Mushroom Casserole With Ancho Chile And Epazote Recipes

QUESO FUNDIDO CON HONGOS Y CHILE CHIPOTLE (MOZZARELLA CASSEROLE WITH MUSHROOMS AND SMOKY CHIPOTLE CHILE)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large skillet (preferably non-stick), heat the oil over medium-high. Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softening and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and stir nearly constantly until they have softened and any juice they release has evaporated, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in the sliced chile, then taste and season with salt, usually about 1/4 teaspoon. Transfer the mixture to a 9- or 10-inch shallow baking dish, Mexican cazuela or pie plate. Very lightly dampen a clean kitchen towel. Check the tortillas to make sure none are stuck together. Wrap them in the towel, then in foil, sealing the edges tightly. Place in the oven and set the timer for 7 minutes. When the timer goes off, stir the shredded cheese into the warm mushroom mixture. Set in the oven alongside the tortillas and bake until the cheese is just melted, about 5 more minutes. Sprinkle with the thyme or epazote and black pepper and serve without a moment's hesitation, accompanied by the warm tortillas.

MUSHROOM CASSEROLE WITH ANCHO CHILE AND EPAZOTE

Steps:

• To make the sauce, preheat the broiler. Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet 4 inches below the heat. Broil until blackened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Turn and broil the other side. Let cool and peel. Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the chile ancho and press it flat with a metal spatula until it cracks and blisters, about 45 seconds. Repeat on the other side, then place in a bowl. Cover the chili with boiling water and let stand for 30 minutes. Drain.
• Place the tomatoes, chile ancho, garlic, chipotle and oregano in a blender. Blend until smooth, and strain through a medium-mesh sieve. Heat the vegetable oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sauce and boil quickly, stirring constantly, until thick. Add the broth and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Heat a grill until medium-hot, or a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush the mushrooms with 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Grill or saute in batches until slightly softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Coat the onion slices with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and grill or saute in batches until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Separate into rings.
• Add the mushrooms, onions and epazote to the sauce and simmer for 10 minutes. Season with salt and serve with warm tortillas.

MUSHROOMS IN CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and salt. Cover the pan and cook until the mushrooms are just tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the mushrooms, reserving the liquid, and set both aside.
• Remove the stems, slit the chiles open, and remove the seeds and veins. Cover with hot water and soak for 15 minutes, or until soft. Drain. On a hot comal, toast the chiles, making sure they do not burn.
• Crush the clove, peppercorns and cumin seed with a mortar and pestle or in a spice or coffee grinder. In a blender, place the chiles, crushed spices, and garlic. Blend until smooth, adding a little water only if necessary.
• In a large heavy skillet, heat the lard until smoking, then add the chile sauce and fry over a fairly high heat. Scraping the bottom of the pan often so it doesnt stick, cook until reduced, about 5 minutes.
• Add sufficient water to the reserved liquid from the mushrooms to make 3/4 cup. Add this, the epazote, and mushrooms to the chili sauce, and cook over a medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• Serve with rice and warm flour tortillas.

MELTED MOZZARELLA CASSEROLE WITH MUSHROOMS AND SMOKY CHIPOTLE CHILE (QUESO FUNDIDO)

Steps:

• The mushroom mixture: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet (preferably nonstick), heat the oil over medium-high. Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softening and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and stir nearly constantly until they have softened and any juice they release has evaporated, about 5 minutes longer. Stir in the sliced chiles, then taste and season with salt, usually about 1/4 teaspoon. Transfer the mixture to a 9- or 10-inch shallow baking dish, Mexican cazuela or pie plate.
• Finishing the queso fundido: Very lightly dampen a clean kitchen towel. Check the tortillas to make sure none are stuck together. Wrap them in the towel, then in foil, sealing the edges tightly. Place in the oven and set the timer for 7 minutes. When the timer goes off, stir the shredded cheese into the warm mushroom mixture. Set in the oven alongside the tortillas and bake until the cheese is just melted, about 5 minutes longer. Sprinkle with the thyme or epazote and black pepper and serve without a moment's hesitation, accompanied by warm tortillas.

MUSHROOM AND EPAZOTE SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan or stockpot over medium-high heat. Saute the onions until limp and deep golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in the leek, celery, garlic and mushrooms, along with the salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Pour in the wine and bring to a boil. Simmer until all the liquid is evaporated. Then add the vegetable stock or water and epazote (or oregano and mint). Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook about 12 minutes. Transfer to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth.
• Return to the saucepan and add the milk and sour cream. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, to thoroughly heat; do not boil. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh lime juice and crisp fried leeks if desired.
• Roughly chop all vegetables and place in a large pot. Pour in water to cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, skim and discard and impurities from the top. Add the spices. Simmer, uncovered for about 2 hours. Strain and store in the refrigerator up to a week or keep frozen.

BAKED CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOMS AND ANCHO CHILE

Steps:

• 1. In a small dry skillet, toast the chiles over medium heat, turning, until aromatic, about 1 minute. Soak in a bowl of hot water 20 minutes, then drain. 2. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and brown the chicken on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove to an ovenproof casserole dish. 3. In the same skillet, cook the mushrooms, stirring, about 3 minutes. Add to the casserole dish with the chicken. Reserve the skillet. 4. Preheat the oven to 350°. Put the tomatoes, chicken broth, onion, garlic, epazote leaves, salt, pepper, and the reserved chiles in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Reheat the skillet, and pour in the sauce. Cook, stirring, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour over the chicken and mushrooms. Cover and bake until the chicken is tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Divide the chicken and sauce equally among 4 serving plates. Serve hot.From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

WILD MUSHROOM ENCHILADAS WITH ANCHO CHILI-CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups water to boil in small saucepan. Remove saucepan from heat, add chilies and soak 30 minutes. Drain chilies, reserving 6 tablespoons soaking liquid. Cut stems off chilies. Cut chilies open. Scrape out seeds and discard. Combine chilies, 6 tablespoons reserved soaking liquid and garlic in blender and puree until smooth.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine cream and chili puree in heavy large skillet. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 3 minutes. Whisk in lime juice. Season with salt. Strain sauce; return to skillet. (Sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Melt butter in another heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and mushrooms and sauté until onion is translucent and mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Add cheese, cilantro, tomatoes and 3 tablespoons cream sauce. Simmer until just heated through, about 4 minutes. Stir in avocado. Season filling with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Bring remaining cream sauce to simmer over low heat. Cook 1 tortilla in cream mixture until softened, turning to coat, about 15 seconds. Carefully transfer tortilla to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Cover remaining sauce and keep warm. Spoon generous 1/3 cup filling down center of each tortilla. Roll up tortillas, enclosing filling completely. Arrange seam side down on same baking sheet. Cover enchiladas with foil.
• Bake enchiladas until heated through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to plates. Spoon some sauce atop each. Serve, passing any remaining sauce separately.