Aunt Sharons Pesto Mushrooms Recipes

MUSHROOM PESTO

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir mushrooms and shallot in melted butter until the mushrooms are lightly browned and soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
• Transfer cooled mushroom mixture to a blender; add pine nuts, olive oil, vegetable broth, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Pulse blender a few times before blending until mixture is finely ground, scraping down the sides of the pitcher with a spatula as needed; scrape into a mixing bowl. Stir Parmesan cheese through the blended mixture.

MUSHROOM PESTO

Steps:

• Combine the dried porcini mushrooms and water in a small microwave safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, cut several steam vents, and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Let stand until the mushrooms soften, about 5 minutes. Lift the mushrooms from the liquid with a fork and mince. Pour the liquid through a small strainer lined with a single sheet of paper towel into a measuring cup.
• Meanwhile, combine the white mushrooms, shallot, 1 tbls. of the oil, and 1/2 teaspoons salt together in a 12" nonstick skillet. Cover and cook over medium low heat until the mushrooms release their juice, about 7 minutes.
• Uncover, increase the heat to medium high, and stir in the garlic and thyme. Continue to cook, uncovered, until the mushrooms are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the strained porcini water, scraping up any browned bits.
• Process the sauteed mushroom mixture, minced porcini, Parmesan, ricotta, parsley, and remaining 1 tbls. oil in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• When tossing the pesto with pasta, add some of the pasta cooking water as needed to loosen the consistency of the pesto.
• Note:.
• The pesto can be covered with a sheet of plastic wrap pressed flush against its surface and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Do not freeze this pesto.

CHEESE AND PESTO-STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375•.
• Wash mushrooms, remove stems, hollow out and brush inside and out with olive oil.
• In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine cheeses and pesto,*reserving 1/4 cup parmesan cheese for later.
• Stuff the cheese-pesto mixture into the mushroom caps.
• Arrange the caps on a cookie sheet.
• Sprinkle the mushrooms with the reserved parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and brownish.
• *Oryou can make lots of small ones if desired.