Marvelous mushrooms
Savor their earthy essence with 34 recipes for everything from soups and appetizers to the tasty main course
Wild mushroom varieties are available at gourmet markets or at farmers’ markets, where foragers often sell their wares. But for an added thrill, why not head into the woods and gather your own? Before hunting wild mushrooms, though, it’s important to know which ones are edible and which are poisonous. Your best resource is a mycological society, and lots of them exist in the West. Contact the North American Mycological Association for more information.
A cooking tip: To clean mushrooms, wipe them with a dry brush and a damp paper towel. Particularly dirty specimens should be swished around in a bowl of cold water for a minute, then dried on paper towels.
Soups and Stews
Mushroom Bisque with Pastry Top Hats
Salads
Warm Lentil Salad with Portabellas
Chanterelle-Potato Salad with Pancetta, Shallots, and Thyme
Appetizers
Chili-painted Portabellas in Puff Pastry
Morel Mushroom and Oloroso Sherry Gratin
Porcini-Zucchini Blossom Orecchiette
Mains
Crab-filled Portabella Mushrooms
