Mushroom and Potato Salad with Toasted Garlic Recipe

Mushroom and Potato Salad with Toasted Garlic Recipe

  • 1 pound cremini or button mushrooms, cleaned and stems cut flush with the caps
  • Sea or kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 10 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1½ pounds large (about 4) red-skinned potatoes
  • 1 bunch (1 pound) spinach, tough stems removed, rinsed thoroughly, dried, and cut into ½-inch strips
  • 8 medium red radishes, trimmed and sliced very thin
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon mirin
  • 1 tablespoon Mushroom Soy Sauce or good-quality brewed soy sauce
  • 1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, leaves only, washed, dried, and coarsely chopped
  • 3 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • ½ teaspoon sesame seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon green or pink peppercorns
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Place the mushrooms in a large bowl. Season them generously with salt and pepper and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Toss until the mushrooms are lightly coated with oil. Arrange the mushrooms, stem side down, on a baking sheet and roast until deep golden brown and tender, about 15 minutes, remove and cool the mushrooms.
  3. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan of cold water. Add ½ teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat, and cook until the potatoes are tender but still firm when tested with a paring knife, about 30 minutes, depending upon their size. Drain and let stand just until cool enough to handle.
  4. Cut the mushroom caps into quarters and place in a large bowl. Add the spinach and radishes. Combine 6 tablespoons of the remaining oil, vinegar, mirin, soy sauce, and parsley in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously to mix and pour over the spinach mixture. Toss well, cut the potatoes into ½-inch dice, add to the bowl, and toss well. Cool to room temperature.
  5. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a very small skillet or saucepan over low heat. Add the garlic and cook, shaking the skillet occasionally, until the garlic is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Spoon the garlic and oil over the salad.
  6. To serve, place the sesame seeds and peppercorns in a peppermill and grind a generous amount over the salad. Or place the sesame seeds and peppercorns on a flat surface and crush them lightly with the bottom of a small, heavy saucepan, then sprinkle the mixture over the salad. Toss the salad lightly and serve.