Wild Rice Stuffed Morels Recipes

MOREL MUSHROOM AND WILD RICE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Combine chicken broth and water in a large stockpot. Heat over medium-high heat until boiling; reduce heat to low and keep warm.
• Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat in a large Dutch oven until butter melts. Add brown rice; cook and stir constantly until toasted, about 5 minutes. Stir in wild rice, 1/2 the morel mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion, and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, until onions are translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour in white wine; cook until evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Mix 1/2 the chicken broth mixture into the rice; stir to combine. Cover and cook over medium heat until thickened, about 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Pour in remaining chicken broth mixture, remaining morel mushrooms, and thyme. Cover and continue to cook over medium heat, stirring every 5 minutes, until wild rice is tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter and heavy cream. Cook until butter is melted, about 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper. Top with Pecorino Romano cheese.

MORELS STUFFED WITH WILD RICE

Steps:

• Saute the bacon pieces until crisp in a medium-size skillet, then add the shallots and garlic. Stir and saute over medium heat for five minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the cooked wild rice, Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, thyme, parsley, salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Trim the bottom of the morels so they will stand upright, points upward. Stuff each one with some of the rice mixture and carefully place three stuffed mushrooms, tips pointing upward, into each of four heat-proof gratin dishes. Drizzle the mushrooms with melted butter and bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they begin to crisp and brown. Just before serving, sprinkle a bit of the fresh dill around the mushrooms to simulate the look of the forest floor.

WILD RICE STUFFED MORELS

Steps:

• Soak rice in water to cover for 30 minutes.
• Drain.
• Dissolve bouillon cubes in 4 1/2 cups water, add pepper and bring to a boil.
• Add rice slowly, so water doesn't stop boiling, turn down heat and simmer, covered, over low heat for 45 minutes.
• Let sit off heat 15 minutes.
• Drain off excess water.
• In a skillet heat oil and butter.
• Saute celery and onion until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Turn off heat and add thyme, parsley, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Prepare morels by brushing them off with a damp paper towel.
• Trim off stems and, if necessary, enlarge the opening into the cap with a paring knife. Spread half the rice mixture in the bottom of a 2-quart casserole and top with butter.
• Fill morels with as much of the rice mixture as each will hold.
• Mound rice on top of each morel, and stand upright in the casserole. Repeat with remaining morels.
• Drizzle with white wine and dust with Parmesan cheese if desired.
• Cover and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
• Lower heat to 300 and bake until morels are resilient, but tender, about another 25 minutes.

RISOTTO WITH MORELS

Steps:

• Put the morels in a small bowl, add the water and set aside to soak for 30 minutes. Drain the morels, reserving the liquid. Mix the liquid with the stock and place in a saucepan. Keep at a low simmer.
• Heat the butter in a heavy saucepan, add the onion and garlic and saute over medium-low heat until tender but not brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook, stirring, a few minutes until the rice begins to whiten. Add the wine and the morels. Stir.
• Gradually add the simmering stock, about half a cup at a time, stirring constantly. Add additional stock as each ladleful becomes absorbed into the rice. Continue adding the stock until the rice has swelled and is al dente. Continue to cook, stirring, another minute or so. The rice should be just tender and moistened with a thickened sauce.
• Serve dusted with Parmesan cheese.

MORELS STUFFED WITH CREAMY MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Fill a medium stockpot with water; add potatoes and 1 tablespoon salt. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium high; boil gently, uncovered, until tender, about 45 minutes. Drain. Hold potatoes in a clean kitchen towel, and peel. Pass potatoes through a ricer into a medium bowl. Cover with foil, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with cool water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and lemon juice. Place morels in the bowl for about 3 to 4 minutes, pushing them down into the water several times to clean them. Drain on paper towels. Gently pat dry; let stand to dry while continuing recipe.
• Place ramps in cold water; let stand for 5 minutes to rid them of dirt and sand. Lift out of the water, drain in a colander, and pat dry. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over low heat. Add ramps, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; saute until soft and translucent, about 10 minutes.
• In a small saucepan (or in the microwave), combine 2 tablespoons butter, cream, and milk; bring to a boil. To the riced potatoes, add ramps, butter-cream mixture, Parmesan, remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper; mix to combine well.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fill a pastry bag with 1/4-inch round tip with mashed potatoes. Insert the tip into the opening at the top of a morel, and pipe potato mixture in until morel is full. Transfer to a baking sheet. Repeat process with remaining potatoes and morels. (Stuffed morels can be prepared up to this point 1 day in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator.)
• In a small saucepan (or in the microwave), melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Brush tops of morels with butter, and transfer to the oven. Bake until morels are tender and potatoes are hot and slightly golden, about 20 minutes if morels are baked right away and 30 minutes if prepared the day before. Serve immediately on a bed of reserved ramp greens.