Appetizermushroom Beggars Purses Recipes

CRISPY BEGGAR'S PURSE

Steps:

• If frozen, defrost the spring roll skins thoroughly. Soak the mushrooms in warm water for 20 minutes. Squeeze out the excess liquid. Remove and discard the stems and finely chop the caps. Soak the noodles in a large bowl of warm water for 15 minutes. When soft, drain and discard the water. Cut into 3 inch lengths.
• Put the prawns and pork in a large bowl, add salt and pepper and mix well. Then add the rest of the ingredients except for blanched green onions and frying oil, noodles and mushrooms and stir them well into the prawn and pork mixture. Wrap the bowl with plastic wrap and chill it for at least 20 minutes.
• For the sauce, mix the cornstarch and water. Place all the ingredients for the sweet and sour sauce, except the cornstarch mixture and chili in a pan. Bring to a boil, stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the chili flakes. Let cool and set aside.
• When you are ready to stuff the dumplings, put 2 tablespoons of the filling in the center of each spring roll skin. Dampen the edges with a little water and bring up the sides of the skin around the filling. Pinch the edges together at the top so the dumpling looks like a small, filled bag. Tie with a green onion. Continue, to use up all the filling.
• Heat a wok over high heat. Add the oil and, when it is moderately hot, add a handful of dumplings and deep-fry for 3 minutes until golden and crispy. If the oil gets too hot, turn the heat down slightly. Drain on paper towels and fry the remaining dumplings. Serve immediately with the sweet and sour sauce.

BEGGARS PURSES

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl combine all ingredients except the wonton wrappers. cover cookie sheets with tin foil and set the oven to 375 degrees
• 2. place the wonton wrappers out on a work surface and get a small bowl of water. Place a dollop of the mixture in the center of the wonton wrapper. Do not over stuff or it will burst in the oven.Put your fingers in the water and go along the outsides of the wonton wrappers with water.
• 3. place on cookie sheet as they are closed.
• 4. Put in the oven and cook until the wontons are golden brown and crispy. Serve immediately, but they are great at room temperature as well.

WILD MUSHROOM AND LEEK BEGGAR'S PURSES

Steps:

• Split leeks in half lengthwise, leaving root attached. Remove some of the inner layers to use for tying purses; blanch them for 30 seconds in boiling water, refresh in cool water, drain, and set aside.
• Remove green tops and thinly slice leeks. Saute in 1 tablespoon of the oil until soft, about 5 minutes. Do not brown. Remove from pan to a large bowl.
• Add another tablespoon of oil to pan, turn heat to medium high, and add enough mushrooms to cover bottom of pan. Cook, stirring frequently, until just softened, about 3 minutes. Remove from pan and add to leeks. Repeat until all mushrooms are cooked. If using a variety of mushrooms, cook each type separately.
• Return mushrooms and leeks to pan. Add thyme, salt, pepper, and Madeira or stock, and cook over high heat, stirring, until liquid is reduced to a syrupy consistency. Set aside to cool.
• Unwrap phyllo pastry and unroll flat. Cover completely with damp dish towel to prevent drying out. Lay out a sheet of phyllo and brush it sparingly with melted butter. Repeat until you have three layers. Cut into 4 rectangles. Place 1/3 cup filling in the center of each and gather into a cinched-purse shape. Repeat with remaining filling. (Wrap and refreeze remaining phyllo dough.) Chill purses until firm.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place purses on a baking sheet and bake until evenly golden brown, about 15 minutes. Tie each purse with a leek ribbon and serve hot.

APPETIZER/MUSHROOM BEGGAR'S PURSES RECIPE

Steps:

• Slice the mushrooms. Use 1 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp olive oil. Saute mushrooms in saucepan over high heat for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl. Over medium heat, saute garlic, shallots and bacon for 5 minutes or until bacon is golden brown. Add the herbs and cayenne pepper and remove from heat Combine with mushrooms, toss with salt and pepper to taste. Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface to 1/8"thick. Cut each half into 20 pieces. Brush each square with eggwash. Spoon onto square. Fold up the four corners. Pull corners up and squeeze edges to form purse. Tie with scallion greens that have been dropped in boiling water for 30 seconds. Tie each purse with a scallion green. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove purses from refrigerator and brush with eggwash. Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking until golden (10-15 minutes).Remove from oven and sprinkle with chives and parsley