Whip Up This Mushroom Duxelles Recipe for an Elegant Appetizer (2024)

Mushroom duxelles (pronounced duck-SELL) is an intensely flavored combination of finely chopped mushrooms, shallots, and fresh herbs such as thyme or parsley that are slowly cooked to a paste-like consistency. French in origin and named after the marquis d'Uxelles, this mushroom condiment is traditionally used in the preparation of beef Wellington,but it can also be used to flavor soups and sauces as well as to fill omelets and ravioli. It also happens to make for a delectable spread on crostini or toast points. Other creative uses include adding it as a flavor booster for mashed potatoes or mushroom-centric pasta dishes.

The key ingredients in duxelles are mushrooms, butter, salt, and pepper. Any type of mushroom or a combination can be used, including cremini, morel, shiitake, porcini, and white button mushrooms, and ingredient variations can include shallots and/or garlic and chopped fresh parsley.

An important step in making duxelles is to remove as much moisture as possible from the mushrooms, both before cooking and during the process. They need to be cooked long enough so the mushrooms release their moisture and then cook completely until the liquid evaporates. This will prevent any unnecessary sogginess, which is essential to a crisp pastry for beef Wellington.

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"These were easy and the flavor was great. It took just a few minutes to chop the shallots and pulse the mushrooms in the food processor. If you're using fresh thyme, the leaves make an attractive garnish. I tossed it with some rice and served it with steak." —Diana Rattray

Whip Up This Mushroom Duxelles Recipe for an Elegant Appetizer (6)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces mushrooms

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • 1/4 cup finely chopped shallot

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1/4 cup dry vermouth, sherry, or white wine

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Finely chop the mushrooms in a food processor.

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  3. Scrape the mushrooms onto a clean cotton kitchen towel. (Choose an old towel as the mushrooms will stain it. Do not use terry cloth.)

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  4. Over a sink, twist the towel around the mushrooms to wring out as much liquid as possible.

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  5. Heat a large (10-inch) nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat.

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  6. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and swirl to melt and avoid burning.

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  7. Add the mushrooms, shallot, thyme, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of black pepper.

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  8. Cook until the mushrooms release their liquid and continue to cook until the liquid evaporates and the mushrooms appear dry and begin to brown, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

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  9. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and, when melted, add the vermouth.

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  10. Cook until the vermouth has evaporated, stirring frequently. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.

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How to Store and Freeze

  • You can make the duxelles a day ahead of time so that the assembly of the beef Wellington or other dishes goes more quickly.
  • Duxelles freeze well. This recipe produces more than you need for two Wellingtons, so you can save the remainder for future use. Roll the amount you won't immediately use into a log and wrap in plastic or foil, or spoon portions into an ice cube tray, and freeze. When ready to use, cut a portion from the log or remove a cube.

How to Use Mushroom Duxelles

Mushroom duxelles is commonly used in beef Wellington, but it can also be used in a wide variety of other ways:

  • Topping for crostini, toasts, or even baked potatoes.
  • In omelets.
  • In bread stuffing or used as part of the stuffing mixture for acorn squash.
  • Filling for a tart, savory pie, flaky pastries, or ravioli.
  • Flavorful addition to soups, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
  • Toss with your garlic and butter pasta or cacio e pepe.
  • Assemble a grilled cheese sandwich with a layer of duxelles.
  • Use duxelles as a stuffing for baked sole or flounder.
  • Add mushroom duxelles to your favorite stuffed chicken mixture.
  • Add leftover duxelles to your chicken Marsala sauce.
  • Sprinkle duxelles over a white pizza.

Recipe Variations

  • Add 1 clove of minced garlic along with the finely chopped shallots.
  • Garnish the duxelles with extra fresh thyme leaves or chopped fresh parsley.
  • Spread duxelles on crostini and top with shredded or shaved Gruyère or Parmesan cheese. Place the crostini on a baking sheet and broil just until the cheese is melted.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
98Calories
6g Fat
7g Carbs
2g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories98
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g8%
Saturated Fat 4g18%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 83mg4%
Total Carbohydrate 7g2%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 5mg23%
Calcium 14mg1%
Iron 1mg7%
Potassium 258mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Whip Up This Mushroom Duxelles Recipe for an Elegant Appetizer (2024)

FAQs

What is mushroom Duxelle made of? ›

Duxelles (French: [dyksɛl]) is a French cuisine term that refers to a mince of mushrooms, onions, herbs (such as thyme or parsley), and black pepper, sautéed in butter and reduced to a paste. Cream is sometimes used, and some recipes add a dash of madeira or sherry.

How do you know when Duxelle is done? ›

Visual cues are the best indicator for when duxelles are done. They're ready when the mushroom mixture is thickened, nearly all the liquid has evaporated, and the mushrooms are starting to stick to the bottom of the pan a tiny bit. Expect this to take about eight minutes.

What do mushroom duxelles taste like? ›

It's a paste-like reduction of finely minced mushrooms that have been slowly cooked with shallots and butter until all the liquid is gone, resulting in an ingredient that adds rich mushroom flavor to other dishes.

What is a good substitute for mushroom duxelle? ›

It doesn't give quite the “right” texture as mushroom duxelles, but it is tasty. I think a mix of red and green peppers and leeks, all softened in butter or olive oil would work well. Or another idea is slivers of fennel, chopped sun-dried tomatoes and finely diced aubergine.

What is a duxelle in English? ›

In the culinary arts, the word Duxelle (pronounced duck-SELL) refers to a mixture of chopped mushrooms, onions, and shallots that is sautéed and used as a filling for a number of different dishes, including pastries and sauces.

What is the meaning of mushroom duxelle? ›

dux·​elles ˌdük-ˈsel. (ˌ)dü-ˈsel. : a garnish or stuffing made especially of finely chopped sautéed mushrooms.

Should mushroom duxelle be dry? ›

An important step in making duxelles is to remove as much moisture as possible from the mushrooms, both before cooking and during the process. They need to be cooked long enough so the mushrooms release their moisture and then cook completely until the liquid evaporates.

Can you freeze mushroom duxelle? ›

You can make and freeze it but it will be wetter when you defrost it, however you can rectify this by heating it in a medium saucepan or frying pan over a medium to high heat, stirring frequently, to evaporate the excess moisture.

What if mushroom duxelle is too wet? ›

For the mushroom duxelles make sure you let it cook long enough to have all the moisture evaporate. If it is too wet the puff pastry will become soggy.

Why is it called Duxelle? ›

Duxelles is said to have been created by the 17th-century French chef François Pierre La Varenne (1615–1678) and to have been named after his employer, Nicolas Chalon du Blé, Marquis d'Uxelles, Maréchal de France.

What is the most luxurious mushroom? ›

Matsutake, one of the most expensive mushrooms, can cost up to $1,000 per kilogram. The Italian White Alba Truffle is the world's most expensive mushroom, with a price of $330 per gram. In Japan, people pay up to $600 for a single Matsutake mushroom. Morel mushrooms can cost approximately $254 per kilogram.

How long will Duxelle last in the fridge? ›

(Yes, you can totally freeze wine for cooking.) So what can you do with duxelles? All kinds of delicious things! It will keep in the fridge for a week or so and it can be frozen for a few months.

What is the healthiest mushroom to cook with? ›

Shiitake, Oyster, and Lion's Mane mushrooms are considered one of the healthiest mushrooms. The shape, color, size, and flavor of mushroom varieties differ, but they do share similar nutritional values. Most mushrooms offer: Carbohydrates.

What is a good substitute for mushroom duxelle in beef Wellington? ›

The only time I ever made wellington, I simply put a mixture of onions and bacon and cheese in place of the mushroom layer. I first sprinkled parmesan cheese. Then I put a layer of finely chopped sauteed onions and then crumpled cooked bacon.

What mushroom is most like steak? ›

Swap your beef for portobello steaks

The portobello mushroom crowns as the superior beef replacement due to their satisfying texture and array of flavours. This mushroom's absorbency can soak up sauces effortlessly, leaving for a fulfilling dish.

What is mushroom pate made of? ›

Ingredients for Mushroom Pâté Naturally, mushrooms form the foundation of this pâté recipe. To the mushrooms, you'll also add nuts, butter and olive oil, fresh herbs, and a few other ingredients that help to bring balance to the recipe and give it a deeper, more resonant flavor.

What is mushroom Wellington made of? ›

Seared portobello mushrooms are layered with apple cider-caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms, which are seasoned with soy sauce for flavor and bolstered with walnuts for texture. The rich mushroom filling is vegan, and the entire dish can easily be made vegan, too.

What is the cap of a mushroom made of? ›

The cap normally houses the spore producing surface of the fruiting body, which can consist of gills (oyster mushrooms), pores (porcinis), ridges/false gills (chanterelles), or teeth (Lion's Mane). Many mushrooms produce spores on their gills (on the underside of the mushroom's cap).

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