Fricassee Of Morels Ramps And Spring Garlic Recipes

SPRING VEGETABLE FRICASSéE WITH SAFFRON CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter 1-quart baking dish. Cook carrots in large pot of boiling salted water 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer carrots to bowl of ice water to cool. Using slotted spoon, transfer carrots to medium bowl. If using fresh peas, cook in same pan of boiling water 2 minutes; drain and transfer to bowl of ice water to cool. Using slotted spoon, transfer peas to small bowl.
• Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; sauté 1 minute. Add shallots; sauté 1 minute. Add leek and sauté until vegetables are soft, about 4 minutes longer (do not brown). Stir in saffron. Add carrots, mushrooms, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Add wine and simmer until almost dry, about 3 minutes. Add broth and simmer 4 minutes. Add cream and bring to simmer. Stir in peas, asparagus, and spinach. Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake until edges are bubbling and top begins to brown, about 30 minutes.

CHICKEN FRICASSEE WITH MORELS AND VIN JAUNE

Steps:

• Prepare the morels: Place the morels in a colander and rinse well under cold running water to rid them of any grit. Transfer them to a heatproof measuring cup. Pour boiling water over the mushrooms to cover. Set aside for 20 minutes to plump them up. Then, using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the mushrooms from the liquid, leaving behind any grit that may have fallen to the bottom. If any of the morels are extremely large, halve them lengthwise.
• Liberally season the chicken pieces on all sides with sea salt and white pepper.
• In a deep 12-inch skillet, combine the oil and 4 tablespoons of the butter. Place over moderate heat. When the fats are hot but not smoking, add the chicken, skin side down, and brown until it turns an even golden color, about 5 minutes more. Carefully regulate the heat to avoid scorching the skin. (This may have to be done in batches.) When all the pieces are browned, use tongs (to avoid piercing the meat) to transfer them to a platter. Season again with sea salt and white pepper.
• Pour off and discard the fat in the skillet. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the shallots, and the garlic. Cook, covered, over low heat, until soft but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and boil, uncovered, over high heat for 5 minutes to burn off the alcohol, which could make the sauce bitter. Add the cream and the morels, and stir to blend. Return the chicken and any juices that have accumulated to the skillet. Cover, and cook over low heat, turning the pieces in the sauce once or twice, until the chicken is cooked through and has thoroughly absorbed the sauce, about 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning and serve.

FRICASSEE OF MORELS, RAMPS AND SPRING GARLIC

Steps:

• Place morels in a bowl of water and soak 15 minutes. Drain morels and cut off stems. Trim stems from spring garlic down to 1/2 inch, remove roots and peel off outer layer of skin. Slice garlic heads thin. Rinse ramps very well, cut off roots and peel off outer layer of skin.
• Place 1 tablespoon butter in a medium-size skillet over low heat, add morels and cook about 2 minutes. Add crushed garlic, thyme and shallot and cook a few more minutes, until morels have softened and given up their liquid. Remove garlic and thyme, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• In another skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-low heat, add spring garlic and a pinch of salt and cook, covered, about 5 minutes. Move garlic around so it does not brown. Add the ramps and a tablespoon of water, cover and cook 4 minutes longer, until tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add morels and their liquid to spring garlic and ramps, increase heat to medium-high, saute briefly and add another tablespoon of butter. Check seasonings, add parsley and serve.

MOREL FRICASSEE

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add onion.
• Cook, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and ham; cook, stirring often, 1 minute.
• Add mushrooms and chicken broth; cook, stirring often, 3 minutes.
• Stir in cream and herbs; cook over low heat until slightly thickened, 3 minutes.
• Add salt if needed, and pepper to taste.

ORECCHIETTE WITH MOREL MUSHROOMS AND GARLIC RAMPS

Steps:

• Trim the roots from the ramps with a paring knife, and remove any dead skin clinging to the bulbs. Wash the ramps a few times in warm water to remove the dirt. Coarsely chop the leaves and set them aside. Slice the bulbs down the middle and set aside.
• Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to a large pot of salted water and bring to a boil. When the water is boiling, stir in the orecchiette and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes.
• Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the ramp bulbs and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the portobellos and cook until soft, about 4 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and morels and cook for 2 minutes more. Pour in the wine and simmer gently, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• When the pasta is ready, drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta and the cooking water to the mushrooms along with the ramp leaves, lemon zest, and nutmeg, and cook on high for 2 minutes.
• Serve the pasta piping hot with grated Grana Padano over the top. Garnish with the minced parsley and season with freshly ground black pepper. Finish each serving with 1 tablespoon of mascarpone spooned on top.

PARCHMENT-COOKED FISH WITH MORELS, SPRING GARLIC, AND THYME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place morel mushrooms in a dry skillet over medium heat and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms release their juice and the juice evaporates, about 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle halibut fillets with salt and black pepper on both sides.
• Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat and cook the halibut fillets until golden brown on the outside, about 2 minutes per side. Remove fish from skillet and set aside.
• Cook and stir garlic scapes in the same skillet used to cook fish until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove pan from heat and stir morel mushrooms and thyme with the garlic scapes until combined.
• Fold a piece of parchment paper in half crosswise. Use scissors to cut a very large valentine-like heart shape out of the folded paper, as large as possible. Repeat with remaining parchment to make 4 large heart shapes.
• Open the heart shapes; brush right sides of the hearts with canola oil.
• Place 1/4 morel mushroom mixture in the left (unoiled) half of each heart. Place a halibut fillet on the mushroom mixture. Sprinkle fish with salt and black pepper.
• Fold the oiled right half of the heart over the fish. Fold about 1/4 inch of parchment paper over, starting at the rounded end, and work your way down to the point, folding as you go. Fold the edge over a second time to enclose fish and mushrooms in a bundle with a double-folded, sealed edge.
• Leave about 1/4 inch of the bottom point unfolded.
• Use a straw inserted into the open bottom to blow air into the bundle, making it puff up like a small balloon. Twist the bottom closed to enclose the air.
• Place parchment bundles on 2 baking sheets; don't let the bundles touch each other.
• Bake in the preheated oven until fish is no longer translucent in the center, about 15 minutes.
• To serve, plate each portion and carefully cut open the parchment to reveal the fish, mushrooms, and juices. Bundle will release hot steam when opened.