Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsCafe MonarchMushroom Veloute Recipe

Mushroom Veloute Recipe

Inspired by Cafe Monarch
Time2h
Serves4

Black Truffle, Sweetbreads, Almond, Leeks

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Ingredients

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Velouté (mushroom soup base)

Method

Velouté (mushroom soup base)

  1. 1

    Rehydrate porcini

    Place dried porcini in a heatproof bowl and pour 1 cup hot water over them. Let soak 20–30 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve lined with paper towel or cheesecloth, reserving both mushrooms and soaking liquid. Chop rehydrated porcini finely and set aside. Reserve liquid and decant carefully to leave any grit behind; top up with stock if needed to measure 4 cups total stock.

  2. 2

    Sweat aromatics

    In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tbs butter. Add sliced leeks and diced onion with a pinch of salt. Sweat gently, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 6–8 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 30–60 seconds until fragrant.

  3. 3

    Cook mushrooms

    Increase heat to medium-high and add the chopped cremini, shiitake, and sliced button mushrooms along with the chopped rehydrated porcini. Cook, stirring, until mushrooms release their liquid and it mostly evaporates and they begin to brown, about 8–10 minutes.

  4. 4

    Make roux

    Reduce heat to medium and sprinkle 3 tbs flour over the mushroom mixture. Stir continuously for 2–3 minutes to cook the raw flour taste and incorporate it into the mushrooms (forming a light roux).

  5. 5

    Simmer velouté

    Slowly whisk in 4 cups of warm vegetable or mushroom stock (including reserved porcini soaking liquid if used), scraping any browned bits from the bottom. Add thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook uncovered for 20 minutes to let flavors meld and the soup thicken slightly.

  6. 6

    Blend and finish

    Remove bay leaf. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until very smooth and velvety. Alternatively, cool slightly and blend in batches in a blender, then return to the pot. Stir in 1 cup heavy cream and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Keep warm on lowest heat while preparing sweetbreads and crumble. If too thick, thin with a little additional stock or water to desired velouté consistency.

  7. 7

    Finish with truffle

    Ladle velouté into warmed bowls and drizzle about 1 tsp black truffle oil per bowl just before serving, or serve oil on the side to taste.

Sweetbreads garnish

  1. 8

    Prep and soak sweetbreads

    Place trimmed sweetbreads in a bowl and cover with 2 cups cold milk. Refrigerate and soak 2–4 hours (or overnight) to remove blood and mellow flavor. Change milk once if soaking overnight.

  2. 9

    Blanch and chill

    After soaking, drain and gently rinse sweetbreads. Bring a pot of salted water to a gentle simmer (do not boil vigorously). Add sweetbreads and poach gently for 8–10 minutes. Remove to an ice bath to stop cooking. Chill 10 minutes, then carefully remove any connective membrane and excess fat; pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.

  3. 10

    Dredge and sauté

    Lightly toss dried sweetbreads in 1/2 cup flour seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper, shaking off excess. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 tbs butter and 1 tbs olive oil until foaming. Add sweetbreads and sauté until golden brown and crisp on the outside, about 3–4 minutes per side depending on size. Cook until internal temperature reaches about 145°F (63°C) and they are warmed through. Transfer to paper towel to drain and keep warm.

Almond crumble & garnish

  1. 11

    Toast and crumble almonds

    In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast 1/2 cup slivered almonds until fragrant and just golden, 3–4 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Transfer to a bowl and roughly chop or pulse briefly in a food processor with 1 tbs melted butter and 1 tbs breadcrumbs until coarse crumbs form. Season with 1/4 tsp salt. If using the oven, spread almonds on a sheet at 350°F and toast 6–8 minutes.

  2. 12

    Finish and plate

    Warm bowls. Ladle the mushroom velouté into bowls. Place 2–3 pieces of sautéed sweetbread in the center of each bowl. Sprinkle a tablespoon of almond crumble around the sweetbreads for texture. Garnish with 1/2 tbs microgreens or chopped chives per bowl and finish with a light drizzle of black truffle oil. Serve immediately.

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