MUSHROOM CONSOMME WITH MORELS AND PASTRY "HATS"

Mushroom Consomme with Morels and Pastry

Paul Bocuse believes a great chef will invent only two dishes in his entire career; his own truffle soup with pastry "hats" will forever be known as his signature creation. Our version retains all the theater of the billowy dome of puff pastry and the richness of the flavors but substitutes mushroom consommé laced with morels and snips of fresh chives for the opulence of truffles and foie gras.

Provided by Paul Bocuse

Yield Makes 6 (first course) servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

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Ingredients

2 pounds white mushrooms, finely chopped (preferably in a food processor)
2 medium onions, chopped
2 quarts cold water
2 tablespoons 1-inch pieces fresh chives
1 1/2 cups boiling water
3/4 ounce dried morels (about 3/4 cup)
3/4 cup Sercial Madeira
1 pound frozen all-butter puff pastry, thawed
1 whole large egg, lightly beaten
1 large egg yolk
Equipment: 6 deep (16-to 18-ounces) ovenproof bowls (4 to 4 1/2 inches across the top) such as "lion's head" bowls; a round template 1 1/2 inches larger than diameter of tops of bowls

Steps:

Simmer white mushrooms, onions, water, and 1 tsp salt in a 6-qt stockpot, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours.
Strain mushroom mixture through a large sieve lined with a damp paper towel into a large saucepan, pressing gently on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Mushroom mixture should yield about 4 cups consommé. (If less, add water; if too much, boil consommé until it is reduced to 4 cups.) Discard solids. Season consommé with salt and pepper.
Pour boiling water over morels in a small bowl and soak until morels are softened, about 20 minutes.
Transfer morels with a slotted spoon to a medium-mesh sieve set over a bowl. Press on morels with back of spoon to remove liquid, then add liquid from morels to soaking liquid and reserve.
Rinse morels to remove any grit, then transfer to a small saucepan and add Madeira. Simmer, covered, 5 minutes.
Add morels and Madeira to consommé in saucepan. Let reserved soaking liquid settle, then slowly pour into consommé, being careful to leave last tablespoon (containing sediment) in bowl.
Add chives to consommé and simmer, covered, 3 minutes, then chill, uncovered, until cold, about 1 hour.
If pastry comes as 1 sheet, cut crosswise in half. Roll out each piece of pastry into a 13-inch square on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin. Chill on baking sheets until firm, about 1 hour.
Cut out 3 rounds from each sheet of puff pastry using template. Brush any excess flour from both sides of pastry rounds. Brush tops with some of beaten egg. Chill pastry rounds on baking sheets until firm, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in middle.
Divide cold soup among bowls. (Do not chill soup in bowls.) Lightly beat yolk, then brush around edge and down side of each bowl (a 1/2-inch-wide strip). Working quickly, place each pastry round over a bowl and pull slightly so pastry is taut. Press edge down against side of bowl to seal tightly.
When all bowls are covered with pastry, arrange in a large 4-sided sheet pan and bake until pastry is puffed and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately.