Hungarian Mushroom Soup – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Hungarian Mushroom Soup is a lightly creamy, rich soup, full of earthy mushroom flavor that is brightened by a squeeze of lemon juice added at the end of cooking.

This is one of my favorite soups – and I just don’t make it often enough! This is a bowl of soup simply ideal for a chilly day.

Oh. My. Word. How did I forget just how amazing this soup is?? I’ll admit that with over 1800 recipes on this website, it can be a little tricky at times to remember exactly what I’ve made and when, but wow. Just wow. I remembered enjoying the soup, but this has blown my mind all over again.

I remade it a while back to shoot some new photographs and I could not stop eating it. I had a big bowl for lunch and then had another bowl for dinner when I shared it with my family.

I already have it on our meal plan again. This one is going to be in the regular rotation for a while. If you’re a mushroom lover, this soup needs to be on your must-make-as-soon-as-possible list.

Our friend Joe was a Hungarian American and he was a gift in my family’s life for over 15 years. He passed away 5 years ago, a few months before we moved to Ohio. We were lucky enough to live across the street from him in Phoenix for a few years and I always tried to invite him over for dinner when I was trying a new Hungarian recipe.

Joe’s parents fled from Hungary when he and his brother were just a few years old. The biggest compliment I’ve ever received on my recipes was when he would grin and pass his plate for seconds after telling me that the dish tasted exactly the way his mother used to make it.

Hungarian Mushroom Soup

I can’t believe I waited so long to make this soup! It is fantastic. Other mushroom soups I’ve tried have been watery and lacking in flavor, even though I love mushrooms!

Not the case with this one. It’s lightly creamy, rich and full of savory flavor brightened by a squeeze of lemon juice added at the end of cooking. The fresh dill brings out the very best of the mushroom taste and I couldn’t get enough of that broth.

I made a big pot of this soup for lunch and between my three boys and myself, there wasn’t a single bite left for my husband to taste later.

They all asked for seconds. I was bummed not to have any leftovers the next day. Lesson learned: ever since then, I double the recipe when I make this soup.

Since I first posted this recipe, I’ve made it several more times; we continue to love every batch of it just as much as the first. Bonus–the leftovers taste even better the next day! 

I’ve made this soup countless times over the years and I’ve also learned to double the mushrooms. (The recipe below is already doubled. If you prefer more broth and fewer mushrooms, the original recipe calls for only 16 ounces of mushrooms.)

Other than that, I haven’t tweaked this recipe all that much from the original. My entire family loves it – even the kid who isn’t a huge fan of mushrooms.

Hungarian Mushroom Soup Recipe

Start by heating olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the mushrooms, soy sauce, dill, paprika, and about half a cup of stock.

Stir to combine and then cover with lid. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the mushroom mixture and liquid from the pot to a bowl and set aside.

Place the pot back on the stove over medium heat and melt butter in it. Add arrowroot starch and whisk until creamy. This should only take about a minute. Slowly add the milk while whisking constantly.

Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.

Add the mushroom mixture back into the pot along with the rest of the stock. Cover with the lid and simmer for another 10 minutes or so.

Just before serving, add the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Remove a small amount of broth from the pot and whisk the sour cream into it. Add this mixture back into the pot and stir to combine.

This recipe makes enough soup for 4 hungry people as a full meal or for 8 people served with a side of crusty bread and a light salad.

Looking for more mushroom recipes? These Rosemary Mushrooms might be just your style, too.

Leftovers of this soup will keep beautifully in the fridge for three or four days. In fact, this soup makes a fabulous make-ahead meal because it tastes even better after the flavors have a chance to mingle.

You can also freeze this soup in freezer-safe bags or airtight containers. Let thaw in the fridge or at room temperature before reheating on the stove or in the microwave. If you enjoy mushrooms, you’re going to love this meal!

Hungarian Recipes

Thanks to our friend Joe and my sister’s mother-in-law Jenny, Hungarian and Polish recipes have become some of our family’s favorites over the years. If you’re in the mood for a full Eastern European feast, serve this soup as an appetizer for a meal of Layered Cabbage Rolls.

Never one to be deterred from my favorite foods by lack of time to cook, I also love this quick and easy take on cabbage rolls, Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls.

Three simple ingredients combine to create Polish Kapusta. If you are a fan of crock-pot cooking, this is an excellent meal to start in the morning and then forget about all day. And while it may be a little more Polish than Hungarian, you might also like this 20 Minute Kielbasa Cabbage Potato Skillet.

Do you know how to make Pierogi? Buttery, crisp Pierogies stuffed with potatoes, cheese, and sauerkraut are a holiday favorite from the very first bite for everyone who tries them.

originally published 2/13/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 3/6/24

recipe gently adapted from and with thanks to The Moosewood Cookbook via For The Love Of Cooking