Andreas Viestad's Porcini Consomme

An Andreas Viestad recipe, one of my favorite chefs! This one is from his television cooking show, and has a deliciously different flavor. If you can't find fresh porcini mushrooms, the recipe does allow for a pound of white (button) mushrooms plus 2 ounces of dried porcinis. And don't skip the delicious garnish!

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 6  cups vegetable broth
• 1  lb porcini mushroom, cleaned, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices (or 1 lb white button mushrooms plus 2 oz. dried funghi porcini)
• 5  black peppercorns
• 2 -3  bay leaves
• 1⁄2 cinnamon stick
•  sea salt
• 1⁄4 cup  whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. In a medium pot, bring vegetable broth to a boil. Add mushrooms (all fresh or a combo of dried and fresh), peppercorns, bay leaves and the cinnamon stick. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, skimming off any foam that forms on the surface.
2. Line a colander or sieve with cheesecloth (I use a coffee filter sometimes) and strain the consomme into another pot, pressing gently on the mushrooms with a spoon to extract as much of the liquid as possible. Discard mushrooms and spices.
3. Reheat the consomme and season to taste with salt. Pour into bowls and garnish with a couple of tablespoons of cream per portion, sprinkle with cinnamon and serve.