Wild Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Legs Recipes

CHICKEN LEGS STUFFED WITH WILD RICE AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken legs. Sprinkle them inside and out with salt and pepper, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook the wild rice and drain.
• Heat the butter in a skillet and add the onions and shallots. Cook, stirring, until they are wilted. Add the mushrooms and cook about one minute, stirring. Add the wild rice, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with Cognac and stir. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Stuff each chicken leg with an equal portion of the filling. Carefully fold over the boned thighs to enclose the filling.
• Lay out four squares of plastic wrap, one at a time. Place one stuffed leg in the center and carefully fold the plastic wrap to enclose the stuffed pieces. Wrap securely.
• Place the stuffed chicken legs in one layer in the top rack of a steamer. Set aside. Bring enough water to the boil in the bottom of the steamer to steam the chicken legs when added.
• When ready to cook, place the chicken legs over the steamer and cover closely. Let the legs steam for about 20 minutes or until done. Serve with cream of chicken sauce. One serving suggestion: Spoon a little of the sauce onto a hot plate, top with the stuffed leg and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

WILD MUSHROOM-STUFFED CHICKEN LEGS

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE STUFFING: Soak the porcini mushrooms in the red wine for 15 to 30 minutes. Remove the mushrooms and strain the wine through a coffee filter to remove any grit. Set the wine aside. Coarsely chop the porcini mushrooms. In a very large sauté pan over medium-high heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the porcini mushrooms, garlic, and fresh mushrooms. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the reserved filtered wine and cook until the liquid has evaporated. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 30 seconds. Let cool. Stir in the thyme and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Bone the chicken legs (see REFERANCE & APPENDIX, _Boning A Whole Chicken or A Turkey Leg), then rinse under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Season the leg cavities with salt and pepper, then stuff with the mushroom mixture. Sew the cavities closed with metal or bamboo skewers. Brush or spray the legs all over with olive oil. Grill the stuffed chicken legs over Indirect Medium heat until the meat is firm and the juices run clear, 30 to 40 minutes, turning once halfway through grilling time. For crispier skin, grill over Direct Medium heat during the last 5 to 10 minutes of grilling time. Serve warm.From Weber's Big Book of Grilling. Copyright © 2001 Weber-Stephen Products Co. All rights reserved. First published by Chronicle Books LLC, San Francisco, California.

BRAISED CHICKEN LEGS WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Rinse porcini with warm water (they are often sandy), then place in a small bowl, cover with hot water and soak until softened, about 15 minutes. In a separate bowl, soak the morels in hot water.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken legs on a baking sheet in one layer. Season generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Roast, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, or until nicely browned. Remove and set aside. Turn oven to 350 degrees.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to color.
• Add bacon and tomato paste, stir to incorporate with onions, and cook for about 1 minute, then stir in garlic and cayenne. Sprinkle with flour and stir to coat. Add wine and cook for 1 minute, then whisk in turkey broth and bring to a simmer. The sauce will thicken slightly. Add bay leaf and thyme sprig. Drain porcini and morels and add to sauce.
• Submerge browned chicken legs in sauce and bring to a brisk simmer. Cover and transfer pot to oven. Bake for about 1 hour, until chicken is tender. Remove from oven and keep covered.
• While chicken bakes, make the potatoes: Put potatoes in a saucepan and cover with 1 inch of water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a brisk simmer and cook until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Drain potatoes and let cool. Peel potatoes with a paring knife and return to saucepan. (Alternatively, potatoes may be peeled before cooking, or you may opt to leave skins on.) Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer over high heat to warm potatoes through, then set aside, covered.
• To serve, divide legs among 6 warm plates. Spoon sauce and mushrooms over each serving. Sprinkle parsley over potatoes and place a few potatoes on each plate. Transfer remaining potatoes and buttery juices to a serving dish. Serve remaining sauce in a gravy boat if desired.

CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Use a sharp knife to split the chicken breasts in half along the breastbone. Carefully stuff 1/4 cup of the ragout under the skin of each breast. Place in a baking dish, rub each with 1/4 teaspoon of porcini oil, season with salt and pepper and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Deglaze the pan with the sherry, scraping to incorporate any bits of meat or skin. Add the broth and the remaining ragout, reduce temperature to 300 and return for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, drizzle the remaining oil on the bread, front and back, and toast on both sides.
• Remove the chicken from the pan and taste the juice. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. Place the chicken breast on top of the toasted bread. Spoon on the mushrooms and juice and serve.