Morel Fricassee Food

CHICKEN FRICASSEE WITH MORELS

Steps:

• Soak morels in 3 cups very hot water for 30 minutes to re-hydrate. Lift them carefully from the hot water in order to leave any grit behind in the liquid. Discard the liquid, and dry the morels lightly with paper towels. Cut morels crosswise into 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch wide slices and set aside. Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour, and shake off excess. Heat half the clarified butter (1/8 cup) in a large saute pan, and cook the chicken over medium heat for about 8 to 10 minutes. Flip the chicken and brown on the second side, 4 to 5 minutes more. Remove to an ovenproof casserole dish. Add the rest of the clarified butter (the other 1/8 cup) to the same saute pan, add the morels and button mushrooms, and cook gently over low heat for 2 minutes. Then add the Madeira and reduce the liquid by half.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• When the liquid is reduced, add the beef stock and heavy cream and bring to a gentle boil. Let the mushroom sauce cook until mixture starts to thicken, about 5 to 10 minutes. Pour the sauce over the chicken and bake covered in the oven until done, about 25 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice and serve.

CHICKEN AND ARTICHOKE FRICASSéE WITH MOREL MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Fill large bowl with water. Squeeze juice from 1 lemon into water; add lemon halves. Tear outer leaves from 1 artichoke until only pale green leaves remain. Cut top 3/4 inch from top; trim end of stem. Cut in half lengthwise. Rub cut sides of artichoke with lemon half; transfer to bowl with lemon water. Repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Bring 6 cups water, 2 tablespoons flour, 2 teaspoons salt, and bay leaf to boil in large saucepan. Add artichoke halves and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.
• Melt butter with oil in heavy large deep skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess. Cook chicken until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to plate. Add mushrooms, carrots, and shallots to skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon thyme and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add wine; bring to boil. Add broth and artichokes; bring to boil.
• Return chicken to skillet, reduce heat to medium low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Turn chicken, cover, and simmer until cooked through, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer chicken and vegetables to platter. Whisk crème fraîche into sauce in skillet; bring to boil. Season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken, sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon thyme, and serve.

MOREL FRICASSEE

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add onion.
• Cook, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and ham; cook, stirring often, 1 minute.
• Add mushrooms and chicken broth; cook, stirring often, 3 minutes.
• Stir in cream and herbs; cook over low heat until slightly thickened, 3 minutes.
• Add salt if needed, and pepper to taste.

FRICASSEE OF MORELS, RAMPS AND SPRING GARLIC

Steps:

• Place morels in a bowl of water and soak 15 minutes. Drain morels and cut off stems. Trim stems from spring garlic down to 1/2 inch, remove roots and peel off outer layer of skin. Slice garlic heads thin. Rinse ramps very well, cut off roots and peel off outer layer of skin.
• Place 1 tablespoon butter in a medium-size skillet over low heat, add morels and cook about 2 minutes. Add crushed garlic, thyme and shallot and cook a few more minutes, until morels have softened and given up their liquid. Remove garlic and thyme, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• In another skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-low heat, add spring garlic and a pinch of salt and cook, covered, about 5 minutes. Move garlic around so it does not brown. Add the ramps and a tablespoon of water, cover and cook 4 minutes longer, until tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add morels and their liquid to spring garlic and ramps, increase heat to medium-high, saute briefly and add another tablespoon of butter. Check seasonings, add parsley and serve.

MOREL SAUCE

Steps:

• Place butter and minced shallot in a 1-quart sauce pot over medium heat. Cook until translucent. Add morels and a pinch of salt. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add white wine and reduce by two-thirds. Add heavy cream, turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm until ready to serve with chicken breasts.

CHICKEN FRICASSEE WITH MORELS AND VIN JAUNE

Steps:

• Prepare the morels: Place the morels in a colander and rinse well under cold running water to rid them of any grit. Transfer them to a heatproof measuring cup. Pour boiling water over the mushrooms to cover. Set aside for 20 minutes to plump them up. Then, using a slotted spoon, carefully remove the mushrooms from the liquid, leaving behind any grit that may have fallen to the bottom. If any of the morels are extremely large, halve them lengthwise.
• Liberally season the chicken pieces on all sides with sea salt and white pepper.
• In a deep 12-inch skillet, combine the oil and 4 tablespoons of the butter. Place over moderate heat. When the fats are hot but not smoking, add the chicken, skin side down, and brown until it turns an even golden color, about 5 minutes more. Carefully regulate the heat to avoid scorching the skin. (This may have to be done in batches.) When all the pieces are browned, use tongs (to avoid piercing the meat) to transfer them to a platter. Season again with sea salt and white pepper.
• Pour off and discard the fat in the skillet. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the shallots, and the garlic. Cook, covered, over low heat, until soft but not browned, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and boil, uncovered, over high heat for 5 minutes to burn off the alcohol, which could make the sauce bitter. Add the cream and the morels, and stir to blend. Return the chicken and any juices that have accumulated to the skillet. Cover, and cook over low heat, turning the pieces in the sauce once or twice, until the chicken is cooked through and has thoroughly absorbed the sauce, about 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning and serve.

CHICKEN FRICASSEE WITH MORELS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat 2 teaspoons of butter in a large, wide pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear until browned, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan. Lower the heat to medium, place 1 teaspoon of butter and the shallots in the pan and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds.
• Add the broth, wine and thyme and bring to a simmer. Add the chicken and bring back to a simmer. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove the chicken and tent with foil to keep warm. Increase the heat and simmer the liquid until it has reduced to 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Remove the thyme.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add the asparagus and blanch until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Heat the remaining butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the asparagus and the morels and saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir the cream, 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste into the sauce. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Divide the chicken among 4 plates and spoon the sauce over it. Place the asparagus and morels around the chicken, sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.