BRAISED SHIITAKES WITH SHRIMP STUFFING

Steps:

• Soak porcini in hot water in a glass measure until softened, about 30 minutes. Pour liquid through a paper towel-lined sieve into a small bowl to remove grit. Discard solids.
• Put stuffing ingredients in a bowl and stir together in one direction with your hand until well blended.
• Arrange shiitake caps, smooth sides down and close together, on a work surface. Put 1 teaspoon cornstarch in a fine sieve, then dust tops of mushrooms. (This will help stuffing adhere.) Stuff shiitake caps with shrimp mixture, packing gently.
• Stir together porcini liquid, oyster and soy sauces, salt, and sugar and reserve.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Add mushrooms, stuffing sides down, and cook until golden brown on bottom, about 2 minutes. Carefully turn mushrooms over and cook 2 minutes more.
• Add ginger and garlic to pan (between mushrooms) and cook 1 minute. Pour in reserved sauce mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until mushrooms are tender, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer mushrooms to 4 small plates and keep warm. Boil sauce, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes and spoon over mushrooms.