- A 12g sachet of porcini
- 1 onion
- 1 carrot
- 1 celery stick
- A 200g punnet of white mushrooms
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 beetroot
- 1 bay leaf
- A handful of thyme
- 800ml boiling water
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- Heatproof measuring jug
- Large pan with a lid
- 1.
Tip the porcini into a measuring jug. Add 800ml boiling water and set aside to soak.
- 2.
Peel and finely chop the onion and carrot. Trim and finely slice the celery. Warm a large pan for 1 min, then add the chopped veg and 1 tbsp oil. Season. Cover, keep the heat low and sweat for 8 mins till the veg have softened a little.
- 3.
Slice the mushrooms. Peel and finely chop the garlic. Add them to the pan. Season with a pinch more salt and pepper. Put the lid back on and sweat the veg for a further 5 mins till the mushrooms look juicy.
- 4.
While the veg sweats, peel and coarsely grate the beetroot. Stir in the beetroot. Add the porcini and its soaking liquid to the pan. Add 1 bay leaf and most of the thyme. Cover, turn the heat up and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down a little and simmer for 10 mins till the veg are very tender.
- 5.
Taste and season if needed. Ladle into warm bowls, discarding the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Garnish with a few thyme leaves to serve.