Hearty Beef And Porcini Mushroom Tomato Sauce Recipes

ITALIAN-STYLE BEEF AND PORCINI STEW

Steps:

• Position a rack in the bottom third of the oven and heat the oven to 325°F.
• Spread the beef on paper towels to dry for 10 to 20 minutes before browning. (You can use this time to chop the onion, celery, and carrot). If the meat is very wet, pat it dry.
• In a 6-quart Dutch oven or other heavy-duty pot, cook the pancetta in the oil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned but not crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate and set aside. Do not wipe out the pan.
• Heat the pancetta fat over medium to medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Season about one-third of the beef with salt and pepper and arrange it in a single layer in the pot (there should be at least 1/2 inch of space between the pieces). Brown well on at least 4 sides, adjusting the heat as necessary; each batch should take about 10 minutes to brown. Transfer the beef to a large bowl or rimmed baking sheet as it browns and repeat with the rest of the beef, seasoning with salt and pepper before browning. Once all of the beef is browned, remove the pot from the heat to let it cool for a few minutes.
• Pour all but 2 Tbs. of the fat from the pot. (If there is not enough, add oil to equal 2 Tbs.) Return the pot to medium heat, then add the yellow onion, celery, and carrot. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often and scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spatula, until the vegetables begin to soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, soaked porcini, rosemary, and bay leaf and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Return the pancetta to the pot.
• Add the wine, stirring with the wooden spatula to dissolve any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Raise the heat to medium high and boil to reduce by about half, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the reserved mushroom soaking liquid. Bring to a boil.
• Return the beef to the pot along with any accumulated juice. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer.
• Crumple a 12×16-inch piece of parchment, then flatten it out. (Crumpling makes for easy handling.) Place the parchment directly on the surface of the stew, allowing the ends to come up the sides of the pot. Cover and put in the oven.
• After 1 hour of stewing, add the pearl onions to the pot. Cover with the parchment and lid, return to the oven. After another 30 minutes, add the tomatoes. Cover with the parchment and lid, return the pot to the oven, and cook until the beef is fork-tender.
• Stir in the basil. Degrease the stew by laying a clean paper towel over the surface of the stew and gently pushing it into all the bumps and dips, then quickly peeling it off. Repeat as necessary with more paper towels. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

HEARTY BEEF AND PORCINI MUSHROOM TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat.
• Add in onions, carrots, celery and dried chili flakes; sauté for about 8 minutes adding in the garlic the last 2 minutes.
• Add in the tomato paste and stir for 1 minute.
• Drain the porcini mushrooms (RESERVING the liquid).
• Add in mushrooms, beef and pork; cook stirring with a wooden spoon until the meat is browned (the meat must be browned, about 10-12 minutes) drain fat.
• Add in cream; cook for about 5 minutes.
• Add in wine, reserved mushroom water and allspice; cook for about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add in the tomato sauce and stewed tomatoes with liquid; reduce heat to low and simmer for about 3 hours, stirring occasionally (make certain to uncover the last hour or so of cooking to reduce and thicken the sauce).
• Season with salt and pepper to taste and add in a couple teaspoons sugar if needed.

PASTA WITH DRIED MUSHROOMS AND TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the mushrooms in a bowl or a pyrex measuring cup and cover with hot water. Let soak 15 to 30 minutes, until thoroughly soft. Line a strainer with cheesecloth and set it over a bowl. Drain the mushrooms and squeeze them over the strainer. Then rinse in several changes of water and chop coarsely. Measure out 1/4 cup of the mushroom soaking liquid.
• Begin heating a large pot of water for the pasta. Heat the olive oil in a large, wide, heavy nonstick frying pan over medium heat and add the onion or shallot. Cook, stirring, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and stir together for minute, until fragrant, then add the mushrooms and stir together for a minute or two, until fragrant. Add the tomatoes and their juice, the mushroom soaking liquid you set aside, the thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir and turn up the heat. When the tomatoes begin to bubble, lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until thick and fragrant, 15 to 20 minutes. Add a generous amount of pepper, taste and adjust seasonings. Keep warm.
• When the pasta water comes to a boil, add a tablespoon of salt and the pasta. Cook al dente, following the timing directions on the package but checking a minute or two before the time on the package. Remove 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and stir it into the mushroom sauce. When the pasta is cooked through but still firm to the bite, remove another 1/2 cup water, drain the pasta and toss with the sauce in the frying pan if possible. If you wish to thin out the sauce or moisten the pasta further, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water or more of the mushroom soaking liquid. Serve hot; pass the Parmesan at the table.

TOMATO SAUCE WITH DRIED PORCINI MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• 1. Soak the dried Porcini mushrooms in warm water for at least 30 minutes (retain the water after soaking)
• 2. Heat the olive oil, chopped chilli pepper and garlic in a frying pan.
• 3. Add the mushrooms and chilli powder (if not using fresh or chopped chilli in oil).
• 4. Add the white wine and allow to evaporate over high heat.
• 5. Add the tomatoes, a pinch of sugar and salt, stir and cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes covering with a lid.
• 6. Remove the lid and continue to cook on a low heat for another 10-15 minutes.
• 7. Remove the clove of garlic and pour the sauce onto the drained pasta, mix well.
• 8. Buon Appetito! See this recipe at VORREI: http://blog.vorrei.co.uk/tomato-sauce-dried-porcini-mushrooms

PORCINI MUSHROOM SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine porcini mushrooms and 1 cup warm water in small bowl. Let stand until mushrooms soften, about 30 minutes. Remove mushrooms from liquid, squeezing excess liquid from mushrooms back into bowl; reserve liquid. Place mushrooms in another small bowl.
• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until onion browns, about 15 minutes. Add Marsala and white wine. Increase heat; boil until most liquid evaporates, about 7 minutes. Add rosemary, mushrooms and both stocks. Pour in reserved mushroom liquid, leaving any sediment behind. Boil until liquid mixture is reduced to 2 cups, about 15 minutes.
• Mix butter and flour in small bowl to blend; whisk into mushroom mixture. Simmer until sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.