How to Roast Mushrooms and Make a Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette
Why Roast Mushrooms for a Salad?
Roasting mushrooms brings out their natural flavors and gives them a nice, tender texture. It also helps to caramelize the mushrooms, adding a deeper, more complex flavor to the dish. In addition, roasting the mushrooms separately from the salad greens helps to prevent the greens from becoming wilted or soggy.
Roasting the mushrooms adds another layer of flavor and texture to the salad, making it more interesting and satisfying to eat. Plus, it's a simple and quick way to prepare the mushrooms, and it pairs well with a variety of different salad greens and dressings.
What Is a Balsamic Vinaigrette?
Balsamic vinaigrette is a type of salad dressing made with balsamic vinegar and oil. It is typically made by whisking together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and seasonings such as salt, black pepper, and Dijon mustard. The ratio of vinegar to oil can vary, but a common ratio is 3:1 or 4:1, with 3 or 4 parts oil to 1 part vinegar.
Balsamic vinaigrette is a popular choice for salads because it has a rich, slightly sweet and tangy flavor that pairs well with a variety of greens and vegetables. It is also relatively easy to make at home, as it only requires a few ingredients that are readily available at most grocery stores.
In addition to being used as a salad dressing, balsamic vinaigrette can also be used to marinate meat or vegetables, or as a condiment for sandwiches or wraps.
Wild Mushrooms
Here are a few examples of wild mushrooms that you might come across:
- Chanterelle: A golden or orange-colored mushroom with a distinctive, fruity aroma.
- Morel: A spongy mushroom with a honeycomb-like appearance and a nutty, earthy flavor.
- Porcini: A large, meaty mushroom with a strong, savory flavor.
- Lobster: A red or orange mushroom with a seafood-like flavor and a tender, meaty texture.
- Hedgehog: A small, spiky mushroom with a delicate, nutty flavor.
- Black trumpets: A thin, black mushroom with a delicate, earthy flavor.
- Oyster: A fan-shaped mushroom with a delicate, slightly sweet flavor.
- Shaggy mane: A tall, cylindrical mushroom with a shaggy appearance and a mild, slightly sweet flavor.
This is just a small sample of the many types of wild mushrooms that exist. There are thousands of different species of mushrooms, and many of them are edible. However, it is important to be careful when foraging for wild mushrooms, as some species can be poisonous. It is always best to consult with an expert or a field guide before attempting to eat any wild mushrooms.
Roasted Mushroom Salad with Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
Ingredients
For the Roasted Mushrooms
- 2 lbs. assorted mushrooms
- 5 shallots peeled and quartered
- 2 Vidalia onions peeled and cut into large pieces
- 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
- ½ teaspoon dried mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup olive oil
For the Salad
- 1 handful of baby spinach leaves
- 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 3 tablespoons chopped chives
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper diced
- 1 orange bell pepper diced
For the Vinaigrette
- 1 cup dried or fresh figs stems removed and quartered
- 2 cups balsamic vinegar
- 1 shallot minced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
For the Mushrooms
- Preheat your oven to 450° F.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Combine mushrooms, shallots, onions, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a large bowl. Place on the sheet pan and roast until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
- Remove roasted mushrooms to a large bowl.
For the Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Combine the figs and balsamic in a saucepan and simmer until reduced by half. Puree in a blender and allow the mixture to cool.
- Measure ⅓ cup of the fig balsamic for the salad. Reserve the remainder for another use.
- Whisk the ⅓ cup of fig balsamic with the shallot, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Slowly pour in the oil constantly whisking until fully incorporated.
For the Salad
- Combine reserved mushrooms with the salad ingredients and toss all with the Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette.
- Serve Immediately.
