Portobello Porcini Cacciatore Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F with rack in middle.
• Bring wine to a simmer in a small saucepan. Stir in porcini and remove from heat.
• Pat veal dry and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wide 6-to 8-quart heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then brown veal, turning, about 12 minutes.
• Transfer veal to a plate. Discard fat from pot and add remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add pancetta and sauté over medium-high heat until it begins to brown. Add onions and sauté until softened, about 8 minutes.
• Drain porcini in a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl, pressing on mushrooms and reserving wine. Coarsely chop porcini and add to pancetta mixture with carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté until softened, about 8 minutes. Stir in wine and cook until most has evaporated, about 2 minutes.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes and add to pot with their juice. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Add veal with meat juices from plate, rosemary, bay leaves, and olives. Cover pot and braise veal in oven, turning roast occasionally, until center of meat is fork-tender, 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
• Transfer veal to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered. Simmer sauce over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and a pinch of sugar if desired. Cut off strings from roast and discard bay leaves and rosemary. Thickly slice veal and return to pot, basting with sauce.

Steps:

• Place the dried mushrooms in a pot and cover with a couple of cups of water, bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer until the mushrooms soften.
• Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven heat the extra-virgin olive oil over medium high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until dark and tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the thyme, chile, garlic, peppers and onions and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, then add the wine and stir. Remove the reconstituted mushrooms from the liquid, chop and then add them to the pot. Pour in all but last the few spoonfuls of the mushroom liquid stock into sauce pot, the grit will settle at the bottom of the pan. Stir in the tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon then add the basil leaves and simmer the sauce 20 minutes. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal and reheat over medium flame, stirring occasionally.
• Boil a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-9 minutes. Drain the pasta and return it to the hot pot. Add the butter and stir to melt. Pour in half of the sauce and toss. Serve in shallow bowls with more mushroom cacciatore on top.
• Garnish with lots of grated Romano. Enjoy!