Mushroom Mille-Feuille With Tomato Coulis
- 3 pounds king trumpet mushrooms
- 3 sticks unsalted butter (1 1/2 cups, or 3/4 pound), melted
- 1 pound good yellow tomatoes
- 1 1/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for searing
- Champagne vinegar to taste
- Sugar to taste
- Assorted herbs like parsley, oregano, marjoram, basil, sage and savory
- Heat oven to 350.
- Slice mushrooms on a mandoline lengthwise, as thinly as is practical.
- Brush the inside of a 4 1/2-inch-by-8 1/2-inch nonstick loaf pan with some melted butter; line with parchment paper cut to fit the bottom of the pan.
- Layer the mushrooms in the pan, salting and spooning on a tablespoon or 2 of butter on each layer.
- Stack mushroom slices to about an inch above the pans top.
- Brush the inside of a piece of aluminum foil with melted butter, and wrap the mushrooms and the pan tightly.
- Place the loaf pan on a larger baking dish or rimmed sheet pan to catch any liquid that may bubble over.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven, and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted in the mushrooms meets almost no resistance.
- Remove the aluminum foil, and continue to bake for 15 minutes, or until the top is browned.
- Remove the pan from the oven, and unwrap; pour off excess liquid.
- Place a piece of parchment paper and a second loaf pan on top, weighing it with cans of beans or bricks, at least 10 pounds of weight.
- Keep the outer baking dish underneath to collect overflow.
- Cool for 30 minutes, then refrigerate overnight.
- The next day, remove the loaf from the refrigerator, and take off the weights.
- Invert the loaf onto a rack lined with paper towels.
- You may have to break the butter seal with a knife so the mille-feuille releases, or even rub the bottom of the pan with a hot, wet cloth.
- Drain on the paper towels until ready to cook.
- Make the sauce: Cut the tomatoes into 2-to-3-inch wedges, and place in a blender.
- Blend on high speed until smooth; turn the blender to low, and slowly pour in the olive oil.
- Add salt, vinegar and sugar as needed.
- Do not strain.
- Transfer the loaf to a cutting board, and carefully slice 3/4-inch pieces with a serrated knife.
- Sear each piece in olive oil over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed saute pan.
- Cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side.
- Spoon some of the sauce onto each plate, and top with a slice of mushroom mille-feuille.
- Garnish with the herbs (if using sage or savory, fry it in olive oil).
- Sprinkle with salt, then serve.
mushrooms, butter, tomatoes, extravirgin olive oil, vinegar, sugar, herbs like parsley
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017696 (may not work)