Morel Fricassee Recipes

CHICKEN FRICASSEE WITH MORELS

Steps:

• Soak morels in 3 cups very hot water for 30 minutes to re-hydrate. Lift them carefully from the hot water in order to leave any grit behind in the liquid. Discard the liquid, and dry the morels lightly with paper towels. Cut morels crosswise into 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch wide slices and set aside. Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour, and shake off excess. Heat half the clarified butter (1/8 cup) in a large saute pan, and cook the chicken over medium heat for about 8 to 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and brown on the second side, 4 to 5 minutes more. Remove to an ovenproof casserole dish. Add the rest of the clarified butter (the other 1/8 cup) to the same saute pan, add the morels and button mushrooms, and cook gently over low heat for 2 minutes. Then add the Madeira and reduce the liquid by half.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• When the liquid is reduced, add the beef stock and heavy cream and bring to a gentle boil. Let the mushroom sauce cook until mixture starts to thicken, about 5 to 10 minutes. Pour the sauce over the chicken and bake covered in the oven until done, about 25 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice and serve.

CHICKEN AND ARTICHOKE FRICASSéE WITH MOREL MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Fill large bowl with water. Squeeze juice from 1 lemon into water; add lemon halves. Tear outer leaves from 1 artichoke until only pale green leaves remain. Cut top 3/4 inch from top; trim end of stem. Cut in half lengthwise. Rub cut sides of artichoke with lemon half; transfer to bowl with lemon water. Repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Bring 6 cups water, 2 tablespoons flour, 2 teaspoons salt, and bay leaf to boil in large saucepan. Add artichoke halves and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.
• Melt butter with oil in heavy large deep skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess. Cook chicken until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to plate. Add mushrooms, carrots, and shallots to skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon thyme and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add wine; bring to boil. Add broth and artichokes; bring to boil.
• Return chicken to skillet, reduce heat to medium low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Turn chicken, cover, and simmer until cooked through, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer chicken and vegetables to platter. Whisk crème fraîche into sauce in skillet; bring to boil. Season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken, sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon thyme, and serve.

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.

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.

MORELS WITH MADEIRA AND FETTUCCINE

Steps:

• To clean morels: Cut off tough bottom of stem. Wash in 3 soaks of cold water. To first soak add 2 tablespoons salt and remove any wildlife that is drawn out.
• Clean morels according to note. In a saute pan over medium heat, heat butter, and add morels. Saute morels for about 3 minutes. Add shallots and cook for 2 minutes. Add Madeira and simmer until Madeira is reduced by half.
• Add 1/2 cup of hot chicken stock and cook for 3 minutes. Reserve additional stock. Add additional stock as needed to achieve desired thickness of sauce.
• Cook fresh pasta according to package instructions.
• Add cream to morels and simmer, but do not boil. Place pasta in large serving bowl. Add sage and ham to morels and cook for 30 seconds. Pour sauce over pasta and toss.

CHICKEN FRICASSEE WITH MORELS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat 2 teaspoons of butter in a large, wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear until browned, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan. Lower the heat to medium, place 1 teaspoon of butter and the shallots in the pan and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.
• Add the broth, wine and thyme and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken and bring back to a simmer. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove the chicken and tent with foil to keep warm. Increase the heat and simmer the liquid until it has reduced to 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Remove the thyme.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add the asparagus and blanch until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Heat the remaining butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the asparagus and the morels and saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir the cream, 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste into the sauce. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Divide the chicken among 4 plates and spoon the sauce over it. Place the asparagus and morels around the chicken, sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.

SQUIRREL FRICASSEE

Steps:

• Wash squirrel thoroughly inside and out in warm water.
• Drain well and cut into serving pieces.
• Never wash after cutting up.
• Combine salt, pepper, and flour.
• Dredge meat in mixture and coat well.
• Heat shortening in a heavy skillet.
• Brown meat slowly on all sides to a rich brown, about 15 minutes.
• Add 1/4 cup of water, cover tightly.
• Reduce heat and simmer gently until tender, approx about 30 minutes.
• Add remaining water as needed.
• Squirrel should be very tender when done.
• Remove squirrel to a hot platter, cover and keep warm.
• Blend leftover seasoned flour into the fat remaining in skillet.
• Add milk gradually and cook until gravy boils and thickens, stirring constantly.
• Serve at once with squirrel.
• Add the minced onion for additional flavor, if desired.

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.