When you have bought more mushrooms than you are going to use up in the week ahead, a simple way to keep them is to dice and sauté them, what the French call duxelles. You can then pack the sautéed dice in a small freezer bag and dip into it whenever you want a tablespoon or so to add to a sauce, a soup, an omelet, whatever.
If you want to make up a large batch so you’ll always have this treasure at hand to give an intense mushroom flavor, just multiply the above ingredients, and be sure to use a larger pan for the increased amount.
Ingredients
Preparation
Trim off, if necessary, the woody part of the mushroom stems, and with a damp cloth wipe off any dirt (don’t immerse the mushrooms in water). Chop both stems and caps into small dice. Spread them out on a towel, and sprinkle the salt over them. After about 10 minutes, pat dry to remove excess juice. Meanwhile, heat the butter and oil in a fairly large skillet, toss in the shallot, and sauté it gently for about 2 minutes. When the mushrooms have released their liquid, add them to the shallot, and cook together few minutes, until the pan is dry. Cool, and store in the refrigerator for a few days or freeze.
