Baked Maitake Oysters New Orleans Style

Maitake mushrooms are commonly known among English speakers as hen-of-the-woods, ram's head and sheep's head.

Yield: 1 to 2 servings

Ingredients

• 1 strip thick-cut apple wood smoked bacon, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup yellow onions, chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon sambal
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 dozen freshly shucked oysters, drained and deeper bottom shell rinsed and reserved for baking
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan, finely grated
• 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons parsley leaves, finely chopped
• 2 heads Maitake mushrooms
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil
• 1 tablespoon truffle caviar (optional for garnish)

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Fry the bacon until just crisp in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add the onions and sambal and cook, stirring for 2 minutes.
4. Add the garlic and butter, and cook, stirring for 2 minutes or until the butter melts.
5. Add the flour and, stirring slowly and constantly, cook for 2 minutes.
6. Add the cream and wine and stir to blend. Reduce the heat to medium, and then add shucked oysters. Using a hand blender or food processer, puree until the mixture is thick, 3 to 4 minutes.
7. Add the Parmesan, lemon juice, and 1/2 of parsley and stir to blend. If needed, add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat, let cool to room temperature.
8. Toss heads of Maitake in bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper. On a preheated grill or skillet lightly char each side of the mushrooms approximately 2 to 3 minutes each side. Let cool.
9. Gently remove stems of mushrooms and cut pieces approximately 1 inch in size ("oyster" size).
10. Arrange the reserved oyster shells on the prepared baking sheet. Fill each shell with “Oyster Mushroom” and top with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the sauce, spreading the sauce evenly out to the edges of the shell to completely cover the oyster. Bake until the sauce is lightly browned, about 15-20 minutes.
11. Using tongs or a spatula, carefully transfer the hot shells to serving plates, garnish with remaining parsley, and serve immediately.
12. Oysters can be topped with truffle caviar.

Attribution

Recipe and photo used with permission from: mushroominfo.com
Recipe courtesy of Doug G., Flik Independent School Dining Sous Chef.