Mushroom And Camembert Crostini On Butter Lettuce With Truffle Vinaigrette Recipes

MUSHROOM AND CAMEMBERT CROSTINI ON BUTTER LETTUCE WITH TRUFFLE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• To make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, truffle paste, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
• To make the crostini: Preheat the broiler.
• Brush the cut sides of the baguette slices with olive oil, and place under the broiler just until the bread is toasted on both sides. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and the butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and saute until they are tender and the juices, if any, have cooked away. (Wild mushrooms release almost no juices.) If the mushrooms seem dry, add a few drops of chicken stock or water and continue to cook until they're nice and tender and any remaining liquid has boiled away. (You want the mushrooms to be dry, almost crisp on the outside.) Add salt and a generous amount of pepper, and set aside.
• Spread or spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons Camembert on each slice of toast. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the cheese has melted (or maybe even disappeared).
• To assemble: Reheat the mushrooms if they have cooled, or, if you prefer, keep them at room temperature.
• Toss the lettuce and eggs with the dressing. Distribute on individual salad plates. Place four crostini on each plate, and top each one with about 1 tablespoon of the mushrooms. Sprinkle with a little parsley, and serve.

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH EXOTIC MUSHROOMS, POTATO MOUSSELINE, FOIE GRAS BUTTER AND TRUFFLE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the foie gras butter: Combine the foie gras and 4 ounces of the butter in a food processor and puree. Transfer Foie Gras Butter to a small container, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• For the wild mushrooms: Heat a large saute pan over a high heat (large enough to hold all the mushrooms in a single layer). Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and then the mushrooms. Cook over high heat until crispy around the edges -- approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and let cool.
• For the potato mousseline: Place potatoes in a saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the flame to low and simmer until very tender. Drain immediately and place in a food mill (not a food processor) or potato ricer. Rice or work through the food mill, adding 1/4 pound of butter, stirring constantly. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of warm milk so that the puree is silky but not runny. Cover with plastic wrap and keep and keep warm over a double boiler.
• For the gremolata: Combine chopped parsley, lemon zest and garlic.
• Sear the scallops: Heat a saute pan over high heat. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan. Sear the scallops until golden on one side, flip and then sear the other side. Remove from pan and keep warm.
• For the truffle vinaigrette: Combine truffle juice, port and the juice from the truffle peelings in a non-reactive saucepan. Reduce over medium-low heat until reduced by about 3/4 or until liquid is a thin syrup. Remove from heat and cool.
• Combine port - truffle reduction with vinegars and whisk in the oils. Set aside. This mixture will keep for 1 month in the refrigerator if it is tightly covered.
• For the assembly: In the center of 4 large plates place a dollop of the potato mousseline. Reheat the mushrooms and sprinkle with gremolata to taste. Arrange mushrooms around the potatoes. Drizzle the foie gras butter over and around the mushrooms. Drizzle the truffle vinaigrette on and around the mushrooms. Place 3 scallops on top of each of the mounds of potato mousseline.

WILD MUSHROOM CROSTINI

Steps:

• For mushroom topping:
• Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and thyme. Sauté until browned, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Rewarm before using.
• For thyme vinaigrette:
• Blend first 4 ingredients in blender 10 seconds. With machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup olive oil; blend until almost smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange bread on rimmed baking sheet. Brush with oil. Bake until beginning to crisp, about 8 minutes.
• Mound 1/4 cup mushrooms on each bread slice. Drizzle each with thyme vinaigrette, then sparingly with truffle oil.