[CH] Morels, Ramps, and Fiddleheads 2

Jim Weller (Jim.Weller@salata.com)
17 May 02 18:36:38 -0800

 
---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
 
      Title: Cream of Asparagus Soup with Morels
 Categories: Soups, Vegetables, Low-fat, Chilies, Mushrooms
      Yield: 4 Servings
 
      8    Thin green asparagus spears
      6    Fat green asparagus spears
      1    Shallot -- medium-sized
  3 1/2 oz Fresh morels -- or 1/2 oz
           Dried ones
  3 1/2 oz Unsalted butter
    7/8 c  Double cream
           Salt
           Pepper
           Cayenne
 
  Fredy Girardet: 'I like to serve a light little soup at the start of a
  meal. In a menu of four or fives courses, this is one of the best
  soups for sharpening the appetite'.
  
  Clean the asparagus spears and cook the thin ones for about 5 minutes
  and the fat ones for about 10 minutes in boiling salted water. Drain
  both kinds and reserve the water in which they cooked. Cut off the
  tips of the eight thin spears and set them aside for the garnish.
  
  Peel and chop the shallot finely. Wash the morels CAREFULLY and cut
  them into quarters (if you are using dried ones, soak them in water
  for at least half an hour before this step).
  
  Heat half the butter in a saucepan. Add two-thirds of the chopped
  shallot and colour in the butter. Add the six fat asparagus spears and
  200 ml (a scant 1/2 pint) of their reserved cooking water. Bring to
  the boil.
  
  Add the cream and reduce it by boiling fast for 2 minutes. Liquidise
  the soup with 30g (1 oz) of the remaining butter. Wash out the
  saucepan.
  
  Strain the liquidized soup through a fine sieve. Season with salt,
  pepper and cayenne, and return it to the cleaned saucepan. Set it
  aside.
  
  Finishing Reheat the thin asparagus tips by warming them through in a
  little of their cooking liquid. Reheat the asparagus soup.
  
  Put the morels, the rest of the chopped shallot and the remaining 20 g
  (3/4 oz) butter into a small saucepan. Season with a little salt and
  cook gently. The morels will excludea little liquid. Leave them to
  cook until they have given off all their liquid, at which stage they
  will be done. Take them off the heat.
  
  Serving Put a ladleful of the soup into each soup-plate. Garnish the
  centre of each one with a share of morels and two asparagus tips.
  
  (From: Fredy Girardet, Cuisine spontanee, M-Papermac, ISBN
  0-333-40957-4) Posted by Rene Gagnaux
  
  File ftp://ftp.idiscover.co.uk/pub/food/mealmaster/recipes/mmdja006.zip
 
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---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
 
      Title: Fricassee of Morels, Ramps and Spring Garlic
 Categories: Mushrooms, Garlic, Onion
      Yield: 4 Servings
 
     10 oz Fresh morels
      3    Hd spring garlic
      1 bn Small ramps (about 30)
      3 tb Unsalted butter
      1 cl Garlic, crushed
      1    Sprig fresh thyme
      1    Shallot, finely minced
           Salt and freshly ground
           Black pepper
      2 ts Minced flat-leaf parsley.
 
  Place morels in a bowl of water and soak 15 min. Drain morels and cut off
  stems. Trim stems from spring garlic down to 1/2", 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 tb butter in a medium skillet over low heat, add morels, and cook 2
  min. Add crushed garlic, thyme, and shallot and cook a few more min, until
  morels have softened and given up their liquid. Remove garlic and thyme,
  season, and set aside.
  
  In another skillet, melt 1 Tb butter over med-low heat, add spring garlic
  and 1 pn salt, and cook, covered, 5 min. Move garlic around so it does not
  brown. Add the ramps and 1 Tb water, cover and cook 4 min longer, until
  tender. Season.
  
  Add morels and their liquid to spring garlic and ramps, increase heat to
  med-high, saute briefly, and add another Tb of butter. Check seasonings,
  add parsley and serve.
  
  NY Times 4-21-99 Adapted from Philippe Bertineau, Payard Patisserie and
  Bistro

  From: Michael Loo Date: 27 Apr 99
 
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