Dive into the world of mushrooms with this Truffled Mushroom Toasts recipe. Featuring a blend of mushrooms, a creamy mix of quark and Crescenza-Stracchino cheeses, and truffle flavor in every layer, this dish is a fungi lover’s dream. Perfect for food lovers seeking a gourmet twist on classic toast.
Dear fellow food people…
First off, I must extend my heartfelt apologies for the relentless mushroom content that has overtaken this space lately. My obsession with these delightful fungi has grown wilder than a patch of mushrooms after a rainy day, and I simply cannot contain my excitement. But worry not, for today’s offering—a recipe for Truffled Mushroom Toasts—promises to be the pinnacle of my mushroom madness. So, let’s embark on this fungal journey together, one toast at a time. It’s only fitting that today is my birthday, and I’m sharing one of my favorite foods (and recipes featuring mushrooms) with you.
I hope you, too, love mushrooms.
A Fungal Cornucopia
Mushrooms, those enigmatic entities of the forest floor, have such variety, from the earthy cremini to the majestic maitake, and offer a spectrum of flavors that can elevate any dish from mundane to magical. The cremini, a close relative of the white button mushroom, offers a deeper, meatier flavor, making it a versatile star in any dish. On the other hand, the oyster mushroom has a more delicate texture and mild, sweet taste. Maitake mushrooms, with their rich, distinct, woodsy flavor bring a depth and textural interest to anything they’re in. And let’s not forget the shiitake, with its smoky, umami-packed essence that can turn a simple dish into an savory bombshell.
Each of these mushrooms brings its own unique character to the table, but you can use any variety you like and can find.
A Tale of Two Cheeses: Quark and Crescenza-Stracchino
Now, onto the unsung heroes of our tale: quark and Crescenza-Stracchino cheeses. Quark, a soft, fresh cheese with a mild yet tangy flavor, provides a creamy canvas that beautifully complements the earthiness of the mushrooms. Its smooth texture and lightness make it an ideal base for the truffled cheese mixture that crowns our toasts. Crescenza-Stracchino, with its soft, spreadable nature and mildly acidic flavor, melds into the quark, adding a layer of complexity that makes each bite a revelation. Together, they create a cheesy blend that is both rich and refreshing, elevating the humble toast to realms untold. Crescenza-Stracchino can be more difficult to find, but if you live in a bigger city with Italian markets, you’ll likely be able to find it. I can sometimes even find it in my mid-sized Midwestern city. Replace with the equivalent amount of quark if you can’t find it.
The Recipe
Crafting these Truffled Mushroom Toasts is relatively easy and makes for an elegant appetizer for fellow mushroom lovers—or anyone you’re trying to convert. The bread, slathered with truffle butter and crisped under the broiler, provides the perfect crunchy base for our fungal feast. And the truffled cheese mixture, spread generously atop the golden toasts, acts as the creamy flourish and bed to keep all the mushroom stationary. The mushrooms, sautéed with shallots and a splash of dry sherry, become the focal point of our dish when mounded on top of the toasts, their flavors intensified by the luxurious white truffle butter.
The recipe is first inspired by a local Des Moines restaurant called St. Kilda, which further inspired an editor at the magazine I used to work at, Cuisine at Home, to create a rendition. Her version inspired my version; you can see the original magazine recipe here.
So, there you have it, my dear friends: a recipe that is a testament to my unabashed mushroom mania. I hope you embark on this culinary adventure with an open heart and a hungry stomach.
Happy cooking!
Truffled Mushroom Toasts
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
Description
Dive into the world of mushrooms with this Truffled Mushroom Toasts recipe. Featuring a blend of mushrooms, and a creamy mix of quark and Crescenza-Stracchino cheeses, this dish is a fungi lover’s dream. Perfect for food lovers seeking a gourmet twist on classic toast.
Ingredients
FOR THE MUSHROOMS:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large shallot, finely minced
- 1–1/2 pounds assorted mushrooms (try to get a mix of shiitake, oyster, maitake, cremini, etc), tough stems removed and caps torn or sliced
- 1 large garlic clove, finely minced
- 1/4 cup dry sherry or brandy
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons white truffle butter
FOR THE TRUFFLED CHEESE:
- 3/4 cup (6 ounces) quark cheese, at room temperature
- 4 ounces Crencenza-Stracchino cheese (if you can’t find it, substitute with 4 ounces of additional quark cheese), at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh chives, plus more for serving
- 1 teaspoon highest-quality white truffle oil
FOR THE TOASTS:
- 6–8 1/2-inch-thick slices high-quality artisan bread (like sourdough or a country loaf)
- 4 tablespoons white truffle butter, at room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat the broiler on high with rack about 6 inches from the heating element.
- For the mushrooms: Heat 3 tablespoons butter with the extra-virgin olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the shallots to the pan with a pinch of salt. Cook for 1–2 minutes until slightly softened. Add all of the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and liquid has nearly evaporated, about 10-13 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Deglaze the pan with the sherry, scraping up any brown bits stuck on the pan. Cook until the sherry almost completely evaporates, about 2–3 minutes. Stir in the white truffle butter until melted. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to your taste. Keep warm over low heat.
- For the Truffled Cheese: While the mushrooms cook, combine the cheeses, chives, and white truffle oil, mashing to fully combine. Taste the mixture and see if it needs salt and pepper; season to taste.
- For the bread: Spread a thin layer of white truffle butter on each side of the bread. Transfer to a baking sheet and broil until golden on one side, 1–2 minutes. Flip the bread and broil until the second side is golden, about 1–2 minutes.
- To assemble: Spread the cheese mixture on the toasted bread slices; top evenly with the mushroom mixture. Generously sprinkle chives over top.
Notes
Inspiration: Mushroom Toasts with Truffled Quark Cheese on cuisineathome.com
- Category: Appetizers, Vegetarian