Mushroom Pecan Latkes Recipes

PORCINI MUSHROOM LATKES WITH MUSHROOM SALAD AND CHIVE "CREAM"

Steps:

• For latkes:
• Combine porcini and boiling water in bowl. Soak until soft, about 30 minutes. Strain, pressing out all liquid. Chop porcini.
• Blend potatoes and 1/2 cup onions in processor until finely ground and some liquid forms. Turn mixture out onto kitchen towel. Gather towel around and squeeze mixture very dry. Scrape into large bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups onions and next 4 ingredients. Stir until batter becomes moist. Add porcini.
• Pour enough oil into heavy large skillet to coat bottom; heat over medium-high heat. Working in batches, drop potato mixture into skillet by scant 1/4 cupfuls. Flatten into 2 1/2-inch rounds. Cook until golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to large baking sheet. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 400°F oven until crisp, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• For salad and chive cream:
• Stir nondairy sour cream, chives, and 1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar in small bowl to blend.
• Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and all mushrooms; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons vinegar; toss. Season with salt, pepper, and more vinegar, if desired.
• Overlap latkes on plates. Mound greens alongside; top with mushrooms. Serve with chive cream.
• What to drink:
• Try a full-bodied kosher white wine, like the BARON HERZOG 2007 CENTRAL COAST CHARDONNAY (California $13).

MUSHROOM PECAN LATKES

Steps:

• Heat oil in nonstick frying pan, and saute mushrooms. Add thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Place in food processor, and pulse just until mushrooms are chopped.
• Place mushrooms in a mixing bowl. Add rice, pecans, sour cream, egg, matzoh meal, snipped dill, lemon zest, cardamom and nutmeg. Mix well.
• Coat a nonstick frying pan with oil, and heat. Take heaping tablespoons of mixture, and fry for a few minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Garnish with strips of smoked salmon and pickled ginger, and serve.

GLUTEN-FREE MUSHROOM PECAN APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add mushrooms and onions; cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is tender. Drain.
• In pan, mix mushroom mixture, cheese, pecans and spinach; spread evenly. In medium bowl, stir all remaining ingredients with whisk or fork until blended. Pour into pan.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 30 minutes before serving.

CELERY ROOT-MUSHROOM LATKES

Steps:

• Whisk the sour cream with the chives, vinegar and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Grate the potato, celery root and onion on the large holes of a box grater into a colander set over a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper, toss well and let stand 5 minutes. Squeeze handfuls of the mixture firmly with your hands to remove as much liquid as possible. Blot dry with paper towels, then transfer to a large bowl.
• Add the beaten egg, matzo meal or flour, mushrooms, thyme and garlic to the potato mixture and toss well to combine. Scoop 1/4 cupfuls of the mixture and tightly pack into thin 3- to 4-inch pancakes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
• Preheat the oven to 250˚. Heat 1/4 inch vegetable oil or chicken fat in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in three batches, fry the latkes until deep golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes per side, reducing the heat as needed if the latkes are browning too quickly. Remove to a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and more thyme. Keep warm in the oven while you make the remaining latkes. Serve with the chive sour cream.