Salsa Di Funghi Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275°F
• In a heavy ovenproof kettle large enough to hold veal shanks in one layer heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter over moderately high heat until foam begins to subside and saute onion and celery until beginning to turn golden.
• Pat shanks dry between paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Arrange shanks on onion mixture and roast, covered tightly, in middle of oven 3 hours. (Meat will give off juices as it cooks.) Shanks may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and cooled, uncovered, before chilling, covered. Reheat shanks before proceeding.)
• Cut mushrooms into 1/4-inch-thick slices. in a large skillet heat remaining 2 tablespoons each of olive oil and butter over moderately high heat until foam begins to subside and saute mushrooms with thyme and salt and pepper to taste, stirring, until mushrooms begin to give off their liquid.
• Stir in vermouth or wine and lemon juice and cook, stirring, until all but about 1/3 cup liquid is evaporated. Mushrooms may be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely before chilling, covered.
• Transfer shanks to a platter and keep warm.
• Transfer onions, celery, and pan juices to a blender with 1/2 cup water and puree until smooth, adding more water if necessary to thin sauce to desired consistency.
• Pour sauce into a saucepan and stir in mushroom mixture, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat sauce over moderate heat until heated through and stir in parsley.
• Arrange shanks on couscous and spoon sauce over them.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saute pan, and cook the garlic until it is soft.
• Stir in the mushrooms, and cook until they begin to give off their liquid. Transfer the mushrooms to a bowl, and set aside.
• Brown the pork sausage in the same pan, breaking it up with a fork.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• If the sausage seems dry, add a little butter to the pan while it is cooking.
• Return the mushrooms to the pan, and mix ingredients well.
• Cover the pan and keep warm.
• Cook the fettucine as directed on the package, then drain it, and add it to the pan with the sausage mixture.
• Stir in the cream and cheese, and mix everything quickly over med-high heat, until the mixture is hot.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• To begin to prepare the sauce, in a small bowl combine the dried porcini and hot water and let stand for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove the porcini and squeeze out excess water. Using scissors, cut them into pieces about the size of your thumbnail. Set aside. Strain the mushroom liquor through a paper towel or a fine sieve; reserve. Lightly oil an 8-by-11-inch baking pan and set it aside. Lightly oil two large pastry boards or baking sheets, or a very large scratchproof counter surface. Make the polenta and when it is cooked, turn it directly out onto the boards, counter, or baking sheets. Use a large knife or rubber spatula, first dipped in cold water, to spread out the polenta to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Allow it to cool and harden, about 20 minutes. Cut it into approximate 3-inch squares.
• Meanwhile, preheat an oven to 400 degrees F. Continue to make the sauce. Using a soft brush or clean kitchen towel, remove any dirt from the fresh mushrooms. Don't wash them because water will alter their texture. Separate the stems from the caps, discarding the stems if they are tough. Slice the mushroom caps and tender stems thinly. In a skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the oil. Add the onion and saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the porcini and saute for another 5 or 6 minutes to marry the flavors. Add the cultivated mushrooms and continue to saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the mushroom soaking liquid, salt, and pepper. Allow to simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then stir in the cream, and allow the mixture barely to reach a simmer. Immediately remove the skillet from the heat.
• Place half of the polenta squares in a layer on the bottom of the prepared dish. Spread half of the sauce in a layer over them, then sprinkle with half of the cheeses. Place another layer of polenta squares over the cheeses. Spoon the remaining sauce on top and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and golden and the pasticcio is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let settle for 10 minutes before cutting into squares. Serve hot.

Steps:

• For the fish stock:
• Place the scorpion fish bones, 2 tablespoons of shallots, 1 bay leaf, 1/4 cup of the wine, a pinch of sea salt and 1 clove garlic in a 1-quart saucepan. Add enough cold water to cover and cook over high heat until it reaches a low rolling boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Strain and reserve for later use.
• For the Pea Sauce:
• In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil with 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of shallots and 1 clove of minced garlic and saute until translucent. Add the peas, 1/4 cup of wine, and 1/4 cup of fish stock and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking for 10 to 15 minutes, or until peas are tender and bright green. Remove from the heat and transfer to a blender. Puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and add 1 more tablespoon of olive oil. Set aside.
• For the Fish and the Morels:
• Heat 2 large saute pans over medium-high heat. To 1 pan, add 2 tablespoons of oil, and then add the remaining shallots and 1 clove of minced garlic, and saute for 1 minute. Add the fresh morels and cook until mushrooms are tender. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the other saute pan over medium-high heat. Season the fish with salt and pepper and place fish in pan, skin side down. Add 2 sprigs of thyme and the remaining 2 cloves whole garlic. Reduce the heat to medium, and turn the fish over after 3 minutes of cooking or when the skin has become slightly golden in color. Continue cooking on the other side for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the remaining wine and 1/4 cup of fish stock and cook just until the fish is cooked through. Remove from the heat.
• To serve, ladle a small circle of the pea puree onto the center of the plate. On top, place the morels and the fish, skin side up. Garnish with the remaining sprigs fresh thyme and 1 of the roasted garlic cloves from the pan the fish was cooked in.