Il Cucinologo
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Chestnut and Mushroom Strudel

17/11/2023

The chestnut and mushroom strudel combines autumn flavors with a classic of Central European pastry with an all-Italian touch. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 1 roll of rectangular puff pastry
  • 200 g of chestnuts, already boiled and peeled
  • 300 g of mixed mushrooms (porcini, button mushrooms, honey mushrooms, as desired)
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 sprig of rosemary
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 100 g of soft cheese (such as brie or taleggio), optional
  • 1 egg yolk for brushing
  • Butter to taste

Preparation

  1. Clean the mushrooms, removing any traces of soil, and slice them. If using fresh porcini mushrooms, remember to clean them carefully with a damp cloth to prevent them from getting too wet.
  2. Finely chop the onion and the garlic clove.
  3. In a pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil and add the onion and garlic. Sauté until they become translucent.
  4. Add the mushrooms and chopped rosemary. Cook over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes until the mushrooms are golden and the released water has evaporated. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Add the chestnuts to the pan with the mushrooms and let the flavors meld for another 5 minutes. If necessary, roughly chop them before adding.
  6. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
  7. Roll out the puff pastry and spread the mushroom and chestnut mixture in the center, leaving the edges free. If desired, add the cheese cut into pieces on top of the mixture.
  8. Fold the edges of the pastry inward and roll the strudel onto itself starting from the long side, sealing the ends well.
  9. Brush the surface with the beaten egg yolk and make a few diagonal cuts on the surface to allow steam to escape during baking.
  10. Place the strudel on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and add a few pats of butter on the surface.
  11. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden and crispy.

Once removed from the oven, let the strudel rest for a few minutes before serving.

Trivia

Strudel is a typical dessert from Central European regions, but this savory version is a modern adaptation that uses typical Italian ingredients such as chestnuts and mushrooms. In some variants of this dish, you can find the addition of speck or pancetta to give it an even richer and more enveloping flavor.