Exotic Mushroom Souffle Food

MAKE-AHEAD MUSHROOM SOUFFLéS

Steps:

• Fry the mushrooms in the butter for about 3 mins, then remove from the heat and reserve a good spoonful. Add the flour to the rest, then blend in the milk and return to the heat, stirring all the time to make a thick sauce. Stir in the cheese, season to taste, then leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Butter 8 x 150ml soufflé dishes and line the bases with baking paper. Stir the egg yolks into the soufflé mixture, then whisk the egg whites until stiff before folding in carefully. Spoon into the soufflé dishes and bake in a roasting tin, half-filled with cold water, for 15 mins until risen and golden. Leave to cool (they will sink, but they are meant to). You can make the soufflés up to this stage up to 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• When ready to serve, turn the soufflés out of their dishes, peel off the lining paper, then put them on a baking sheet lined with small squares of baking paper. Top each soufflé with 1 tsp crème fraîche and a little cheese, then scatter with the reserved mushrooms. Bake at 190C/fan 170C/gas 5 for 10-15 mins until slightly risen and warmed through. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

BRAISED EXOTIC MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Remove any hard fibrous stems from the mushrooms. Wash morels very carefully to remove all sand and dirt. Brush the remaining mushrooms with a damp cloth or mushroom brush to remove excess dirt. Slice the mushrooms in half or quarters depending on size.
• Heat butter in a large skillet over high heat until hot. Add the chopped shallots and saute until translucent. Add the mushrooms to the shallot butter mixture. Saute until the mushrooms begin to wilt, about 7 to 8 minutes. Add the chicken stock or reserved mushroomsoaking liquid. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and allow the liquid to cook off in the uncovered saute pan.
• By the time the liquid has cooked off, the mushrooms should be tender. Add the vermouth and allow to cook for 1 minute before adding the cream. Heat the cream to just below the boil and add the herbs, salt, and pepper and serve immediately.

OVERNIGHT MUSHROOM SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Saute mushrooms slightly in 1-2 tablespoons butter.
• Set aside.
• Saute celery, onion, and green pepper lightly in 1-2 tablespoons butter.
• While cooking vegetables, butter 6 slices of bread (about 1/2 tablespoon butter per slice) and cut into 1-inch cubes.
• Spread bread in 9 x 13 pan.
• Combine sauteed vegetables with mushrooms, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper.
• Spread mixture over bread.
• Cube 4 unbuttered bread slices and sprinkle over vegetable mixture.
• Beat eggs and milk together and pour over second layer of bread.
• Cover and chill overnight.
• The next day spread soup over chilled mixture.
• Butter last 4 slices of bread, cube, and sprinkle over soup.
• Sprinkle cheese over last layer of bread.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.
• You may want to cover for part of baking time depending on how brown you like your cheese- I covered the dish at about the halfway point.

GARLIC MUSHROOM SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Saute mushrooms, garlic and lemon juice in two tablespoons of the butter.
• Add parley, and tranfer to a medium bowl; set aside.
• Melt the rest of the butter, add flour and stir in for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and stir in milk.
• Return to heat and allow to boil until thickened, while stirring continuously.
• Add the sauce to the mushroom mixture.
• Beat in the egg yolks.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks and gently fold into the mushroom mixture.
• Fill into greased ramekins, place on a baking sheet, and cook for 10 minutes.
• Watch carefully once they have risen to be sure not to overcook as they will turn rubbery.
• Serve immediately before they collapse.

SPINACH WITH WILD MUSHROOM SOUFFLé

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Steam the spinach at a moderate heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Cool under running water, then drain, pressing out as much liquid as you can. Then chop finely. If using frozen spinach, defrost and squeeze dry.
• Gently sauté the garlic and mushrooms in butter; turn up the heat and evaporate the juices.
• When dry, add the spinach and transfer to a bowl. Cover and keep warm.
• Measure 3 tablespoons of milk into a bowl. Bring the remaining milk to a boil. Stir the flour and egg yolk into the milk that is in the bowl, and blend well. Stir the boiling milk into the eggs and flour mixture; return to the pan and simmer to thicken.
• Add the spinach mixture; season to taste with salt, pepper. and nutmeg.
• Butter a 3 3/4 cup soufflé dish, paying special attention to the sides.
• Sprinkle with a little of the cheese. Set aside.
• Whisk the egg whites until they hold soft peaks.
• Bring the spinach mixture back to a boil.
• Stir in a spoonful of beaten egg whites, and then fold the remaining mixture into the remaining egg whites.
• Turn into the soufflé dish; spread level. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes until puffed, risen, and golden.

EXOTIC MUSHROOM STROGANOFF

Steps:

• Cook the rice as per pack instructions
• Meanwhile, fry the spring onions in the oil for 2 minutes in a large frying pan
• Stir in all of the chopped mushrooms, the paprika and the stock, then cover and cook gently for 8 minutes occasionally stirring
• Add the parsley and then stir in the creme fraiche, continue cooking for 4 minutes until the sauce has thickened
• Serve with the cooked rice

MUSHROOM SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Saute mushrooms for ten minutes in butter; add bread crumbs, cream salt and paprika.
• Mix well; fold in egg whites.
• Pour into a well-greased casserole dish and set dish into a pan of hot water.
• Bake for 45 minutes.