Wild Mushroom Duxelles Recipes

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the mushrooms and saute for 6 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and continue to saute for 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the port wine and cook until almost all the liquid has cooked off, about 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the duxelle from the pan and cool completely. Season the entire quail with Essence. Stuff the quail with the duxelle and set aside.

Steps:

• Trim off, if necessary, the woody part of the mushroom stems, and with a damp cloth wipe off any dirt (don't immerse the mushrooms in water). Chop both stems and caps into small dice. Spread them out on a towel, and sprinkle the salt over them. After about 10 minutes, pat dry to remove excess juice. Meanwhile, heat the butter and oil in a fairly large skillet, toss in the shallot, and sauté it gently for about 2 minutes. When the mushrooms have released their liquid, add them to the shallot, and cook together few minutes, until the pan is dry. Cool, and store in the refrigerator for a few days or freeze.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Place 1/2 teaspoon of the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 15 seconds. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms have given off their liquid and most liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Stir in the parsley, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper to taste.
• Use your fingers to carefully loosen the skin over the breasts on each pheasant. Place some of the mushroom duxelle under the skin of each bird. Place 1 head of roasted garlic into the cavity of each bird. Rub the remaining teaspoon of olive oil over the skin of the pheasants. Season with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together. Place in a large roasting pan and surround with the carrots, potatoes and onions.
• Roast for 15 minutes, stopping once to run a spatula under the pheasants to prevent them from sticking. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Roast until the juices run slightly pink when pricked with a fork in the thickest part of the leg, about 30 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove the string. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Cut the pheasants in half and serve with the roasted vegetables.