Hen of the woods, also known as maitake, are my favorite mushroom. They’re as meaty and rich as steak and they make a great side dish. You can also try this technique with oyster mushrooms in clusters or even shiitakes, both of which will cook more quickly. The seasonings couldn’t be simpler, but the unusual combination of sesame, parsley, and lime is utterly delicious.

　　

Ingredients

Serves 4

　　4 large wedges (12 ounces) hen of the woods (maitake) mushrooms

　　1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

　　Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

　　1 tablespoon white sesame seeds, toasted

　　2 tablespoons sliced fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

　　Lime wedges, for serving

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 450°F.

　　

Step 2

Put the mushrooms in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle the oil all over to coat. Season generously with salt and pepper. Roast until the edges are browned and crispy, the outer edges tender, and a knife encounters some resistance when piercing the center, about 20 minutes.

　　

Step 3

Transfer to a serving dish. Sprinkle the sesame seeds and parsley over the mushrooms and serve with the lime wedges.

　　Reprinted with permission from Home Cooking with Jean-Georges: My Favorite Simple Recipes by Jean-Georges Vongerichten with Genevieve Ko. Copyright © 2011 by Jean-Georges Vongerichten; photographs copyright © 2011 by John Kernick. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Jean-Georges Vongerichten is one of the most influential chefs in the world, having single-handedly redefined haute French cuisine, lightening and refining it by adding select Asian accents. He is the chef-owner of dozens of restaurants in fourteen cities around the world. His flagship restaurant, Jean Georges, at New York's Columbus Circle, is one of six restaurants in the United States to have been awarded three coveted Michelin stars; it received four stars from the New York Times. The winner of multiple James Beard Foundation awards, he lives in New York City and Waccabuc, New York, with his family.Genevieve Ko is a cookbook author and the senior food editor at Good Housekeeping magazine. She has written for Martha Stewart Living, Gourmet, and Fine Cooking and lives in New York City with her family.