| Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 60 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 315 | 9.5g | 1.6g | 48g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 9g | 10g | 13g | 1.25g |
Why I Love Czech Vegetable Soup with Mushroom Dumplings
I have long been fascinated with the beauty of world cuisines. The unique fusion of flavors that each culture brings to the table is truly special. And that’s why, dear reader, the Vegetable Soup with Mushroom Dumplings has caught my eye. Putting Southern cooking aside momentarily, today we are journeying a little further east, to the heart of Europe – the Czech Republic.
A Brief Culinary Journey
The Vegetable Soup with Mushroom Dumplings embodies the balancing of simplicity and heartiness that characterizes Czech cuisine. I was especially inspired to try this recipe after reading works by Czech Cuisine, a true maestro of traditional Czech cooking. Are you familiar with the Southern Chicken and Dumplings Soup? This Czech version gives that classic a delicate, international spin.
A Pot Full of Flavors
What makes the Vegetable Soup with Mushroom Dumplings visually appealing is the colorful array of vegetables simmering gently to create a succulent broth. Then we have the most charming aspect of the dish – the mushroom dumplings. These dumplings add not just taste and body to the soup, but also a delightful texture. Soothing comfort, in every spoonful.
This dish works brilliantly as a standalone meal due to its satisfyingly savory components. Yet, it would also cozy up perfectly beside a crisp, green salad or a slice of crusty bread. I could also see it served after some traditional Czech appetizers like Pickled Sausages or alongside local favorites like Roast Duck with Bread Dumplings and Sauerkraut for a fully indulgent meal.
Settled back in Charleston, South Carolina, I find myself craving this soup after a long day of surfing, showing me that good food knows no boundaries. I hope you feel inspired to step out and try this culinary journey too and bring the Vegetable Soup with Mushroom Dumplings to your kitchen.
Happy Cooking!
What You’ll Need
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 1 large parsnip, finely chopped
- 4 cups of vegetable broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- 2 cups of mixed sliced mushrooms
- 2 cups of finely chopped spinach or kale
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley
- For the dumplings:
- 1 cup of fine semolina
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup of finely chopped mushrooms
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
Method
Step One
Begin by heating the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion, carrots, celery, and parsnip. Cook these for about 10 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften.
Step Two
Add the vegetable broth to the pot along with the bay leaf and dried thyme. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Step Three
While the broth is simmering, prepare the mushroom dumplings. In a bowl, combine the semolina, eggs, finely chopped mushrooms, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Mix these together until a dough forms.
Step Four
Form small, round dumplings from the dough. Add these to the simmering broth. Cook these for about 10-15 minutes, or until they float to the top.
Step Five
After the dumplings are cooked, add the sliced mushrooms and finely chopped spinach or kale to the pot. Simmer this for another 10 minutes.
Step Six
Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Just before serving, stir in the chopped fresh parsley. The Vegetable Soup with Mushroom Dumplings is now ready to be enjoyed.
