This is a very traditional Russian soup. If you haven't seen my recipe for potatoes and mushrooms, go have a look at it if you're interested in finding out more about the background of this recipe. I've added onions, garlic and herbs here, but you could do it without. Siberian villagers do.
Mushrooms (any kind) and potatoes in equal quantities by weight
I onion
2 or 3 cloves of garlic
1 or 2 bay leaves
A couple of sprigs of parsley and/or a couple of spring onions
A few crushed black peppercorns
Veg. stock cubes (according to the quantities of the other ingredients
- about one per litre of soup)
Butter or sunflower oil
Salt
Chop the onion and mushrooms. Cut the potatoes into 2 cm pieces. Fry the onions and mushrooms until the water from the mushrooms has been and gone then add the potatoes, bay leaves, garlic cloves and black pepper. Stir and sizzle the pan for another minute then add water and the stock cubes. Bring to the boil then simmer for half an hour. Taste and add salt if necessary ten minutes before the end of cooking time.
The same Siberian villagers would whack a big spoonful of sour cream on this soup when serving it.