Porcini Butter Great On Steak Or Scallops Recipes

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic. In a small bowl soak porcini in boiling-hot water 20 minutes. Remove porcini, squeezing out excess liquid, and reserve soaking liquid. Rinse porcini to remove any grit and finely chop. Line a sieve set over a small saucepan with a dampened paper towel and pour reserved soaking liquid through it. Add porcini and garlic to saucepan and simmer mixture until liquid is reduced to about 1 tablespoon, about 3 minutes. Cool mixture.
• In a bowl with a fork mash together butter, porcini mixture, and salt and pepper to taste until combined well. Transfer butter to a sheet of wax paper and roll into a 6-inch log. Butter may be kept, covered and chilled, 2 days or frozen, wrapped in foil, 1 month. Bring butter to room temperature before using.
• Variations:
• Here are a few compound butters we find particularly versatile. Using the basic technique of mashing together butter and flavoring in the recipe above, and with a little imagination, you can create your own favorites.
• • Beurre maître d'hôtel: 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leafed parsley leaves
• • Truffle butter: 1 small black winter truffle or 2 small black summer truffles, chopped fine
• • Roquefort butter: 3 tablespoons crumbled Roquefort (only 1/2 stick butter needed for this variation)

Steps:

• Place porcini in medium bowl. Pour hot water over. Let stand until porcini are soft, about 30 minutes. Remove from water; squeeze any liquid back into bowl. Chop porcini. Reserve soaking liquid.
• Preheat broiler. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; stir 10 seconds. Add porcini and 1/2 cup reserved soaking liquid, leaving any sediment in bottom of bowl. Add brandy; simmer until almost all liquid evaporates, about 3 minutes. Add scallops and chives; sautée until scallops are almost cooked through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer scallop mixture to 9-inch round gratin dish. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over. Broil until breadcrumbs are golden, watching closely to avoid burning, about 3 minutes. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Whizz the mushrooms into a fine powder in a small food processor or coffee grinder. Mix with a good pinch of salt, pepper and the thyme leaves. Rub the mixture all over the steaks, then pop onto a plate or into a sealable kitchen bag and chill overnight.
• Brush away any excess mixture. Heat a griddle pan until smoking hot. Turn the heat to medium, then smear a little olive oil over one side of each steak. Griddle, oiled side down, for 3 mins. Turn over (there's no need to oil the other side), then cook for another 2 mins for medium-rare. Serve with a baked potato and a wintery salad.