Marinated Pine Mushrooms with Asian Pear and Pine Nuts

In this lovely, elegant salad, chef Corey Lee highlights Korean ingredients that he thinks Americans aren’t familiar enough with: pine mushrooms, also known as matsutake, and Asian pears. “Korean food is synonymous with strong spicy, pickled and fermented flavors. But there’s a natural, delicate side to the cuisine as well,” says Lee. Slideshow:  Marvelous Mushrooms 

Marinated Pine Mushrooms with Asian Pear and Pine Nuts
Photo: © Con Poulos
Active Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 45 mins
Yield:
6

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup rice bran, grapeseed or other neutral oil

  • 4 scallions, white parts only

  • 1/4 cup chopped daikon

  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed

  • One 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick

  • 1 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth

  • 3 tablespoons tamari

  • 3 tablespoons sugar

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

  • 6 medium matsutake or small king trumpet mushrooms, quartered lengthwise

  • 1 small Asian pear, peeled and cut into very thin wedges

  • 4 baby turnips, very thinly sliced on a mandoline

  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts

Directions

  1. In a medium saucepan, heat the rice bran oil. Add the scallions, daikon, garlic and ginger and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant, 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock, tamari, sugar and salt and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Add the lemon juice, sesame seeds and mushrooms and let cool to room temperature, 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

  2. Let the mushrooms return to room temperature. Drain, reserving both the mushrooms and marinade; discard the remaining solids. Arrange the mushrooms on plates and drizzle with a little of the marinade. Top with the Asian pear wedges, baby turnips slices and pine nuts and serve.

Notes

Tamari is a richly flavored fermented soy bean–based sauce; unlike soy sauce, it is typically made without toasted wheat.

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