Veal Ragout With Shiitake Mushroom Recipes

LOIN OF VEAL WITH SHIITAKE STUFFING

Steps:

• Make the stuffing:
• Cut the stems from the shiitake, discarding them, and chop the shiitake fine. (There should be about 1 cup packed finely chopped shiitake). Strain the reserved liquid through a fine sieve to remove any grit and reserve it for the sauce. In a large skillet cook the shallots in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until they are softened, stir in the celery, the carrot, and the garlic, and cook the mixture, stirring, until the vegetables are softened. Stir in the rosemary, the sage, the marjoram, the thyme, the parsley, and the Cognac and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the lemon juice, the broth, the white mushrooms, and the chopped shiitake and cook the mixture, its surface covered with a round of buttered wax paper, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are tender. Boil the mixture, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is evaporated. Stir in the cream and the bread crumbs, season the mixture with salt and pepper, and cook it over moderate heat, stirring, until it is thickened. Let the stuffing cool. The stuffing may be made 1 day in advance, kept covered and chilled, and brought to room temperature before the veal is stuffed.
• Using the handle of a wooden spoon, pack the stuffing into the veal a little at a time (there will be room, if the loin is tied loosely enough). Transfer the veal to a roasting pan just large enough to hold it and add 1 cup of the stock. Cover the veal with the fatback and roast it in the middle of a preheated 325°F. oven, basting it every 20 minutes with the pan juices, for 1 hour. Remove the fatback and roast the veal for 45 minutes to 1 hour more, or until it registers 150°F. on a meat thermometer. Transfer the veal to a cutting board and let it stand for 15 minutes.
• While the veal is standing, skim the fat from the pan juices, add the remaining 1/2 cup stock, and deglaze the pan over high heat, scraping up the brown bits, until the mixture is reduced by half. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve set over a saucepan, bring it to a boil with the reserved shiitake liquid, whisking, and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes, or until it is thickened slightly. Season the sauce with salt and the white pepper. In a skillet sauté the shiitake in the oil over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until they are heated through. Cut the veal into 16 slices, arrange 2 slices on each plate, and garnish each serving with 2 of the sautéed shiitake and some of the thyme sprigs.

VEAL RAGOUT

Steps:

• Brown piece of veal in butter.
• Add water, salt, whole vegetables, herbs and seasonings and braise until the veal is tender- about 45 minutes.
• Add the meatballs to the broth and simmer for ten minutes after the temperature returns to the simmer point.
• Remove solids with a slotted spoon.
• Discard vegetables, herbs, and seasonings.
• Slice the veal into small bite size pieces.
• Make sauce- melt butter, add flour and stir constantly for a few minutes.
• Gradually add broth.
• Add meatballs and veal pieces back to the sauce.
• Add lemon, stir.
• Add cream, stir.
• Serve over rice, pasta or mashed potatoes.

BAKED POLENTA WITH SHIITAKE RAGOûT

Steps:

• Make the mushroom ragout:
• In a large deep skillet cook the onion, the garlic, and the rosemary in the oil over moderate heat, stirring, until the onion is softened, add the mushrooms and salt to taste, and cook the mixture over moderately high heat, stirring, for 10 minutes, or until the liquid the mushrooms give off is evaporated. Stir in the tomato paste and the wine and boil the mushroom mixture until most of the liquid is evaporated. In a small bowl stir the cornstarch into the broth, add the mixture and the Worcestershire sauce to the mushroom mixture, and bring the ragout to a boil, stirring. Simmer the ragout for 2 minutes and season it with salt and pepper.
• Make the polenta:
• In a large heavy saucepan bring the water with the oil to a boil and add 1 cup of the cornmeal, a little at a time, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to low, add the remaining 1 cup cornmeal in a slow stream, stirring constantly, and bring the mixture to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter, 2/3 cup of the Parmesan, the parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Spread one third of the polenta evenly in a buttered 13- by 9-inch baking dish and chill the polenta sheet for 20 minutes, or until it is firm. While the polenta is chilling, working quickly, spread half the remaining polenta in a buttered 3-quart shallow baking dish, top it with half the mushroom ragout, and top the ragout with the mozzarella. Spread the remaining polenta quickly over the mozzarella and top it with the remaining ragout.
• Invert the polenta sheet onto a work surface and with 1 or more star-shaped cutters cut out as many stars as possible. Arrange the stars decoratively on the ragout and sprinkle them with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan. The layered polenta may be prepared up to this point 2 days in advance and kept covered and chilled.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bake the layered polenta in the upper third of the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the polenta stars are golden.

VEAL RAGOUT WITH SHIITAKE MUSHROOM

Steps:

• Place mushrooms in a bowl, cover with warm water and allow to soak 30 to 40 minutes, until softened.
• Heat oil in a heavy casserole. Add veal and brown lightly on all sides. Remove veal from the pan.
• Add fennel, onion and carrots to the casserole and saute over medium heat until tender. Stir in the garlic and cook a few seconds. Stir in the tomatoes and wine. Bring to a simmer and season with sage, salt and pepper. Return the veal to the casserole.
• Drain mushrooms, reserving the liquid. Cut off any tough stems. Add mushrooms and reserve liquid to the casserole. Cover and simmer over low heat until the veal is tender, about one-and-a-half hours. Taste for seasonings. Stir in enough of the tomato paste to lightly thicken the sauce. Continue cooking, uncovered, 15 minutes longer, then check seasonings again.
• Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with chopped parsley.