Chilean Mushroom Crumbs

SERVINGS: 3 cups

VEGETARIAN

Dried Chilean wild mushrooms, sometimes known as Chilean porcini, are smokier than most other dried mushrooms. If you can't find them, dried Polish or European porcini, which are widely available, are also smoky and flavorful.

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2 cups dried Chilean wild mushrooms (about 1 ounce); see Note
1 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon pure olive oil
2 small shallots, minced
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
2 1/2 tablespoons dry Marsala
1 1/2 cups coarse fresh bread crumbs
1 teaspoon finely chopped thyme
Salt and freshly ground pepper

In a large skillet, melt the butter in the olive oil. Add the shallots and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the chopped mushrooms and garlic and 2 tablespoons of the Marsala and cook, stirring frequently, until the Marsala is slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Add the bread crumbs and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until completely blended, about 3 minutes.
Scrape the crumb mixture into a large skillet and stir in the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of Marsala and the thyme. Season with salt and pepper and toast over moderately high heat, stirring, until the crumbs are lightly browned and crisp, about 5 minutes.

Make Ahead The crumbs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Serve With Pan-roasted chicken breasts (stuff about 1/2 cup under the skin of each of 6 chicken breasts) or pork chops (press 1/2 cup of the crumbs onto each of 6 pork chops); pasta, such as spaghetti, rigatoni or fusilli (toss the crumbs with the cooked pasta, adding a little pasta cooking water, butter, Marsala and Parmesan cheese).