Description
A hearty and comforting Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup featuring tender wild rice, sautéed mushrooms, and a creamy broth enriched with herbs and a touch of sherry. Perfect for a cozy meal, this soup combines the earthiness of wild rice and mushrooms with creamy richness, prepared quickly using an electric pressure cooker.
Ingredients
Soup Base
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ onion, chopped
- 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 1 cup uncooked wild rice
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon rubbed sage
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 medium carrots, chopped
- 3 stalks celery, chopped (optional)
Creamy Sauce Options
- Option A: 1½ cups heavy cream
- Option B (Flour-based sauce): 6 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup flour
- 1½ cups milk (2% preferred)
Additional Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon umami mushroom seasoning
- 1-2 tablespoons sherry
Instructions
- Prepare the Instant Pot soup base: Select the sauté function on your Instant Pot and melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the chopped onion and thinly sliced mushrooms, sautéing until they are softened and fragrant.
- Pressure cook initial ingredients: Stir in 1 cup of uncooked wild rice, 4 cups of broth, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon rubbed sage, ½ teaspoon dried thyme. Seal the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 35 minutes. After cooking, carefully release the steam.
- Add additional vegetables and continue cooking: Add the chopped carrots, minced garlic, and optional celery to the pot. Seal again and cook on high pressure for another 10 minutes. Release the steam through the valve.
- Choose your creamy sauce method: For option A, simply stir in 1½ cups of heavy cream directly into the soup and mix thoroughly. For option B, melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a separate saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in ½ cup flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste. Gradually whisk in 1½ cups of milk, continuing to whisk until the sauce is smooth and thickened. Season with a pinch of salt.
- Combine creamy sauce with soup: Add your chosen creamy mixture back into the Instant Pot soup. Stir to combine completely. The soup may be quite thick, so add additional broth as needed to reach desired consistency.
- Final seasoning and serving: Stir in 1 teaspoon umami mushroom seasoning and 1-2 tablespoons sherry to enhance depth of flavor. Adjust seasoning if necessary, then serve hot.
Notes
- Wild rice takes longer to cook than other rice varieties, so pressure cooking ensures tenderness and flavor absorption.
- Sherry adds a subtle but important depth of flavor; don’t skip it if possible.
- You can customize the broth type based on dietary preferences or what you have on hand (vegetable broth for vegetarian or chicken broth for richer flavor).
- If using the flour-based creamy sauce, constant whisking prevents lumps and ensures a smooth texture.
- For a thinner soup, add more broth or milk as needed after combining the creamy sauce with the soup base.
- Optional celery is great for additional flavor and texture but can be omitted if preferred.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
