Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter or 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms or 8 ounces white mushrooms, trimmed, wiped clean, and thinly sliced
  • 14 cup dry white wine or 14 cup vermouth
  • 1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
  • 14 cup unsifted all-purpose flour
  • 12 teaspoon salt, to taste
  • 12 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, to taste
  • 14 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
  • 14 teaspoon rubbed sage
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 1 12 cups converted rice, cooked according to package directions
  • 3 cups diced cooked chicken or 3 cups turkey
  • 12 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Method

  • Preheat oven to 375.
  • Lightly butter a 2 1/2 quart casserole; set aside.
  • Melt 1 tbs butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, add mushrooms, and cook, stirring often, 8-10 minutes until juices evaporate.
  • With slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to a small bowl; add wine, toss lightly, and set aside.
  • Add remaining butter to skillet and stir-fry onion 6-8 minutes until lightly browned.
  • Blend in flour, salt, pepper, thyme, and sage, and when smooth, add broth gradually, stirring briskly to incorporate flour.
  • Mix in half-and-half and cook, stirring constantly, 3-5 minutes until mixture boils and thickens.
  • Taste for salt and pepper and adjust as needed.
  • Return mushrooms to skillet along with any wine in bowl, then mix in cooked rice and diced chicken.
  • Transfer to casserole, spreading to edge, and top with pecans.
  • Slide onto middle oven rack and bake, uncovered about 25 minutes until bubbling and lightly browned.
  • Serve hot with baby green peas, butter beans, or asparagus or broccoli.