Mushroom and Sausage Purses with Madeira Cream Sauce

Submitted by evelynathens

"A most impressive first course. Attractive plating with the cream sauce underneath and the 'purse' on top. Perfect for the holidays or a more elaborate dinner party."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 5mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• Sauce

• 1⁄2 cup madeira wine
• 2 tablespoons minced shallots
• 2 cups beef stock
• 1 1⁄2 cups whipping cream

• Purses

• 1 1⁄2 lbs sausages, casings removed
• 1⁄4 cup butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1⁄2 lbs mushrooms, sliced
• 1⁄4 cup minced shallot
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
• 1⁄2 lb cream cheese, room temperature
• 1⁄2 lb ricotta cheese
• 16 filo pastry
• 3⁄4 cup butter, melted

directions

1. For sauce: Boil Madeira and shallot until almost all liquid evaporates, about 5 minutes.
2. Add stock and boil until reduced to ½ cup, about 10 minutes.
3. Add cream and boil until reduced to sauce consistency, about 10 minutes.
4. (can be prepared 1 day ahead) For purses: Cook sausages until no longer pink, crumbling with a fork.
5. Transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon.
6. Pour off fat from skillet.
7. Add ¼ cup butter and oil to skillet and cook until butter melts.
8. Add mushrooms and saute 6 minutes.
9. Add shallots and thyme and saute until almost all liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes.
10. Add to sausages; cool completely.
11. Mix cream cheese and ricotta in large bowl to blend.
12. Add mushroom mixture and stir to blend.
13. Cover filo sheets with a dampened towel next to your work surface.
14. Stack 2 filo sheets on work surface.
15. Cut off strip of filo to form a 12 inch square.
16. Reserve filo strips under dampened towel.
17. Brush square with melted butter.
18. Place 1/8 of sausage mixture in center of square.
19. Gather up corners to form bundle.
20. Gently twist filo strip to form rope-like tie.
21. Wrap tie around bundle and tie in a loose knot at center.
22. Place bundle on baking sheet.
23. Brush bundle and tie with butter.
24. Repeat 7 more times.
25. (can be made 4 hours ahead) Preaheat oven to 400F.
26. Bake bundles until golden-brown, about 20 minutes.
27. Bring sauce to simmer and spoon onto plates.
28. Top with bundles.