Wild Mushroom Cream Sauce

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 12/2/21
Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce
Diana Rattray
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
363 Calories
38g Fat
5g Carbs
3g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 363
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g 48%
Saturated Fat 22g 111%
Cholesterol 106mg 35%
Sodium 188mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 3mg 15%
Calcium 69mg 5%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 154mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This is a rich and earthy sauce with amazing flavor, perfect to toss with pasta along with some fresh grated Parmesan cheese​ or use it as a sauce for chicken, pork, or steak. With broccoli and rice, it was an excellent meal. The dried mixed wild mushrooms add the fabulous flavor while the cream makes the sauce rich and thick.

 

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup dried wild mushrooms, mixed

  • 2/3 cup hot water

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 teaspoons unsalted butter

  • 3 to 4 tablespoons finely chopped shallots

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

  • 1 dash ground thyme

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Steps to Make It

  1. Put the mushrooms in a bowl or large glass measuring cup with the hot water. Let them soak for about 15 to 20 minutes.

  2. Heat the butter and olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped shallots and cook, stirring, until the shallots are tender. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. 

  3. Strain the mushrooms over a bowl or cup through a fine mesh sieve, reserving the liquids. Chop the soaked mushrooms finely.

  4. Add the mushrooms and the mushroom liquid to the sauté pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquids have almost all evaporated, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cream and a dash of ground thyme to the pan and continue simmering for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until the cream is reduced and thickened.

  5. Taste and add salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.

  6. Stir in parsley and serve with pasta or as a sauce for chicken, steaks, or pork.

Tip

  • If you want to thicken the sauce more, stir in about 2 to 3 teaspoons of instant flour (Wondra), or in a small bowl mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with an equal amount of cold water. Stir into the sauce and cook until thickened.

Recipe Variations

  • For a lighter sauce, make a roux in a separate saucepan with 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of flour. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Add the roux to the sauté pan when the mushroom liquid has nearly evaporated and stir to blend. Add 1 1/2 cups of milk (or light cream) or half milk and half stock (no- or low-sodium). 
  • Creamy Porcini Mushroom Sauce: Use dried porcini mushrooms in place of the dried mixed wild mushrooms.
  • For a heartier mushroom sauce, sauté 4 to 6 ounces of sliced fresh button or baby portabella mushrooms with the shallots, and continue with the sauce as directed.