The Aromatic Base: Melting the Flavors

It all starts with a classic but essential aromatic base. In a Dutch oven, 20g of butter melts gently before welcoming the sliced onion and shallot, accompanied by 4 cloves of garlic. This fragrant trinity browns gradually, releasing its aromas into the fat. It is on this foundation that the intensity of the soup rests.

Next come the 500g of mushrooms, cut according to your preference. Let them sweat for a few minutes while stirring regularly: this often-neglected process concentrates their flavors by evaporating the vegetation water. The mushrooms reduce, brown slightly, and soak up the scented butter. At this precise stage, a strategic move occurs: take 4 tablespoons of mushrooms and set them aside. This portion will not disappear in the blending. It will serve as a garnish for the soup and top the toasted bread, creating a visual and gustatory coherence between the two components of the dish. This dual use is not trivial: it reminds the palate of the soup’s origin while offering a contrasting texture—crunchy where the soup will be smooth.

This first step, although brief, conditions everything that follows. The flavors melted in the butter will form the aromatic backbone of the soup.

Cooking the Potatoes: Structure of the Soup

Once the mushrooms have delivered their aromas, the 4 large potatoes enter the scene, cut into small pieces. They join the pot to brown for a few minutes, soaking up the aromatic base. This preliminary step seals their surface and prepares them for even cooking.

Then comes the liquid addition, a decisive technical gesture: pour hot water until the ingredients are covered by about 2 cm. Boiling water avoids a thermal shock that would slow down cooking and alter the final texture. Salt, pepper, and 3 pinches of nutmeg season this mixture. The nutmeg, discreet but present, aromatically signs the soup: its subtle bitterness dialogues with the sweetness of the potatoes and the umami of the mushrooms.

Cooking continues over low heat for exactly 30 minutes, stirring regularly. This time is non-negotiable: it allows the potatoes to break down enough to create, after blending, a natural velvety texture without adding artificial thickeners. The pot simmers gently, the starches gorge themselves on scented water, and the flavors fuse. Halfway through cooking, check the tenderness of the pieces: the tip of a knife should sink in without resistance. This phase transforms a heterogeneous mixture into a creamy base, ready for the final enrichments.

Blending and Adjustment: Achieving the Perfect Texture

After 30 minutes, the potatoes fall apart at the slightest touch. It’s time to incorporate the 250 ml of heavy cream, which brings roundness and creaminess. Mix quickly to distribute this fat evenly, then move on to blending. Submerge the immersion blender to the bottom of the pot and operate in circular motions: the soup must become perfectly smooth, without lumps, releasing a silky texture.

Then comes the decisive step of adjustment. Pour the 500 ml of whole milk gradually, in several stages, blending between each addition. This technique allows total control of the consistency: too thick, the soup feels heavy on the palate; too liquid, it loses its character. Add the milk in small quantities, taste, and observe the coating that forms on the spoon. Stop when the texture satisfies you—creamy without being pasty, fluid without being watery.

To intensify the taste, the trick is to crumble a bouillon cube directly into the soup before serving. This final touch reinforces the umami of the mushrooms and compensates for any excessive dilution. Then distribute into plates, garnish with the crispy bacon strips cooked separately and the mushrooms reserved at the start of the recipe. These garnish elements offer texture contrast and a visual reminder of the main ingredients, transforming a simple soup into a structured dish, ready to dialogue with its toasted accompaniment.

Toasted Bread with Cheese: The Gourmet Side

While the soup rests, prepare the toasted bread that will transform this soup into a complete meal. Arrange the 4 slices of country bread on the baking sheet. Their generous thickness guarantees optimal hold under the weight of the topping, while their dense crumb absorbs just the right amount of moisture without getting soggy.

Distribute the Emmental slices on each piece of bread, covering the entire surface. The 150g of cheese will melt uniformly, creating a golden and stringy layer. Add the mushrooms set aside at the beginning of the recipe: this ingredient symmetry between soup and toast reinforces the gustatory coherence of the whole. Slide under the grill for a few minutes, monitoring the color. The cheese should bubble slightly and turn golden without burning.

Remove the toast as soon as the Emmental begins to brown. Finely chop the 10 sprigs of fresh parsley: their intense chlorophyll contrasts with the uniform beige of the melted cheese, and their vegetal freshness balances the richness. Distribute generously over the four still-hot toasts; the parsley then releases its essential oils upon contact with the heat.

Serve immediately, with the toast placed next to the steaming bowl. The crunch of the toasted bread responds to the silky texture of the soup, the stringy cheese dialogues with the cream, and the mushrooms ensure continuity. This bread-cheese-soup combination structures a meal for 4 people, simple in its design, accomplished in its execution.