Mushrooms And Sage With Grilled Bread Recipes

GRILLED MUSHROOMS IN FOIL PACKETS

Steps:

• Cut four 12-by-12-inch squares of heavy aluminum foil, or eight squares of regular aluminum foil (stack two sheets each of the lighter foil to make four squares).
• In a large bowl, combine the mushrooms, herbs, garlic, salt and pepper, and olive oil. Use a large spoon to blend the ingredients.
• Brush the dull side of the aluminum squares with olive oil, and divide the mushrooms among the four squares. Fold the squares over and crimp the edges together to form well-sealed packets. Place on a hot grill, and grill 20 to 25 minutes. Remove one packet from the grill, and place on a plate. Carefully open it to check for doneness. The mushrooms should be tender and juicy. Either transfer to plates or bowls (there will be lots of juice), or cut the packets and eat the mushrooms directly from them. Have lots of crusty bread on hand to sop up the juices.

GRILLED WALNUT OLIVE-BREAD WITH EXOTIC MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat the grill until it is quite hot.
• Cut the bread into 8 3/4-inch-thick slices. Lightly brush each slice with olive oil. Wash and trim the mushrooms. Thread the mushrooms on skewers by size (large ones together on one skewer, small ones on another). Brush the mushrooms with oil, and sprinkle with garlic, salt and pepper.
• Just before serving, grill the mushrooms over high heat for 1 to 2 minutes per side, or until cooked. Grill the bread slices for 30 seconds per side, or until toasted. Put the bread on warm plates, and top each slice with with mushrooms. Garnish with parsley sprigs, lemon wedges and thin shavings of cheese.

GRILLED SAGE PORTABELLA

Steps:

• Brush mushrooms with oil and salt and pepper.
• Put sage, cilantro and garlic with butter in small pan.
• Saute over low heat about 5 minutes.
• Grill mushrooms about 2 minutes per side or until tender.
• Spoon the sage mixture with the butter over each mushroom.
• Squeeze lemon juice over just before serving.

CRISPY MUSHROOM FOCACCIA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir the flour, yeast, salt, water and oil together until well combined. The ingredients should come together easily to form a wet dough, about 2 minutes. Cover the bowl and let rise at room temperature for at least 8 hours and no more than 10 hours. (You can refrigerate at this point for up to 18 hours, then allow to come to room temperature before stippling.)
• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Prepare the mushrooms: Use a paring knife to trim the mushrooms and cut them into medium-large pieces, leaving smaller mushrooms whole whenever possible because they will shrink when they roast. On a baking sheet, toss the mushrooms with 3 tablespoons olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Spread the mushrooms in an even layer and roast until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. They should shrink a lot, but should only just begin to brown. Set aside to cool.
• When the dough has fully risen, pour 2 tablespoons olive oil onto a baking sheet and spread all over the baking sheet with your hands. Pour the risen dough onto the baking sheet, and use your fingers to spread and stipple the dough until about 1/2-inch thick. Don't worry if your dough doesn't stretch much at first; it will be easier after it rests. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and stipple again, but don't let it thin out too much. (It's more important that it remains the appropriate thickness, not that it fills the whole pan.) Arrange the cooled mushrooms in an even layer on top of the dough.
• Top the focaccia with a generous, even layer of grated Parmesan or flaky sea salt. Bake until the edges of the focaccia become golden brown and the mushrooms are very crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Squeeze the lemon over the surface of the focaccia. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving. Top with chives just before serving, if using.