Every now and then, I challenge myself to eat foods I do not enjoy. Mushrooms, for example. As a restaurant critic, I have now eaten the warm mushroom salad at Hawk's Tavern twice, the first time as a personal challenge, the second because I liked it so much the first time around (and they kept in on the menu after a chef transition). Score one for the mushroom challenge.
Though Hawk's Tavern closed in late 2012, chef Safir Rezzoug kindly sent over his recipe for this gorgeous salad. Consider this recipe as an excuse to buy some petite oven pans. Hunt for foraged mushrooms at the farmer's market. Perfect your poaching skills.
Please note that this recipe is minimally edited and comes straight from the chef who created it. Experiment with the flavors to make the salad your own. (P.S. In the photo, the egg yolk is not oozing. For dramatic color, make a small slit in the poached egg just after plating.)
Bon appétit!
Warm Mushroom Salad
Recipe for 2 to 4 guests
Recipe courtesy of Safir Rezzoug, Executive Chef at Hawk’s Tavern, Mill Valley
INGREDIENTS:
6 oz shimeji mushroom
6 oz king trumpet mushroom
6 oz oyster mushroom
1 bunch watercress
4 eggs
2 Yukon gold potatoes
6 teaspoons raspberry vinegar
6 Tablespoons olive oil
3 Tablespoons salt
Sauce Verde
1 Tablespoon garlic (chop very fine)
2 Tablespoons shallot (chop
very fine)
2 Tablespoons chive (slice very fine)
2 Tablespoons Italian parsley (slice
very fine)
2 Tablespoons tarragon (slice very
fine)
10 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
PREPARATION:
1-
Roasted mushrooms
- Clean and cut the mushrooms
any size you prefer but not too small, 1/2 ounces minimum.
*(DO
NOT put the mushrooms in water because it will absorb it. Use a wet towel
and gently clean the mushrooms).
- Separate the mushrooms by type in 3
different pans specific for oven.
- In each pan add 2 Tablespoons olive
oil, 2 teaspoons raspberry vinegar and mix the mushrooms gently, add the 1
Tablespoon of salt in the end.
- Pre-heat the oven at 350°F. Roast
the mushrooms between 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of
mushrooms.
2-Poached
eggs (half cook)
- Put water in the pan 1 ounce higher
than the eggs, and bring to boil.
- Add the egg when the water boils and
let cook for 7 minutes
- After 7 minutes, put the eggs in
ice water, let cool down for 3 minutes,
*(we want the eggs
be warm not cold) and take out the shell gently.
3-Crispy
potato
- Slice the Yukon gold potato, in
long and fine size, like strings.
- Pre-heat the fryer at 175°F with
light colored canola oil.
- Make a little ball with the strings
of potato and fry it.
*(The
idea is to dry the potato with no coloration, for that we need to keep the
temperature of the oil between 175°F and 185°F.
Use a spoon to keep the potatoes
round like ball when fry it. The texture has to be very crispy.
4-Salsa
Verde
- Mix all the ingredients together in
a bowl (Italian parley, chive, tarragon, garlic, shallot, olive oil extra
virgin and salt).
Make sure all the ingredients are cut
to the same size for a good consistency and better taste.
5-Plating
the salad (Refer to the photo)
- Use a curved plate, display the
mushrooms in the middle of the plate (mountain like)
- Make a hole in the middle of the
mushrooms and place the poached eggs.
- Add the Salsa Verde on top of the
mushrooms and on top of the egg (not too much, just enough for taste)
- Display the watercress nicely
around the eggs. *(Remember
it’s a mushroom salad, we have to have more mushrooms than
watercress)
- Display the crispy potato on top of
the egg with a pinch of salt.
Labels: chef safir rezzoug, hawk's tavern, mill valley restaurants, mushroom salad, warm mushroom salad recipe.
- Use a curved plate, display the
mushrooms in the middle of the plate (mountain like)