Mushroom Ragout In A Savory Crust Recipes

WILD MUSHROOM RAGOûT ON CRISPY POLENTA WITH COMTE CHEESE

Steps:

• For polenta:
• Generously butter 13x9x1- inch baking sheet. Bring milk, broth, and bay leaf to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove saucepan from heat; cover and let steep 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Discard bay leaf. Bring liquid to boil. Gradually add polenta, whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until polenta is very thick, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Stir in Comté cheese and butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer polenta to prepared 13x9x1-inch baking sheet. Using wet hands, press polenta evenly over sheet to edges. Chill until firm, at least 3 hours. Cut polenta into 20 squares. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• For mushroom ragout:
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons oil in large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add all mushrooms and sauté until tender and browned, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add shallots and balsamic vinegar; sauté until tender, about 2 minutes. Season lightly to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Rewarm mushrooms in large skillet over medium-high heat until heated through. Add broth and simmer 1 minute. Stir in crème fraîche and half of parsley. Season mushroom ragout to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 300°F. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, add polenta squares to skillet and cook until browned, about 2 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven while cooking remaining polenta squares.
• Arrange 2 polenta squares on each plate. Top each with warm mushroom ragout; sprinkle with grated Comté cheese and remaining parsley and serve.
• MORE INFO:
• Comté is a semi-firm, Gruyère-style cow's-milk cheese made primarily in France's Franche-Comté region. It adds great flavor to this recipe and would also be delicious on a cheese platter. Comté is available at some supermarkets, cheese shops, and specialty foods stores.
• *Polenta can be found at some supermarkets, as well as at natural foods stores and Italian markets. If polenta is unavailable, substitute an equal amount of regular yellow cornmeal and cook it about half as long.

MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• In a small bowl, soak the porcini mushrooms in 1 1/2 cups hot water until softened, 15 minutes.
• In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat. Add one-third of the assorted mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove mushrooms to a plate and repeat twice with remaining mushrooms. Return all cooked mushrooms to skillet.
• Drain porcini mushrooms, reserving liquid, and coarsely chop. Add porcini, shallot and garlic to mushrooms and cook over moderate heat, stirring, 3 minutes. Strain porcini liquid over mushroom mixture, stopping before adding any grit or sand. Boil over high heat 4 minutes, or until reduced by half. Stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and fold in remaining 1 tablespoon butter.

CREAMY WILD MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in mushrooms with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until any liquid evaporates and mushrooms are light brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add 1/2 tablespoon butter and shallots; cook, stirring, until mushrooms are caramelized and almost tender, about 10 minutes.
• Drizzle in Cognac and vinegar; cook until liquid evaporates, 1 minute. Stir in creme fraiche.
• Stir in chicken broth, marjoram, and salt and black pepper to taste. Reduce heat to medium-low, cook until slightly thickened and mushrooms are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

MUSHROOM RAGU

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat the oil. When almost smoking, add the onions and garlic over medium-low heat until the onions have wilted, about 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Raise heat to high and saute until mushrooms are tender and all the liquid has evaporated. Remove pan from heat and pour in Marsala. Return pan to stove and allow wine to evaporate, about 3 minutes. Add chicken broth and simmer for 1/2 hour until the sauce has reduced by half. Add heavy cream and mix well. Take the pan off the heat and add the fresh herbs and Parmesan and mix thoroughly.

MUSHROOM RAGOUT IN A SAVORY CRUST

Steps:

• For the ragout, melt the the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over low heat. Add the leeks and shallots and cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Add the white mushrooms, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Add the shiitake and assorted wild mushrooms, the salt, pepper, sherry and cook, covered, for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, for the crust, slice the cold butter into a large bowl. Add the flour, salt and white pepper and, using a pastry cutter or two knives, work the flour into the butter. When the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal, form a well in the center. Beat together the egg yolks and water and stir into the flour and butter mixture until smooth. Divide into two balls and cool for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Lightly flour a board and roll out one batch of pastry. Gently press half the sage leaves into the dough. Line a deep dish pie pan with the dough and sprinkle it lightly with the 1 tablespoon of Parmesan for the crust. Stir the bread crumbs and 3 tablespoons Parmesan into the mushroom ragout and spoon into the pastry shell. Roll out the second batch of pastry, press the remaining sage leaves into the dough and top the pie, crimping the edges well. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for 15 minutes before cutting. Serve.