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Mushroom Flan

17/11/2023

The mushroom flan is a delicious and elegant dish, perfect as an appetizer or a main course. Here is the recipe to prepare an Italian-style mushroom flan:

Ingredients

  • 500 g of mushrooms (champignons, porcini or a mix)
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • Chopped parsley (to taste)
  • 40 g of butter
  • 40 g of flour
  • 400 ml of milk
  • Nutmeg (to taste)
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 4 eggs (yolks and whites separated)
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • Butter and breadcrumbs for the ramekins

Preparation

  1. Clean the mushrooms with a damp cloth, slice or chop them, and cook in a pan with oil and garlic cloves for about 10 minutes. At the end of cooking, add chopped parsley, adjust with salt and pepper, and set aside.

  2. Prepare the béchamel with butter, flour, and milk: melt the butter in a pot, add the flour and cook for a few minutes to create a roux. Pour in the hot milk, stirring continuously to prevent lumps from forming. Cook until the béchamel has thickened. Season with grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

  3. Remove the garlic and combine the mushrooms with the béchamel, mixing gently.

  4. Let the mixture cool down slightly then add the egg yolks one at a time and the grated Parmesan cheese, mixing until you get a smooth cream.

  5. Whip the egg whites until stiff and gently fold them into the mixture with upward movements to avoid deflating them. This step is important to obtain a soft and light flan.

  6. Butter and sprinkle breadcrumbs into the ramekins you have chosen for the flan. Pour the mixture inside and bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for approximately 20-25 minutes or until the flans are golden brown and puffed up.

  7. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before unmolding. Serve the mushroom flans with a fresh salad or a sauce of your choice.

Curiosity

The flan is a typical preparation of Italian cuisine that includes various variations of ingredients and can be served both hot and cold. It is similar to the French flan and soufflé, although the consistency is generally more compact compared to a soufflé, and the dough does not require the same delicacy in incorporating the whipped egg whites.

Mushroom Flan