Ragoût Of Morels With Crème Fraîche Soft Herbs And Toasted Brioche Recipes

CREAMY WILD MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in mushrooms with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until any liquid evaporates and mushrooms are light brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add 1/2 tablespoon butter and shallots; cook, stirring, until mushrooms are caramelized and almost tender, about 10 minutes.
• Drizzle in Cognac and vinegar; cook until liquid evaporates, 1 minute. Stir in creme fraiche.
• Stir in chicken broth, marjoram, and salt and black pepper to taste. Reduce heat to medium-low, cook until slightly thickened and mushrooms are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

MUSHROOM RAGU

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat the oil. When almost smoking, add the onions and garlic over medium-low heat until the onions have wilted, about 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Raise heat to high and saute until mushrooms are tender and all the liquid has evaporated. Remove pan from heat and pour in Marsala. Return pan to stove and allow wine to evaporate, about 3 minutes. Add chicken broth and simmer for 1/2 hour until the sauce has reduced by half. Add heavy cream and mix well. Take the pan off the heat and add the fresh herbs and Parmesan and mix thoroughly.

RAGOUT OF SPRING VEGETABLES WITH MORELS

Steps:

• Place morels in a bowl, and cover with warm water. Place potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with salted water, and simmer 5 minutes. Add carrots, onions, turnips and celery, and simmer another 15 minutes. Drain vegetables, and set aside.
• Drain morels, reserving 1/3 cup soaking liquid, strained. Rinse morels, and pat dry.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add morels, potatoes, carrots, onions, turnips and celery. Sauté about 5 minutes, until potatoes begin to color. Add stock and reserved morel liquid. Boil a few minutes, until liquid reduces and thickens a bit. Recipe can be prepared in advance to this point.
• Stir in asparagus and scallions. Rapidly simmer 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Fold in remaining oil, scatter with chervil, and serve.

MUSHROOM RAGOUT

Steps:

• Clean the mushrooms by brushing with a kitchen towel or a brush to remove any loose dirt.
• Remove the shitake stems and discard.
• Quarter the mushrooms and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the mushrooms to the skillet in a single layer in the pan.
• Do not pile the mushrooms on top of one another.
• Increase the heat to high and cook mushrooms until brown then turn them over with a spoon or by shaking the pan.
• If skillet seems dry add the additional 2 tablespoons butter.
• Cook until nicely browned, about 5 minutes.
• Add the shallot or onion and garlic and cooked until softened about 3 minutes.
• Add the salt, pepper, and thyme.
• Add the Madeira wine and scrape up all of the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Add the heavy cream and bring to a boil.
• Cook for about 45 seconds to 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and serve.

MORELS AND COMTE CHEESE ON GRILLED TOAST

Steps:

• Cover the morels with water and set aside for 30 minutes. Drain them and rinse with cold water, then cut in half lengthwise. Rinse again, making sure they are cleaned of any grit or sand, and drain well.
• Preheat the broiler.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the morels and the fresh mushrooms and cook until they have absorbed the butter and wilted, several minutes.
• Toast the bread on both sides under the broiler.
• Add the creme fraiche to the mushrooms, increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the creme fraiche has reduced by half, several minutes more.
• Add the cheese to the morel-and-creme-fraiche mixture and cook, stirring constantly, just until the cheese is melted and incorporated into the mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place a generous tablespoon of the mushroom-and-cheese mixture onto each piece of toast, sprinkle liberally with chives and broil just until hot and bubbling. Serve immediately.

FRISéE AND MOREL RAGOûT WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté, stirring frequently, until juices are released, about 3 minutes. Add shallots; sauté 1 minute. Add broth; bring to simmer. Cover skillet and simmer until mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Add frisée and stir until just wilted. Add peas and crème fraîche; bring to simmer. Stir in prosciutto and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

RAGOûT OF MORELS WITH CRèME FRAîCHE, SOFT HERBS, AND TOASTED BRIOCHE

Steps:

• Toss the tarragon, chervil, parsley leaves, and chives together in a small bowl and set aside, covered with a damp paper towel in the refrigerator. If the morels are large, cut them in half lengthwise.
• Heat a large sauté pan over high heat for 2 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons butter, and when it foams, scatter the morels into the pan, being careful not to overcrowd them. Sauté 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often. Turn down the heat to medium, and add the thyme, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and a few grindings of pepper. Let the mushrooms cook another 6 to 8 minutes, until they're crispy on the outside yet still tender. (The amount of cooking time really depends on the mushrooms; some give off more water than others, which will require a longer cooking time in order for the water to evaporate and the morels to crisp.)
• Add 1 tablespoon butter, and stir in the shallots. Cook about 2 minutes, until the shallots are translucent and tender. Turn the heat up to high, add the broth, and reduce by half. Immediately remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, lightly butter the brioche on both sides. Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat, and toast the slices on both sides until golden brown.
• Cut the brioche slices in half on the diagonal, and place them on a platter.
• When the brioche is ready, return the mushrooms to medium heat for a minute or two. Swirl in the cream, and taste for seasoning. Spoon the morels over and around the toasts-not completely covering the bread, and spilling onto the platter.
• Dollop each toast with crème fraîche and scatter the herbs over the top.