Wild Mushroom Artichoke Ragout In Puff Pastry Recipes

ARTICHOKE, MUSHROOM AND POTATO RAGOûT

Steps:

• Place the mushrooms in a bowl or large Pyrex measuring cup. Bring 2 cups water to a boil, and pour over the mushrooms. Let sit 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the artichokes. If small, cut in half; quarter if large.
• Place a strainer lined with cheesecloth or paper towels over a bowl, and drain the mushrooms. Squeeze the mushrooms over the strainer to extract liquid, then rinse in several changes of water to rid them of grit. Set aside. Add enough water to the bowl to make 3 cups of soaking liquid.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy casserole or lidded nonstick skillet. Add the onion, and cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Stir in the garlic and mushrooms, and cook together, stirring, until fragrant, about one minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until it darkens and begins to caramelize in three to five minutes.
• Drain the artichokes, and add with the potatoes. Stir together for another minute, then stir in the wine. Bring to a boil, and cook until most of the liquid is gone. Add the soaking liquid from the mushrooms, the bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 40 minutes, until the potatoes and artichokes are tender. Uncover, turn up the heat, and reduce the liquid in the pan to thicken. Remove from the heat, taste and adjust salt and pepper. Stir in a teaspoon or more of fresh lemon juice, if desired, and the parsley. Serve hot or at room temperature.

WILD MUSHROOM PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallot; cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes. Lower heat to medium-low and add mushrooms. Cook and stir until mushrooms reduce by half, about 15 minutes. Stir in roasted garlic, Parmesan cheese, and thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in cream. Remove from heat and allow mushroom mixture to cool. It will thicken as it cools.
• Unfold pastry sheet onto floured surface and lightly roll into a 12 x 15 inch square. Cut into eighteen 3 inch squares. Place a mounded teaspoon of mushroom filling in the center of each square. Fold pastry over filling to form a triangle. Pinch edges firmly together with a fork to seal.
• Bake 12 to 16 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve hot or at room temperature.

WILD MUSHROOM ARTICHOKE RAGOUT IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• FOR PASTRY: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 1.Lightly oil baking sheet or mini muffin pan. 2. If using pastry sheets, cut pastry sheet into six 3-inch squares. Arrange pastry squares on baking pan 1-inch apart. If doing pastry cups, follow baking directions. 3.Beat egg yolk and salt; lightly brush each square. (disregard this step if using pastry cups) 4.Score tops of square diagonally, about 1/4-inch apart, in crosshatch design. (disregard this step if using pastry cups) 5.Bake 15 min. Remove pastry from oven; allow to cool. Slice pastry sheets in half, horizontally (like hamburger bun). FOR RAGOUT: 6.Heat butter in saute pan; add mushrooms. Reduce heat to MEDIUM; add shallots. Saute 5-10 min. 7.Add Madeira; simmer 5-6 min, until liquid is evaporated. Add broth & simmer. 8.Add artichokes & cream to mushroom/shallot mixture; simmer 5-8 min or until slightly thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add chopped chervil. 9.Center pastry bottom on plate; mound with about 1/2 cup mushroom-artichoke mixture. Place top pastry on mixture; garnish with chervil. --Or simply spoon ragout into pastry cups.