ASPARAGUS GOAT CHEESE BRUSCHETTA WITH PORCINI VINAIGRETTE

Asparagus Goat Cheese Bruschetta with Porcini Vinaigrette image

Provided by Shelley Wiseman

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
1 cup boiling water
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1/4 cup minced shallots
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for brushing
2 bunches (2 pounds) green asparagus (not pencil), ends trimmed to 6 inches
8 ounces fresh goat cheese, softened
8 (1/2-inch thick) slices good quality bread, such as pain de mie, pullman or sourdough, crusts trimmed

Steps:

Make vinaigrette:
Put dried mushrooms in a heatproof bowl and pour boiling water over them. Let stand 20 minutes. Pour mushrooms with liquid through a paper towel-lined sieve into a small saucepan. Transfer mushrooms to a cutting board and finely chop. Add vinegar, shallots, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and half of mushrooms to saucepan and boil mixture until it is reduced to 2/3 cup, about 10 minutes. Whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste. Sauce can be served warm or at room temperature.
Make bruschetta:
Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in upper third.
Stir together remaining chopped mushrooms with softened goat cheese in a small bowl.
Place a steamer basket in a 5-quart pot filled with 2 inches of water. Steam asparagus, covered, just until tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer asparagus to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking, then drain and pat dry.
Halve asparagus crosswise.
Arrange bread slices on a large baking sheet. Brush with some olive oil and bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes.
Spread goat cheese mixture generously on toasts.
To serve, place a toast in the center of a salad plate and arrange 4 or 5 stem ends of asparagus on each. Top stems with asparagus tips, arranging them perpendicular to stems. Drizzle asparagus and surrounding plate with vinaigrette.