Active Time

　　20 min

　　Total Time

　　20 min

　　We love the look of fluted mushrooms in this recipe. Fluting will add about 25 minutes to your preparation time.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 4 first-course servings

　　1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter

　　1 1/2 pounds tightly closed firm white mushrooms (about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and uniform in size), stems trimmed flush with base of caps

　　1/2 teaspoon salt

　　1/4 teaspoon black pepper

　　2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

　　6 (1/2-inch-thick) slices firm white sandwich bread, crusts discarded and slices halved diagonally

　　2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

　　

To flute mushrooms:

Step 1

Soak mushrooms in bowl of water and some lemon juice for 5 minutes. Hold paring knife by back of blade, not handle. Orient the knifepoint to center of mushroom cap. Pivot blade into cap on bias. Rock mushroom toward you and knife away from you in a smooth, easy motion, beveling out a strip. Repeat with remaining mushrooms.

　　

Step 2

Preheat broiler.

　　

Step 3

Heat butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then cook mushrooms, cap sides down, with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn mushrooms over with tongs and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, then cook until mushrooms are tender, about 2 minutes more. Sprinkle with lemon juice.

　　

Step 4

While mushrooms are cooking, arrange bread triangles in a shallow baking pan. Broil 5 to 6 inches from heat, turning over once, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes total (watch carefully).

　　

Step 5

Put 3 toasts on each of 4 plates, then divide mushrooms among them with a slotted spoon. Drizzle pan juices over mushrooms and sprinkle with parsley.