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What Should I Make With 20 Pounds of Dried Morels?
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2009-09-16-Morel.jpgQ: I have a GREAT problem - 20 pounds of morel mushrooms. We went hunting for them in Montana and dried them; so far we've fried them up, had them in cream sauce over elk steaks, and diced in eggs.

I don't cook with any other mushrooms, though, so am stumped with what to do with all of these now. Even though we have so many, I don't want to go wasting them on random internet recipes — I trust the readers of this site, so would love some suggestions!

Sent by Tanner

 
 

Editor: That is indeed a great problem to have, Tanner! Readers, what recipes would you recommend for Tanner's big stash of morels?

Related: Look! Giant Morel for Your Refrigerator

(Image: Caviar Russe)

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Good Questions, Ingredients - Vegetables, mushroom, foraging, morel, dried mushrooms, morel mushrooms

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Comments (23)

Mushroom soup (or mushroom potato soup)!

Also, a lovely stuffing -- mushrooms sautéed in butter, with finely diced onion, fresh breadcrumbs, salt & pepper (maybe a splash of madeira). Ideal for stuffing a chicken breast or beef (pounded thin and rolled), cooked in wine... Also great stuffed inside a meatloaf!

posted by mschatelaine on September 16th 2009 at 9:57am
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That is an insane amount! 20 lbs of morels at Whole Foods is about 400 dollars worth of mushrooms.

posted by zaky on September 16th 2009 at 9:59am
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This is a fantastic problem. I would definately save a few for summer when the asparagus is fresh. Growing up (I grew up in the woods) the ideal breakfast was morels and asparagus on toast with cheese.

They go really well with all the veg of early summer since that's when they really are out, otherwise I'd have them in a wild rice stuffing for squash.

Wonderful problem!

posted by loudlyquiet on September 16th 2009 at 10:02am
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The barefoot contessa has a great morel mushroom recipe. I believe its with chicken.

posted by designerny on September 16th 2009 at 10:55am
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Morel bread pudding! See the one I made here, with link to the original recipe: http://graduallygreener.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/a-locavore-ladies-night/

I am so jealous. That is indeed a wonderful problem to have.

- Amelia of Gradually Greener

posted by GreenCayennes on September 16th 2009 at 11:10am
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I have an address you can mail some to :)

posted by sweetpeacooks on September 16th 2009 at 11:17am
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Ahh... I grew up in Northern Michigan, and talking about morels always makes my mouth water! We would get pounds and pounds of them, and after we'd gorge ourselves in the Spring with fried fresh morels (battered in egg and flour, and lots of salt), we'd dry them for the upcoming months to throw in spaghetti sauces, lasagna and any other sauces. I particularly like them with tomato based sauces... However, I love the ideas above about the wild rice, soup and stuffing though! I'll have to keep it in mind for next morel season.

posted by mspants on September 16th 2009 at 11:18am
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My favorite treatment for mushrooms of any kind is sauteing them in olive oil, a splash of your favorite white wine, garlic and thyme. It's a simple side dish that tastes delicious alongside anything. It's also tasty tossed with fresh pasta.

posted by Lorena in SD on September 16th 2009 at 12:08pm
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I did a white wine braise with morels, leeks, golden raisins, and rabbit sausage once, and served over a mushroom linguine. It was delicious!

posted by maddhatter on September 16th 2009 at 12:55pm
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Having had a large amount of dried morels once, I have one suggestion for what to do with the bottom of the bag powder. Make shepherds pie, but fold in the dry morel "crumbs and dust" into the mash potato. Powder will rehydrate when you bake it. I usually make a couple dozen portions in individual metal containers and freeze them. An easy meal later down the road.

One thing I have been wanting to try is rehydrate them in white wine and stuff them with crab and cream cheese. Throw them on a fresh tomato pasta sauce.

posted by Saddler on September 16th 2009 at 2:59pm
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I always use mushrooms in beef strogenoff - which I have made with everything but beef (moose, caribou, sand hill crane, elk, deer). I make it at least once a week.

posted by akbuilt on September 16th 2009 at 3:18pm
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I'm not sure how long they'd last dry but I'm sure you can get more use out of them dried than fresh. So use as you go along?

I wish I could go mushroom hunting. I don't know anyone who does it and if I went off of a book I'd probably kill myself. :-(

posted by graciela on September 16th 2009 at 3:28pm
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We've had them on fresh pasta, and with a mild cheese in a souffle they are simply gorgeous!

posted by Robynthegeek on September 16th 2009 at 5:35pm
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Make stock with them and freeze the stock. Mushroom stock is useful- soups, gravy, risotto, base for pasta, throw stock into dutch oven and cook veggies and chicken with, couscous, etc.

posted by LoriSF on September 16th 2009 at 6:53pm
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Add them whole to a pot roast, or grind into a powder and rub on the beef--either way will give your roast great flavor.

posted by sjbreeze on September 16th 2009 at 9:52pm
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sweetpeacooks is right! There are 16 or 17 comments on this post right now - send a pound to each of us and we will sing your praises! Or you can use them in a delicious potato casserole, chicken and mushroom pot pie, etc... You might also want to think of sending a pound or two to a local food bank, as a gesture of thanks to the food gods for your incredible luck...

posted by jgphotomom on September 16th 2009 at 10:43pm
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There is a pilaf recipe in Madhur Jaffrey's Indian Cooking that has dried morels in it. It's one of the best rice dishes I've ever made.

I also love them in risotto or just sauteed in butter with thyme and a splash of wine.

I have a large quart sized bag of morels at home, which is not enough in my mind, so I'll be rationing them out for special occasions.

posted by charise on September 17th 2009 at 10:02am
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Call a your local high-end restaurant and sell 15-19 pounds of your wild-crafted dried morels to the chef.

posted by m_j_s on September 17th 2009 at 4:40pm
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I used dried morels to make this recipe of spaghetti with pancetta and morels. It was amazing - the flavors worked together beautifully.

http://haleysuzanne.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/spaghetti-with-pancetta-and-morels-2/

Also, Marxfoods.com has some very good recipes for fresh and dried morels on their site.

posted by Haley W. on September 17th 2009 at 4:59pm
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Selling them wouldn't be a bad idea. How about portioning them out into smaller packages and giving them away as gifts?

posted by heartmignardise on September 18th 2009 at 1:48pm
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Make a thin potato cream soup with them and then top with a poached egg and a giant crouton - glorious!

Or my favourite comfort food - chicken & morels with cream sauce.

posted by ty23 on September 22nd 2009 at 1:45am
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Savory bread pudding is an ideal way to highlight wild mushroom flavors. Deborah Madison has a good recipe in "Local Flavors".

posted by yaheardme on September 22nd 2009 at 1:07pm
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