Recipe: Rich's Mushroom-Hazelnut gravy

Rich's Mushroom-Hazelnut gravy
rec.food.veg/scubadoo

1) Put about 3/4 cup dried porcini mushrooms in a small pot, and cover with 2 cups boiling vegetable stock. Wait one hour. Strain off the mushroom/stock (there might be a little sand in the dehydrated mushrooms), reserving mushrooms.

2) In a pan, dry saute a handful of crushed hazelnuts until lightly toasted and fragrant.

3) Add 4 Tbsp butter & 4 tbsp flour, stirring constantly, until it becomes a darkened roux, 8-10 minutes.

4) Add a handful of thinly sliced onion and cook until it softens. (Add a little more butter if necessary to prevent burning.)

5) Add the mushroom water and two cups of chicken stock (or two more cups veggie stock), to the roux/onion mix. Add 1/4 cup robust red wine, or 3 tbsp dry sherry. Add a handful of the rehydrated mushrooms, finely chopped. Simmer awhile, and add some salt and pepper.

6) Blenderize the solids, and pour the entire mix thru a strainer.

7) Simmer and reduce by 1/4, or more, to desired consistency. Add more wine, salt, pepper, etc. to tweak to your exact taste. (Option: add a little cream, maybe 2 tbsp, at the very end.)

Heaven! Especially for vegetarians craving a beefy-style gravy.