Wild Mushroom Roasted Beet And Goat Cheese Salad With Onion Purée Recipes

BEET SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE TOASTS

Steps:

• Cook beets: Place the beets in a small roasting dish, add water to a depth of about 1 inch and a generous pinch of salt. Cover tightly and bake at 375 degrees for about 1 hour, until beets can be pierced with a fork. (Alternatively, simmer beets on the stovetop for an hour in well-salted water.)
• Let cool slightly, then slip off skins while the beets are still warm. Cut beets into wedges and place in a small bowl. Beets may be cooked up to 2 days in advance.
• While the beets roast, make the vinaigrette: Place shallot and garlic in a small bowl or jar. Cover with vinegar and add a pinch of salt. Whisk in olive oil and add pepper.
• Prepare goat cheese: With a fork, stir herbs and lemon zest into goat cheese. Spread goat cheese mixture on baguette slices and set on a baking sheet. When ready to serve, bake until crisp and slightly browned, 10 minutes in a 375-degree oven or toaster oven. Toasts do not have to be piping hot when served.
• Whisk dressing and pour over beets, reserving 3 tablespoons. Add a pinch of salt and toss beets well. Leave to sit for a few minutes, then taste and adjust vinegar and salt - beets are notorious for needing more vinegar and salt.
• Thinly slice the fennel crosswise. Toss with a little salt and the reserved dressing. Arrange fennel on individual plates or a serving dish. Place dressed beets on fennel, then fluff fennel a bit. Garnish with goat cheese toasts and serve.

WILD MUSHROOM, ROASTED BEET, AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD WITH ONION PURéE

Steps:

• Make the onion purée:
• In a medium sauté pan over moderate heat, warm the oil. Add the onions and shallot and sauté, stirring occasionally, until soft. Season with salt, add the heavy cream, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Transfer the onion mixture to a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
• Make the mushrooms:
• In a medium sauté pan over high heat, warm the walnut oil. Add the mushrooms, in batches if necessary, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the liquid released by the mushrooms is evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the sage, season with salt, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are golden and tender.
• Roast the beets:
• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Arrange the beets in a large, deep baking dish and drizzle with the oil. Add enough water to reach about 1/4 inch up the sides of the baking dish. Cover with foil and roast until the beets are tender, about 45 minutes. Once the beets are cool enough to handle, peel them and cut them into quarters. Transfer the beets to a medium bowl, add lemon zest, lemon juice, and chives, season with salt, and toss to combine.
• Toast the pumpkin seeds:
• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Arrange the pumpkin seeds on a large, rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with walnut oil, and toss to combine. Roast until toasted, about 10 minutes, then toss with salt.
• Cook the peas:
• Fill a large bowl with ice water.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water, blanch the peas until just tender. Drain, then immediately plunge the peas into the ice water to stop cooking. Drain the peas again and pat them dry.
• To serve:
• In a large bowl combine the mushrooms, beets, peas, goat cheese, and onion purée and toss to combine. Divide the salad among 4 plates, sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds, and serve.