I swung through the Boston Public Market on my way to the train station yesterday evening with every intention of picking up a steak or some chops for dinner, but I stopped in my tracks when I saw the biggest clump of mushrooms I have ever seen in my life. Hen of the Woods, the cluster as big around as a watermelon, gorgeous in their otherworldly way. I had to have them.
I grabbed a sizeable chunk and a couple of ears of corn, bought a knob of chevre from another vendor and continued on home, a plan formulating in my head. I’d roast the mushrooms, tearing them and tossing them with a bit of olive oil and salt, letting the flavor concentrate and the edges crisp, and I’d serve them on top of a risotto, rich with goat cheese and studded with shallots and tarragon and sweet kernels of butter-fried corn.
It was a very good plan, and a very good meal. We didn’t even miss the meat.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, wow, yes please. Roast mushrooms are a beautiful thing.
oh, this is absolutely what i would order if i saw it on the menu at a restaurant. and,
i wouldn’t have been able to resist those mushrooms either.
Mmm. I will now need to find me some this weekend. I had a tremendous gnocchi dish with 3 types of wild mushrooms on Tuesday and you just reminded me that I must recreate it!
Unexpected market inspiration is simply the best, isn’t it? This dish is packed with many of my favorite flavors. Looks blissful!
OMG…I had one of these growning in my backyard. The thought of cooking it never entered my mind! I love your blog and I am now realizing I lead a very sheltered life, I need to experiment more and broaden my horizons. I will peruse your archives and start living outside the (pasta) box!
Um..this is what I am talking about! I love mushrooms. LOVE. Especially Hen of the Woods. They are just stunning. Almost sexy.
nice deep flavor. I love those. I need to make more mushroom burgers, I miss those.
Ahh! That sounds fabulous!
I was contemplating a snack, but now want mushrooms on risotto, with goat cheese, shallots and butter-fried corn. . A snack won’t do.
*sigh*
oh,oh and oh,again. want it, now.
That is special.
You are a brilliant genius.
Lovely, as usual.
this looks just delicious. i have a big bunch of hen-o-the-woods from the market this morning. now just need to find some corn tomorrow…. thanks for the yummy inspiration!
I love hen of the woods aka maitakes! I started looking for them at the markets when I read about the cancer-fighting properties of this mushroom. They taste great too!
I was on a similar wavelength last week, pairing mushrooms with corn in risotto. Yours looks quite delicious too.