Braised Exotic Mushrooms Recipes

BRAISED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, heat 1 Tbspoil over medium heat. Workingin batches, add mushrooms.Press down firmly with spatula tosear mushrooms. Transfer to aplate. Repeat with remaining oiland mushrooms. Return mushroomsto pan, add water, reduceheat, cover, and simmer untiltender, 4 to 5 minutes. Seasonwith salt. Let cool completely.

BRAISED CHICKEN LEGS WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Rinse porcini with warm water (they are often sandy), then place in a small bowl, cover with hot water and soak until softened, about 15 minutes. In a separate bowl, soak the morels in hot water.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken legs on a baking sheet in one layer. Season generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Roast, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, or until nicely browned. Remove and set aside. Turn oven to 350 degrees.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to color.
• Add bacon and tomato paste, stir to incorporate with onions, and cook for about 1 minute, then stir in garlic and cayenne. Sprinkle with flour and stir to coat. Add wine and cook for 1 minute, then whisk in turkey broth and bring to a simmer. The sauce will thicken slightly. Add bay leaf and thyme sprig. Drain porcini and morels and add to sauce.
• Submerge browned chicken legs in sauce and bring to a brisk simmer. Cover and transfer pot to oven. Bake for about 1 hour, until chicken is tender. Remove from oven and keep covered.
• While chicken bakes, make the potatoes: Put potatoes in a saucepan and cover with 1 inch of water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a brisk simmer and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Drain potatoes and let cool. Peel potatoes with a paring knife and return to saucepan. (Alternatively, potatoes may be peeled before cooking, or you may opt to leave skins on.) Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer over high heat to warm potatoes through, then set aside, covered.
• To serve, divide legs among 6 warm plates. Spoon sauce and mushrooms over each serving. Sprinkle parsley over potatoes and place a few potatoes on each plate. Transfer remaining potatoes and buttery juices to a serving dish. Serve remaining sauce in a gravy boat if desired.

SIMPLE BRAISED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat a large straight-sided skillet over medium high heat. Add the oil and heat another 30 seconds. Add the shallot and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt to the hot pan and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes or until fragrant and beginning to soften. Add the mushrooms to the pan along with another 1/2 teaspoon salt and the thyme. Cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms have let off some of their juices are beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Deglaze with the Marsala, if using, and add the broth and remaining salt. Reduce the heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Uncover the pan, increase the heat to medium and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, about an additional 5 minutes. Discard the thyme sprigs, stir in the butter and serve.

BRAISED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Wash the mushrooms and remove or trim any long stems if you want a "dressier" dish. Otherwise it's fine to leave them on. Pat the mushrooms dry with a paper towel.
• Saute mushrooms in butter and olive oil at medium high heat until mushrooms are browned.
• Continue to cook at medium heat as the juices are released from the mushrooms. Simmer the mushrooms until the juices are reduced to almost dry.
• Add beef stock (and red wine if desired) and continue simmering until the stock has reduced to a sauce-like consistency.

BRAISED CHINESE MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Put the mushrooms in a large bowl and add hot water to cover. Let stand one hour or longer.
• Rinse and dry the mushrooms. Cut off and discard stems.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the shrimp, pork, water chestnuts, scallions, ginger, soy sauce, shaoxing or Sherry, cornstarch, threequarter teaspoon sugar, sesame oil, salt and pepper. Blend well.
• Fill each mushroom cap with an equal portion of the mixture, mounding and smoothing over the tops.
• Heat three tablespoons of the oil in each of two large skillets. Add the mushrooms, stuffing side down, and brown lightly. Turn the mushrooms carefully in both skillets and carefully pour off the oil from both skillets.
• Blend the broth, oyster sauce and remaining one-quarter teaspoon sugar. Pour an equal portion of this into each skillet. Bring the liquid to the simmer and cover closely. Cook over low heat about 15 minutes, basting once during cooking. If the liquid starts to evaporate, add a few drops of water and continue cooking.
• Give the mushrooms one final basting. Transfer them to a dish in one layer. Pour the remaining liquid over all. Let cool uncovered. Cover and refrigerate.
• When ready to serve, preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Heat the mushrooms 15 minutes in their cooking liquid. These mushrooms are good even at room temperature.