Watercress Salad with Fried Morels

• 1 cup dried morels (1 ounce)
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
• All-purpose flour, for dredging
• 2 large eggs, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
• 1 cup finely crushed crackers or cracker meal
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 4 large bunches watercress, tough stems discarded
• 1 small red onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise

1. In a heatproof bowl, soak the morels in the boiling water until softened, about 20 minutes.
2. Rub them to loosen any grit, then lift them out.
3. Let the soaking liquid stand for 5 minutes so the grit falls to the bottom.
4. Pour off the liquid, leaving any grit behind, and reserve.
5. In a small saucepan, simmer the morels in the heavy cream over low heat, stirring a few times, until they absorb the cream, about 8 minutes.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. In a small bowl, combine 6 tablespoons of the reserved morel soaking liquid with the ketchup, rice wine vinegar, ginger, garlic and soy sauce.
8. Blend well and season with salt and pepper.
9. Set the dressing aside.
10. Put the flour, egg mixture and crushed crackers in separate shallow bowIs.
11. Dredge each morel in the flour, shaking off the excess, then dip it in the egg mixture, then coat with crushed crackers.
12. Set aside on a floured platter.
13. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil until shimmering.
14. Add 4 or 5 morels at a time and fry over moderate heat until golden brown, about 1 minute.
15. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the morels to a plate and keep warm.
16. In a large bowl, toss the watercress with the onion and the dressing.
17. Scatter the morels on top and serve at once.

morels, boiling water, heavy cream, salt, ketchup, rice wine vinegar, fresh ginger, garlic, soy sauce, flour, eggs, crackers, vegetable oil, bunches, red onion

Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/watercress-salad-with-fried-morels (may not work)