Wild Mushroom Crêpes with Sunny Eggs

When we lived in Chicago, one of our favorite weekend traditions in the winter was going to see a movie and then eating at La Creperie. The restaurant was cozy and warm and the food was delicious. This dish brought us back there. 🙂

This wonderful dinner was also reminiscent of the mushroom crêpes that my Mother-in-Law serves on Christmas Eve as part of a traditional multi-course Ukrainian feast. I loved that this version incorporated roasted wild mushrooms- it made them rich with mushroom flavor. Incorporating an egg made them hearty enough to serve for dinner. (This dish really could be served any meal of the day.)

This recipe was adapted from a Food and Wine “staff favorite” recipe contributed by Twin Cities chef Thomas Boemer. I increased the garlic and modified the proportions and method. We ate them with roasted asparagus on the side. Perfect!

I’m sharing my cozy dish at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #215 this week, co-hosted by Laurena@ Life Diet Health and Alex @Turks Who Eat. Enjoy!

Yield: Serves 6

For the Filling:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 10 ounces wild mushrooms, 
such as hen-of-the-
woods or oyster, torn 
into bite-size pieces
 (I used sliced cremini mushrooms)
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped thyme, plus more for garnish
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
• fine sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper

For the Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 cup heavy cream, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• fine sea salt

For the Crêpes:

• 10 large eggs, divided
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup bread flour
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, plus more for brushing (I used canola oil for brushing the pan.)
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• mesclun greens, for serving

Make the Filling:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F, preferably on convection roast.
2. In a large cast-iron skillet (I used a 12-inch), melt 2 tablespoons butter over moderately high heat.
3. Add mushrooms, thyme, and garlic.
4. Transfer to preheated oven, and roast until mushrooms are tender and lightly browned, about 15 minutes. (I stirred them after 10 minutes.)
5. Stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper.

Make the Sauce:

1. In a medium saucepan (I used a 1.5 quart), melt 1 tablespoon butter over moderate heat.
2. Whisk in all-purpose flour until combined.
3. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup cream and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes.
4. Gradually whisk in remaining 1/2 cup cream, nutmeg, and 1/2 cup of the mushroom filling.
5. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until no floury taste remains, about 7 minutes.
6. Transfer to a food processor, blender, or using an immersion blender in the pot, purée until smooth.
7. Return sauce to pan and season with salt to taste. Keep warm.

Make the Crêpes:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk 4 eggs, milk, bread flour, melted butter, and kosher salt until smooth.
2. Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet or crêpe pan over moderate heat; brush with melted butter or oil. (I did 2 pans at once.)
3. Add about 1/4 cup of the batter, about one-sixth, swirling to coat the pan evenly. Cook until lightly browned on bottom, about 2 minutes.
4. Using a spatula, flip crêpe; reduce heat to moderately low.
5. Arrange about one-sixth of the remaining mushroom sauce in a ring on crêpe, about 4 large spoonfuls, and immediately crack 
1 egg in center of ring. Lift the ring and allow the egg white to spread around the crêpe.
6. Cook until egg white is set and yolk is still runny, about 3 minutes.
7. Top with a few mesclun leaves. Drizzle with one-sixth of the roasted mushroom filling, mushroom sauce, and garnish with thyme, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a plate.
8. Repeat procedure to make 5 more crepes. Serve immediately.

One Year Ago: Buckwheat Popovers

Two Years Ago: Pear Clafoutis

Three Years Ago: Vanilla-Bean Sablés and Viennese Sablés

Four Years Ago: Bread Machine Brioche

Five Years Ago: Asparagus Gruyère Tart

Pappardelle with Mushrooms & Prosciutto

This dish was featured on the cover of the October issue of Bon Appetit. It spoke to me! 🙂

It was part of an article written to change the way pasta is typically cooked. Their secret to saucy, glossy, perfect pasta is to finish cooking the noodles in the sauce – with added pasta water. This pappardelle was creamy deliciousness topped with crispy prosciutto. Great.

This recipe was adapted from Bon Appetit, contributed by Claire Saffitz. I used a combination of cut crimini and shiitake mushrooms as well as large shallots.

I’m sharing this dish with my friends at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #141 this week, co-hosted by Julianna @Foodie on Board and Zeba @Food for the Soul. I was honored to have my Weeknight Fancy Chicken and Rice post featured this week too! Yay!

Yield: Serves 4

• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 ounces (6 slices) thinly sliced prosciutto
• 1 pound mixed mushrooms (such as chanterelles, maitake, oyster, crimini, and/or shiitake), cut into bite-size pieces (I used 1/2 pound crimini and 1/2 pound stemmed shiitake mushrooms)
• 2 large shallots, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, plus more for serving
• coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 12 ounces pappardelle (or fettuccine)
• ⅓ cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1. Heat 4 tablespoons of oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium. Arrange prosciutto in a single layer in pot and cook, turning once or twice, until crisp, about 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
2. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in same pot over high.
3. Cook mushrooms, tossing occasionally, until browned and tender, 5–8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low.
4. Add shallots and 1 teaspoon thyme, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until shallots are translucent and softened, about 2 minutes.
5. Add stock and reduce heat to low. Bring to a simmer and cook until only a thin layer of stock coats bottom of pot, 5−7 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, about 3 minutes less than package directions. (I cooked mine just short of 3 minutes.)
7. Using tongs, transfer pasta to pot with mushrooms and add 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
8. Crumble half (3 slices) of prosciutto into pot.
9. Increase heat to medium, bring to a simmer, and cook, tossing constantly, until pasta is al dente and liquid is slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Be careful not to cook down too much or the pasta will become too dry.
10. Add cream, return to a simmer, and cook, tossing, until pasta is coated, about 1 minute.
11. Remove from heat, add butter, and toss to combine. Taste and season with salt if needed.
12. Divide pasta among bowls. Top with more thyme and crumble remaining prosciutto over; season with pepper.

One Year Ago:

• Stir-Fried Chicken & Bok Choy

Two Years Ago:

• Pork Tenderloin with Greens & Polenta

Three Years Ago:

• Fresh Tomato Sauce over Pasta
• One-Pan Pasta

Four Years Ago:

• Roasted Butternut Squash & Bacon Pasta

If you like this you may also like:

• Creamy Mushroom Pappardelle

Slow Cooker Mushroom Stroganoff with Egg Noodles

I have a few good friends whom I worked with many years ago. We don’t get to see each other very often, but one of the most wonderful things about getting together now is that not only can we catch up, but all of our kids really enjoy each others company as well. 🙂

On New Years Eve day, I set this dish up to cook while my friends and I- with all of our kids- went bowling! The lights were dim, the music was loud, and the kids really had a lot of fun. It was great to come home and have dinner ready!

This recipe was adapted from Food and Wine, contributed by Sarah Bolla. I used cremini mushrooms instead of oyster mushrooms, creme fraiche instead of sour cream, chicken stock instead of vegetable broth, frozen pearl onions, and doubled the garlic.

Yield: Serves 4

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for buttering noodles
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 6 ounces pearl onions (about 1 cup), peeled
• 1 1/2 pounds white button mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps quartered
• 8 ounces cremini or oyster mushrooms, quartered
• coarse salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 8 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 8 ounces egg noodle pasta
• 1/2 cup sour cream or creme fraiche
• flat leaf Italian parsley, coarsely chopped

1. In each of 2 large skillets, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat.
2. Add the onions and mushrooms to each of the skillets and season both with salt and pepper.
3. Cook until the onions have softened and the mushrooms are browned and tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Add a ¼ cup of white wine to each skillet to deglaze the vegetables from the pan.
5. Transfer to a slow cooker.
6. Add the stock, sliced garlic, Worcestershire, and mustard to the pot and cook on high for 1 1/2 hours.
7. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, cook the pasta until al dente and drain. Transfer the pasta to one large serving dish.
8. Stir some butter into the noodles (if desired) and top with the mushrooms and sauce.
9. Swirl in the creme fraiche and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
10. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.

Note: The stroganoff can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.

One Year Ago:

• Fresh and Wild Mushroom Stew

Two Years Ago:

• Khatti Dal (Sour Lentils), Hyderabad-Style

Three Years Ago:

• Mushroom Leek Bread Pudding
• New Orleans Red Beans & Rice with Pickled Peppers

If you like this you may also like:

• Mushroom Bourguignon

Fresh & Wild Mushroom Stew

This is a delicious and intensely flavorful vegetarian stew- hearty when served over pasta or polenta as well. We ate it over whole wheat pappardelle but I think I would have preferred it over polenta. Next time! 🙂 This recipe was adapted from The New York Times, contributed by David Tanis. I used the leftover wild mushroom broth in a Broccoli Spinach Puree- yum.

I am bringing this earthy and elegant dish to share with my friends at Fiesta Friday #45 at the Novice Gardener. Enjoy!

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

For the Stew:

• 1 ½ pounds, 24 oz, cultivated brown mushrooms, like shiitake, cremini or portobello
• ½ pound pale wild mushrooms, like chanterelle (or use King trumpet or oyster)(I used shiitakes instead)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• Salt and pepper
• 1 teaspoon chopped thyme
• 1 teaspoon chopped sage or rosemary
• Pinch red pepper flakes or cayenne
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 3 small ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped or 20 grape tomatoes (not peeled)
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 cups wild mushroom broth, heated, or use chicken broth, or more to adjust consistency (recipe follows)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
• pasta such as whole wheat pappardelle or polenta, for serving, optional

1. Clean mushrooms, keeping colors separate, and trim tough stems. (Save stems for stock.) Slice mushrooms about 1/8-inch thick.
2. In a wide skillet, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium high heat. Add onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, until onion has softened and browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
3. Add 1 more tablespoon oil and turn heat to high. Add brown mushrooms (I added all of my mushrooms because I used shiitakes instead of pale wild mushrooms.), season lightly and stir-fry until nicely colored, about 3 minutes.
4. Lower heat to medium. Add thyme, sage, red pepper and tomato paste. Add tomatoes, stir well, and cook for 1 minute. Season again with salt and pepper.
5. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon flour, stir to incorporate and cook for 1 minute more. Stir in reserved onions.
6. Add 1 cup mushroom broth and stir until thickened, about 1 minute. Gradually add 1 more cup broth and cook for 2 minutes. Sauce should have gravy-like consistency; thin with more broth if necessary. Adjust seasoning. (May be prepared to this point several hours ahead and reheated.)
7. If using pale wild mushrooms: Just before serving, put butter and 1 tablespoon olive in wide skillet over medium high heat. When butter begins to brown, add chanterelles, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for about 2 minutes, until cooked through and beginning to brown.
8. To finish the dish: Add garlic and parsley, stir to coat and cook 1 minute more. Add chanterelles, if using, to brown mushroom mixture and transfer to a warm serving bowl. Accompany with polenta or pasta if you wish.

For the Wild Mushroom Broth:

Yield: about 3 cups

• .88 oz mixed wild dried mushrooms or ¼ cup crumbled dry porcini (about 4 grams)
• 1 small onion or shallot, sliced
• 6 scallions, roughly chopped
• 1 celery stalk, roughly chopped
• 1 carrot, roughly chopped
• 1 bay leaf

1. Put all ingredients in a sauce pan. Cover with 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
2. Strain. Broth may be made in advance and will keep a week, refrigerated.

One Year Ago:

• Napa Cabbage Curry

Mushroom, Spinach, Barley, & Bacon Soup

My brother gave me Ottolenghi’s “Plenty” for Christmas- it was on my wish list. To be silly he gave it to me with another cookbook titled “Bacon Nation”! The funniest part of this story is that I tried a recipe from “Bacon Nation” first. 🙂 This soup was ultra-flavorful, hearty, and LOADED with mushrooms. The spinach and carrots gave an otherwise “brown” soup a wonderful pop of color. The house smelled divine as it cooked too! This recipe was adapted from Bacon Nation by Peter Kaminsky & Marie Rama.

Yield: Serves 8 to 10

• 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces (I used nitrate-free)
• 2 medium-size onions, finely chopped
• 24 oz cremini mushrooms, wiped clean, stems trimmed, and sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces
• 10 oz white button mushrooms,  wiped clean, stems trimmed, and sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces
• .88 oz mixed dried wild mushrooms (including porcini, shiitake, black, & oyster mushrooms)
• 6 large cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup plus 2 T dry sherry, divided
• 8 cups stock (I used 4 cups homemade Turkey Stock, and 4 cups boxed chicken stock)
• 4 large carrots, trimmed, peeled, and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 1/2 cups pearl barley (I used par-cooked barley from Trader Joe’s)
• 2 bay leaves
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tsp fresh thyme leaves, or 2 tsp dried thyme leaves
• 6 oz baby spinach

1. Cook the bacon in a soup pot or large saucepan over medium heat until browned but not too crisp and most of the fat is rendered, 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often and adjusting the heat as necessary.
2. Add the onions and cook over medium-high heat until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in the fresh and dried mushrooms and the garlic and cook until the mushrooms release their liquid, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
4. Add 6 T of the sherry and let boil for about 1 minute to reduce the liquid slightly.
5. Stir in the stock, carrots, barley, bay leaf, and 3 cups water. Cover the pot and let the soup come to a boil. Then, reduce the heat as necessary and let the soup simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until the barley is barely tender, 35 to 40 minutes for standard barley, 15-20 minutes for par-cooked barley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Add the thyme and the remaining 6 T sherry and let simmer until the flavors blend, about 3 minutes.
7. Add the spinach, increase the heat to high, cover the pot, and cook the spinach until just wilted, about 1 minute. Remove and discard the bay leaf before serving the soup.

One Year Ago:

• Mushroom and Leek Bread Pudding
• Creamy Tomato Soup with Egg “Noodles”

If you like this you may also like:

• Mushroom, Leek & Wild Rice Soup