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Photo and recipe courtesy of Kiki L

Sautéed Morels with Wild Turkey Pate & Shaved Spring Asparagus

Recipe from Kiki L. who received the recipe award for the May 2018 Recipe Contest.
Have you ever heard the age-old farmers phrase, ‘what grows together, goes together?’ Well this saying certainly rings true with this easy appetizer that is simple to make, but impressive enough for a fancy dinner party. With fresh wild turkey, asparagus and morel mushrooms, this appetizer is the epitome of Spring in one bite.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
prep for Liver 1 day
Total Time 1 day 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 4

Equipment

  • skillets (2)
  • mixing bowls
  • food processor
  • bowls

Ingredients
  

  • 1 wild turkey liver
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3 strips of bacon cut into small pieces
  • 2 tablespoons of butter
  • ½ stalk Half a stalk of celery finely chopped
  • ½ carrot finely chopped
  • 1 onion (small) finely chopped,
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried sage leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup dry white wine
  • 1 small crusty baguette

Instructions
 

For the Morels

  • Soak the morels in lightly salted water for approximately 15 minutes.
  • Drain and rinse, ensuring to remove as much sand from the mushrooms as possible.
  • In a small pan over medium heat, melt butter and add garlic.
    When you can smell the garlic (approximately one minute later) add the morels.
  • Cook until there is no longer water in the pan, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    Remove from heat, and set aside for assembly later.

For the Pâté

  • Place the liver in a small container, and cover with milk. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. The milk will draw out any overwhelmingly metallic flavors that liver can sometimes have.
    Drain liver, and pat dry with clean kitchen towels.
  • In a medium-sized frying pan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crispy.
    Do not drain the remaining fat from the pan; this is going to add to the flavor and texture of the pâté.
  • Turn the heat down to medium, and add the butter, celery, carrot, onion, garlic, liver and spices.
    Cook until lightly browned and aromatic, approximately 3-5 minutes.
  • Add the wine, and cover with a lid.
    Turn the heat to low, and let simmer for 5-10 minutes.
    Remove from heat, and remove lid.
  • Let cool slightly before adding to a food processor. Process until smooth.
  • Spoon into a container, let cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until fully cool – a couple hours.
  • Slice baguette on an extreme diagonal for long, dramatic slices.
    Toast slices.

Serve

  • Smear a generous amount of pâté on the bread, and load on as many morels will fit onto each piece (and if some drop off onto the plate, your guests will NOT be unhappy about eating these on their own!).  
  • Use a vegetable peeler and shave the asparagus into long, thin strips.
    Haphazardly top each toast with a few strips of the asparagus for colour and a pop of fresh Spring flavor.

Notes

Recipe from Kiki L. who received the recipe award for the May 2018 Recipe Contest. Also check out Maddie & Kiki – The Foraging Sisters on their Facebook page and their website MaddieandKiki.com and join in their adventures.  (photo courtesy of Kiki L )
Keyword morels and Pâté, morels with turkey