Latvian Milk Soup with Potatoes and Mushrooms

A bowl of creamy Latvian milk soup with potatoes and mushrooms, garnished with dill and served with rye bread

 

A creamy, hearty Latvian soup made with milk, potatoes, and mushrooms—ideal for cozy evenings or traditional Baltic-style dinners.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine Latvian
Servings 4
Calories 180 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 250 ml whole milk
  • 150 ml water
  • 75 g salted and boiled mushrooms (or fresh if available)
  • 25 g butter
  • 15 g chopped yellow onion
  • 200 g potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh herbs (dill or parsley) for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the vegetables:Peel and dice the potatoes. Rinse them thoroughly and drop into boiling water with a pinch of salt and bay leaf.
  • Cook the potatoes:Let them boil on medium heat for about 10–15 minutes, until almost tender.
  • Prepare the mushrooms and onions:If using salted or pickled mushrooms, rinse and boil them for a few minutes. Then chop finely. Sauté mushrooms with the chopped onion in melted butter until soft and golden.
  • Combine ingredients:Add the sautéed mushroom-onion mixture to the pot with the potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    A pot of boiling milk soup with potatoes and mushrooms
  • Add milk:Pour in the milk and bring everything back to a gentle boil. Stir gently and simmer for another 5 minutes.
  • Cool and serve:Let the soup cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh dill or parsley for extra aroma.

Notes

 

Latvian Milk Soup with Potatoes and Mushrooms 🥣🥔🍄

A warm and comforting taste of Baltic tradition
Looking for a soul-warming, nourishing dish that brings you straight into the heart of Latvian countryside kitchens? 🏡 Try Latvian Milk Soup with Potatoes and Mushrooms! This creamy, aromatic soup has long been a favorite in rural Latvia — where hearty ingredients and simple preparation make magic in every bowl.
Blending local ingredients like forest mushrooms, golden potatoes, sweet milk, and rich butter, this soup is a beloved comfort food that reflects both simplicity and cultural tradition. It’s especially perfect on chilly days or when you want something cozy yet wholesome.

🥄 What Is Latvian Milk Soup?

Latvian Milk Soup (Piena zupa) is a creamy, rustic dish deeply rooted in rural Baltic cuisine. Influenced by both local Latvian traditions and neighboring Baltic cultures, this dish combines milk and vegetables—usually potatoes, onions, and mushrooms—for a simple yet rich meal.
Originally, this soup was a clever way to use local produce and preserve foraged mushrooms. Today, it remains a nostalgic dish across Latvia, served at home, school cafeterias, or countryside guesthouses.
A girl at the table eats milk soup with potatoes and mushrooms

🥔 Why You'll Love This Soup:

Comforting & creamy – The velvety texture of milk and butter with soft potatoes melts in your mouth.
Packed with umami – Forest mushrooms add a deep, earthy flavor.
Quick & easy – Made with affordable pantry ingredients.
Naturally vegetarian – Perfect for meatless meals (if using non-meat-based mushrooms).
Traditionally Latvian – It reflects a slice of everyday Baltic life.

💡 Tips & Variations

  • Swap milk for cream for a richer version.
  • Add a dash of caraway seeds for a traditional Latvian aroma.
  • Serve with dark rye bread for a complete meal.
  • For a vegan twist, use oat milk and olive oil instead of dairy.
Latvian recipes
 
Keyword Baltic recipes, creamy potato soup, milk soup, mushroom soup, traditional Latvian soup
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View Comments (1)
  1. Eleanor Vance

    Ooh, this sounds amazing! I’m always looking for new soup recipes, and this Latvian milk soup looks perfect for a chilly night. Question: Could you substitute the mushrooms with something else, like maybe some sauteed leeks? Just curious!

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