Creamy Wild Rice Mushroom Soup (dairy-free)
Creamy Wild Rice Mushroom Soup- a lightened-up meatless take on the classic chicken and wild rice soup. You won’t miss the meat or the cream in this satisfying vegan version! (gluten-free)
I’m so excited to share this soup with you guys!
I know I’ve said that many times before so it might seem forced but I promise you it’s not. I just get pumped when I make a vegan version of something and it turns out even better than the original.
It makes me wish I could serve everyone a bowl to help them realize that they don’t need heavy cream to make something taste good. This recipe is proof that there are plenty of plant-based substitutes that are just as delicious, if not better.

Creamy Mushroom Wild Rice Soup Ingredients
- Cashews– Raw or roasted work here. They can even be salted.
- Wild Rice– I love wild rice but it can be pricey. Feel free to sub a wild rice blend. Just keep in mind the cooking time may be different.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil– You can also use dairy-free butter or any neutral flavored oil you prefer.
- Onion, Celery and Carrot– These three form the base of the soup.
- Garlic– We’re using 3-4 cloves, depending on their size. More is always better, in my opinion.
- Mushrooms– I like cremini mushrooms best for their meaty texture.
- Reduced-Sodium Tamari– The fermented umami flavor adds depth and flavor. Regular soy sauce will work as well.
- Dried Thyme and Oregano– Using dried herbs keeps things easy. I like these two but feel free to swap them out for your favorites.
- Cornstarch– Helps thicken the soup. Arrowroot starch works in place of cornstarch.
- Vegetable Broth– The recipe calls for 2 cups but you can replace the water with broth if you prefer.
How to Make Creamy Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
- Soak cashews in hot water.
- Cook wild rice as directed.
- Saute onion, celery and carrot. Add mushrooms and garlic. Add tamari and herbs.
- Strain cashews then add to a high speed blender (such as a NutriBullet, Beast Blender or Vitamix) with water and starch.
- Pour cashew cream into pot with broth. Simmer until thickened.
- Stir in wild rice. Serve warm and enjoy!
Want More Protein?
Add a can of chickpeas or serve it with meatless chicken pieces to boost the protein!
More Cozy Soup Recipes to Make This Fall Season
- Butternut Squash Sweet Potato Soup
- One-Pot Pumpkin Black Bean Soup
- Miso-Ginger Butternut Squash Soup
- Vegan White Bean Chili
- Roasted Acorn Squash and Apple Soup
- Cauliflower Potato and Leek Soup
Creamy Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw or roasted cashews
- ½ cup wild rice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
- 3 celery ribs, finely chopped
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium tamari, or soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups water, or broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch, or arrowroot powder
- 2 cups vegetable broth
Instructions
- In a small bowl, bring combine ½ cup cashews with hot water. Allow to soak for 30 minutes.
- In a small pot, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add the wild rice then reduce to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover with a lid and allow to sit for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large pot, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook for several minutes, until translucent. Add the celery and carrot, stir, and continue to cook for a few more minutes.
- To the pot, add the mushrooms and garlic. Cook for several minutes then add 2 tablespoons tamari, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, and 1 teaspoon dried oregano. Stir intermittently while continuing to cook for about 5 minutes more.
- Once the cashews are done soaking, strain off the excess water and place them in a high speed blender (such as a NutriBullet or Beast Blender). Add 2 cups water (or broth) and 1 tablespoon cornstarch then blend on high, until smooth.
- Pour the cashew cream into the pot along with 2 cups vegetable broth. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 10-15 minutes*. Turn off the heat off and add the cooked wild rice to the pot. Serve warm with fresh parsley (optional) and enjoy!







Such beautiful pictures! You and your camera always seem to capture the essence of what you’re trying to achieve, with mouthwatering results. :)
That means so much to me, Jerilyn. Thank you! :)
You’re the vegan master! I don’t like heavy cream based soups because they’re too rich, so this sounds right up my alley! I love the wild rice and mushroom combination too. This is one healthy soup that looks like an indulgence!
Well now, I wouldn’t go as far to call me a master but I’m getting more confident in my abilities. Thank you for the compliment though! ;)
Thanks lady!
I think you would too! :)
I’m the same way but this one is the best of both worlds!
You could probably leave out the cashews and sub soy milk, if you really wanted to. But I know you’re not averse to dairy so… ;)
AH HA. cashews win again!! Creamy soups have been some of my favorites since I was a kid, and I only make them at home now because of the dairy and gluten. This vegan version looks so comforting, and I’m so thrilled at how healthful this soup is! Loving the tamari addition for some extra oomph, too! I’ll definitely have to make this all winter long :D
Cashew FTW! ;)
Ohhhh yummmmmm!!! This looks amazing!! Seriously, all of my favorites in one creamy bowl! And I have a bag of that rice in my pantry right now, so this will be happening asap!! :)
It was meant to be!! :)
Yes! A Vitamix for you, and you and YOU and…. The MOST used appliance in my kitchen (save the refrigerator). It is a workhorse and SO versatile. You know I love those creamy cashews and all these hearty ingredients, Sarah! The addition of n.Yeast is so smart and takes this soup’s flavor profile over the top! Delicious work my dear! How’s the packing going?
Thanks Traci! I haven’t even started packing yet. (insert monkey emoji covering mouth) Still trying to get caught up on blog work so that it stays up and running while I’m away from the kitchen. I’m thinking I’ll start Wednesday or Thursday maybe? ;)
I adore mushroom soup particularly ones that have been amped-up like this with thoughtful ingredients – nourishing and delish. Your pictures are so inviting and full of light – are you already thinking about your photography spot in your new home? ;-) Always takes a while to find the right light in a new space (I think I’m still trying to figure it out after 3 years, lol). A vitamix, yes, wonderful I’m sure. I just broke down and bought my first food processor not that long ago (what can say, I’m old school) and it’s especially good with things like nut butters (your delicious cashew sauce) and hummus, etc.
I have started thinking about it and I’m hoping the dining area will work. It took me so long to find the right spot in this house so I’m not really looking forward to that part!
And yay for your food processor! That and the Vitamix are my two most used appliances. They’re magical. :)
Sarah! I’m loving it! I’ve honestly never been a fan of cream-based soups because they just feel too heavy to me, so this look perfect. And I know what you mean about getting excited over awesome plant-based recipes when they turn out better than the originals :)
It seems silly to get so excited about a recipe but it’s rewarding! :)
I am just obsessed with all your recipes. I can’t wait to try this!!!!
You’re too sweet! Thanks Nicole. <3
That’s true! An immersion blender does do a decent job at pureeing them. Thanks for the tip, Jo!
This is one of my favorite soups and I’ve never attempted to make it for the exact reason you mentioned in your post -heavy cream! This cashew substitute sounds pretty awesome. Think I’ll will be trying your recipe soon :)
Thanks Silvia! I hope you love it!
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So worth the time spent making it – a real keeper. Yum!!!
YAY! I’m so happy you like it. Thanks Jennifer! :)
I tend to make a lot of soups to pack in my lunches for the week and this has become one of my favorite go-tos! I love the creaminess and the combination of the mushrooms and wild rice. And best of all it’s relatively simple to make. Keep these fabulous recipes coming!
I’m happy to hear this is a favorite of yours, Amy! Thank you so much for the feedback! :)
I made it this morning to enjoy after church. I taste tested it before leaving the house and I just want to turn around and go home and eat this! It was soooo good! I’m looking forward to stuffing my face later on and curling up in bed with movies afterwards!
That sounds like the best plan ever! Thanks Samantha! :)
This recipe looks delicious! Any substitution ideas for the carrots? (I’m allergic to them). Or should I just leave them out?
You can just leave them out! :)
This recipe was sooooo delicious. This will definitely be in rotation regularly. It was extremely easy. The prep time was long, but it was certainly worth the time and effort. Thank you for sharing the recipe!!!
I agree, it’s not the fastest of recipes but I’m happy you thought it was worth it. Thank you for the comment!
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Delicious!! I made this and followed the recipe to a tee but with a couple modifications. I switched the tamari for coconut aminos, added a teaspoon of dried dill, and added the juice of half a lemon. Will be making this again soon!! :)
This is my absolute favorite soup. I love this soup so much that I make a double batch of it, one to two times a WEEK so I always have some in my fridge. I eat it just about every day for breakfast and most times, dinner too! I don’t know what it is about the ingredients, but the soup almost has a rich buttery taste to it. I never get tired of eating it. In fact, every morning I eat it, it’s like eating it for the first time! Only thing I do different is I preboil the carrots as I like them softer and I use the 25 calorie cashew milk instead of the almond milk (never been a fan of almond milk). BEST. RECIPE. EVER!!!
Thank you so much for your review, Samantha! I’m so happy you like it as much as we do. :)
What can you substitute the vegan chicken broth for to reduce the sodium. Could you use low sodium vegetable broth?
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Do you know if you could freeze a
Batch? I want to do some in my meal prep for our lunches this week but I read only keeps up to 3 days? Thanks :-)
I usually say 3 to 4 days just to be safe but honestly it would probably be fine for a full week. I haven’t tried freezing it so I’m not sure how the texture would be after thawing. I’ll have to try it and let you know!
This soup was delicious! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful recipes with us :)
Thank you so much for the kind review, Maggie! :)
Just made this and it is FABULOUS!!!!! Thanks for the great recipe!
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Hi! Curious if you have froze this soup? Thinking it would be ok frozen? Thanks!
I am sorry, I thought I read all the comments to see if anyone asked about freezing and I must have missed the one that did. I am going to make it and freeze some. I will let you know how it freezes.
Just finished making this soup. Its absolutely delicious!! I hope to freeze some if I dont eat it all first! I will let you know how it freezes. Thanks for the yummy recipe!
Delightful! I only used 1 carrot, 1 celery stalk, added extra mushrooms and used my homemade medicinal mushroom stock in place of the veggie stock and added peas. Absolutely loved this soup. Wonderful Winter comfort food. So filling too! Thank you!
The mushroom flavor in this was just delicious. I added about 1.5 cups of kale and accidentally forgot the celery but it was perfect! A light but hearty soup all at the same time.
A-t Just wonderful have been making it for years! always use almond milk in mine.
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Can the sauteing of the veggies be done with water of vegetable broth? I am a vegan that is SOS free (Sugar, Oil, Salt free).
Yes! I think the flavor is much better when cooked in a little bit of oil but you can definitely cook the veggies in broth instead.