and simmer for 10 minutes until soft and sticky

After the soup has been simmering for 10 minutes, remove from the heat and blend into a smooth and glossy consistency and return it to a medium – low heat

Make the milk and the flour into a smooth paste and stir it into the soup, continuing to stir until the soup thickens slightly.

Lightly toast the bread and top with the onions and then crumble with the cheese – place under the grill for 2 minutes or so until the cheese has started to melt.

Season the soup to taste and serve hot, topped with the toasts and fresh parsley.