Leek And Mushroom Croquettes Food

MUSHROOM CROQUETTES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until golden, about 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium; add 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper to taste, the celery and shallot and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 4 minutes. Add 6 tablespoons flour, the butter and nutmeg and cook, stirring, until the flour is toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the broth and cook, stirring, until the mixture is the consistency of gravy, about 4 minutes. Slowly stir in the milk and simmer, stirring, until very thick, 6 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pulse the bread in a food processor to make fine crumbs; transfer to a shallow dish. Put the remaining 1 1/4 cups flour in another shallow dish; beat the eggs in a third dish. Drop tablespoonfuls of the chilled mushroom mixture into the flour and toss to coat, then shape into 1 1/4-inch-long croquettes. Dip in the eggs, then roll in the breadcrumbs and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes.
• Heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil in a deep saucepan until a deep-fry thermometer registers 360 degrees F. Working in batches, add the croquettes and fry until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; season with salt. Serve with mustard.

HAM CROQUETAS

Steps:

• To make the filling, heat the olive oil in a pan until it starts to shimmer. Add the leek and sauté until soft but not coloured. Stir in the ham with a wooden spoon, fry for 1 min, then stir in the flour and fry over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is golden but not burnt - this will take about 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, combine the stock and milk in a small pan and heat until steaming but not boiling. Season with a few scrapes of nutmeg. Gradually add the liquid, a few tbsp at a time, stirring constantly.
• Once you've incorporated all the milk stock, continue to cook the filling over a medium heat for about 10 mins or until it thickens and leaves the sides of the pan when you stir it.
• Season with black pepper, taste and adjust the salt if necessary - the ham can be very salty to start with. The filling is now done: it has to be really thick because you don't want the croquetas to turn into pancakes.
• Smooth the mixture onto a baking tray (30 x 20cm is fine). Once it has stopped steaming, cover with cling film to stop it drying out. Leave to cool before putting it in the fridge for 1 hr.
• When you're ready for the next stage, line up three bowls: the first filled with the flour, the second with beaten egg and the third with breadcrumbs. Take the ham mixture out of the fridge. Put a little bit of olive oil on your hands to make it easier to roll the croquetas.
• Roll a spoonful of the mixture between your palms. The size and shape of the croquetas is up to you, but the easiest is a walnut-sized ball. Then begin coating as follows.
• Dunk the croquetas into the flour - you want a dusting - followed by the egg, then the breadcrumbs. Put them on a tray and, when you've used up all the mixture, place in the fridge for 30 mins.
• If you have a deep-fat fryer, heat the oil to 180C and fry for a couple of mins. If not, heat the oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan until it starts to shimmer. Then add 5-6 croquetas at a time and fry until golden all over. Once cooked, drain on kitchen paper and eat straight away.

MUSHROOM AND LEEK SAUTé

Steps:

• Put oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they release their water and the pan begins to dry out again, 10-15 minutes. Add leeks and cook, stirring, until they soften a bit, 2-3 minutes. Add tarragon and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

MUSHROOM CROQUETTES

Steps:

• Trim mushroom stems.
• In the container of a food processor, combine 1 pound (about 6 cups) of the mushrooms, the onion and garlic.
• Pulse just until coarsely chopped.
• In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil until hot.
• Add mushroom mixture.
• Cook and stir until mushrooms are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Spoon into a large bowl.
• Stir in 1 1/4 cups of the bread crumbs, the cheese, egg and pepper.
• Form into ten 3-inch long croquettes.
• Place remaining 1/2 cup bread crumbs on a plate or sheet of waxed paper.
• Coat croquettes with bread crumbs.
• Slice remaining 1/2 pound mushrooms; set aside for later use.
• In a large skillet, over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil until hot.
• Cook croquettes on both sides until browned, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, over medium heat, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil until hot.
• Add sliced mushrooms; cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in spaghetti sauce; cook until hot, about 2 minutes.
• Serve over croquettes.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

CREAMY ONE-POT MUSHROOM AND LEEK PASTA

Steps:

• Heat a wide, deep 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high. When hot, add the olive oil and leeks, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until softened and lightly golden, 5 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and mushrooms. Cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes, then stir and cook, undisturbed, until the mushrooms start to caramelize and stick to the bottom of the pan, another 2 to 3 minutes. (This allows the water from the mushrooms to evaporate, encouraging caramelization.) Add the juice of one lemon half to deglaze the pan and stir to combine.
• Add the pasta and stock; stir well. Cover with lid and cook on medium heat. Begin tasting pasta 10 minutes after you add it. (All pasta shapes and brands will have different cooking times. You want the pasta to be just tender.)
• Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat and add the butter and parsley. Squeeze in the juice from the remaining lemon half and stir until butter is melted and dispersed. Season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, top with ricotta, red-pepper flakes (to taste) and more chopped parsley.