Winter Squash And Portobello Mushroom Tamales Recipes

MIXED MUSHROOM TAMALES

Steps:

• Cover husks with hot water by 2 inches in a large bowl and soak, kept submerged with an inverted plate, turning husks occasionally, until soft, about 30 minutes. Rinse husks, 1 at a time, under running water. Pile 24 of largest husks on a plate and cover with a dampened kitchen towel. Tear some of remaining husks lengthwise into 24 (1/2-inch-wide) strips to use as ties (keep damp as well).
• Cover porcini with 1 cup very hot water in a small bowl and soak 30 minutes. Lift out porcini, squeezing liquid back into bowl (reserve liquid), then rinse mushrooms to remove any grit. Coarsely chop porcini. Pour soaking liquid through a paper-towel-lined sieve into a glass measure and reserve.
• Heat 1/2 stick butter in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over high heat until foam subsides, then sauté onion and garlic, stirring, 1 minute. Add mushrooms (including porcini) and epazote (if using) and sauté, stirring occasionally, until liquid is released, about 3 minutes.
• Add porcini soaking liquid and simmer, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is evaporated and mushrooms are slightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes, then sprinkle with pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Beat remaining 1 1/2 sticks butter with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Sift masa harina with baking powder, sugar, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt into a bowl. Stir in 1 1/2 cups very hot water until a thick paste forms.
• Beat masa mixture into butter in 3 batches, beating until smooth after each addition. Reduce speed to low and mix in mushroom mixture until just combined.
• Put 1 husk on a work surface, pointed end closest to you, and, spreading it flat, mound 3 tablespoons filling in center and flatten slightly into a rough oval (about 1/2 inch thick) with back of a spoon, leaving a 1-inch border on both sides. Bring pointed end of husk up over mound of filling to cover, and fold sides of husk over filling to enclose. Gather together open end of husk at top of filling, creating a flat pouch, and tie with a corn-husk strip. Assemble 23 more tamales in same manner.
• Arrange tamales upright in 1 layer in steamer insert so they resemble falling dominoes in rows. Set steamer over boiling water in pot and cover with a folded kitchen towel (towel absorbs condensation so tamales don't get soggy). Steam tamales, tightly covered with a lid, adding more water as necessary, until filling is tender, about 30 minutes. To check for doneness, open 1 steamed tamale and if any part of filling is still gummy, steam 5 to 10 minutes more.

SAVANNAH'S BEST MARINATED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• In a baking dish, mix the wine, olive oil, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and garlic. Place mushroom caps upside down in the marinade, and marinate 15 minutes.
• Cover dish, and transfer to the preheated oven. Bake 25 minutes. Turn mushrooms and continue baking 8 minutes.

SQUASH AND MUSHROOM MEDLEY

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute the squash, zucchini and onion in butter until tender. Add the mushrooms, garlic, salt and pepper; saute 2-3 minutes longer or until heated through.

MUSHROOM AND SQUASH RISOTTO

Steps:

• Soak the porcinis in 5 cups hot water, 30 minutes. Strain into a saucepan, squeezing the liquid from the porcinis; chop the porcinis and set aside.
• Make the mushroom broth: Remove the shiitake stems and transfer to a separate saucepan. Add 5 cups water, the bay leaf, 1/2 cinnamon stick, the peppercorns and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil and cook 3 minutes, then remove from the heat and set aside to infuse, 30 minutes. Strain into the saucepan with the porcini soaking liquid, squeezing the liquid from the shiitake stems; discard the solids.
• Meanwhile, chop the shiitake mushroom caps and mixed mushrooms. Heat 3 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in an extra-large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes and the remaining 1/2 cinnamon stick and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the shiitake caps and mixed mushrooms in an even layer and cook, undisturbed, until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir and continue cooking until the mushrooms are soft, about 3 more minutes. Season with salt and discard the cinnamon stick.
• Bring the mushroom broth to a simmer. Heat 2 tablespoons butter and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the squash, onion, porcinis and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add the rice and toast, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Add the wine and simmer, stirring, until absorbed, 1 minute. Add 3 cups hot broth, return to a simmer and cook, stirring, until most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 more minutes. Add 3 more cups broth and the mushroom mixture; bring to a simmer and cook, stirring, until the rice is al dente, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the grated cheese and parsley. Add more broth, if needed. Season with salt and serve with more cheese.

CORNBREAD CASSEROLE AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH, MUSHROOMS, AND ANCHO MOLE

Steps:

• For filling:
• Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Add mushrooms; sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add sage, thyme, garlic, and cumin; stir 1 minute. Add squash, beans, tomatoes with juice, and 1/2 cup water; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer 8 minutes. Uncover and simmer until vegetables are tender and most of liquid has evaporated but mixture is still very moist, about 12 minutes. Season filling generously with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Cover; chill.)
• For cornbread:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 15x10x2-inch glass baking dish. Mix Masa Harina, cornmeal, salt, and baking powder in large bowl. Whisk 4 1/4 cups water, 6 tablespoons melted butter, eggs, and egg yolk in another large bowl to blend. Stir egg mixture into Masa Harina mixture. Stir in cheese and parsley, adding more water by tablespoonfuls as needed to form thick moist dough.
• Transfer 4 cups dough to prepared baking dish. Place large piece of plastic wrap atop dough. Using plastic as aid, press dough evenly over bottom and 3/4 of the way up sides of dish; peel off plastic. Spoon filling into dough in dish, spreading evenly. Spoon remaining dough in small dollops atop filling. Using offset spatula, gently spread dollops evenly over filling to cover. Press top and bottom dough together at edges to seal, enclosing filling. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Brush top of casserole with 4 tablespoons melted butter. Bake until dough is light golden and casserole is heated through, about 1 hour (or about 1 hour 15 minutes if chilled). Cool 10 minutes. Cut into squares; serve with Ancho Mole.

SUMMER SQUASH AND PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a large skillet or griddle over high heat, fry the squash and portobello mushrooms in olive oil. Fry each in a single layer, doing as many batches as needed. Cook both sides until well browned and the vegetables are cooked though. Remove to paper towels and season with salt.
• Season the ricotta with nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, then beat in the eggs.
• Saute the onion & garlic in 3 tablespoons of olive oil, add the tomato sauce and lemon zest, simmer 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings, if needed (original recipe adds 1 teaspoons salt at this point, but I omit it).
• Spray an 11" x 13" pan (at least 2" deep). Build the layers as follows, being sure to get the noodles quite wet, as they need plenty of moisture. You might have a bit of extra sauce, but I use it all up.
• Put 1 1/2 Celsius sauce in the bottom of the pan, then a single layer of four noodles, overlapping them slightly, 1/3 of the cooked vegetables, 1/2 the ricotta, and 1 cup sauce.
• Put another single layer of noodles in the pan, top with 1/2 the remaining vegetables, 1/2 the mozzarella, and another cup of sauce.
• Put another single layer of noodles in the pan, the last of the vegetable, the remaining ricotta, and 1 cup sauce.
• Make another single layer of noodles and top with one cup of the sauce (I use ALL the rest of the sauce).
• Finish with the remainder of mozzarella and the Parmesan, mixed together. Cover the pan with aluminum foil which has been sprayed to prevent the cheese from sticking to it, and bake 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake another 30 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and the sauce is bubbling around the sides, or the internal temperature is 170°F sauce is bubbling around the sides.
• Allow to rest at least 15 minutes before serving so it firms up.