Melting Mushrooms Recipes

MELTY MUSHROOM WELLINGTONS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Remove the stalks from the mushrooms. Heat half the oil in a large frying pan and sizzle the mushrooms for 3-4 mins on each side until golden and cooked through - add a drop more oil if needed. Lift the mushrooms out onto kitchen paper to drain.
• Place the same pan back on the heat with the rest of the oil. Fry the garlic for a moment, add the spinach to the pan, then cook for 2-3 mins over a high heat until completely wilted. Season with salt and pepper, then tip the spinach into a large sieve to drain thoroughly.
• On a lightly floured surface scattered with the thyme leaves, roll the pastry out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Using a saucer and a larger-size plate, cut out 4 circles about 5cm wider than the mushrooms (for the bottoms) and 4 circles about 10cm wider (for the tops), re-rolling the trimmings if you need to.
• Place the four smaller circles on a baking tray and top each with a quarter of the spinach, making sure the pile of spinach isn't wider than the mushrooms. Top the spinach with a slice of cheese, then a mushroom, smooth-side up, and top the mushroom with another slice of cheese. Brush the border to each circle with egg, then gently stretch the larger circle over the mushroom, trying not to trap any air, then press the edges together with a fork. Trim the edges with a knife if you want, then brush each generously with egg. Bake for 40 mins until golden, then leave to cool for a few mins before serving.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Remove the stalks from the mushrooms. Heat half the oil in a large frying pan and sizzle the mushrooms for 3-4 mins on each side until golden and cooked through - add a drop more oil if needed. Lift the mushrooms out onto kitchen paper to drain.
• Place the same pan back on the heat with the rest of the oil. Fry the garlic for a moment, add the spinach to the pan, then cook for 2-3 mins over a high heat until completely wilted. Season with salt and pepper, then tip the spinach into a large sieve to drain thoroughly.
• On a lightly floured surface scattered with the thyme leaves, roll the pastry out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Using a saucer and a larger-size plate, cut out 4 circles about 5cm wider than the mushrooms (for the bottoms) and 4 circles about 10cm wider (for the tops), re-rolling the trimmings if you need to.
• Place the four smaller circles on a baking tray and top each with a quarter of the spinach, making sure the pile of spinach isn't wider than the mushrooms. Top the spinach with a slice of cheese, then a mushroom, smooth-side up, and top the mushroom with another slice of cheese. Brush the border to each circle with egg, then gently stretch the larger circle over the mushroom, trying not to trap any air, then press the edges together with a fork. Trim the edges with a knife if you want, then brush each generously with egg. Bake for 40 mins until golden, then leave to cool for a few mins before serving.

MELTING POT'S GREEN GODDESS DIP

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe container, microwave cream cheese and milk for 2 to 4 minutes, whisking after each minute, until cream cheese melts and mixture is smooth.
• Stir in sour cream, onion, parsley and chives. Refrigerate until cold.

SPINACH AND MUSHROOM SALAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Clean the mushrooms by wiping off with a damp kitchen towel or paper towels and then slice them
• Marinate the mushrooms in the oil and vinegar (or dressing) for one hour or until you are ready to serve the salad. If they are going to marinate for longer than an hour, I reserve some of the dressing back to toss with the spinach just before serving (mushrooms tend to soak up the dressing).
• To serve, toss the ingredients in a salad bowl and serve on salad plates.

MELTING MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat the barbecue.
• Cut out the stems from the mushrooms then score them lightly with a knife, over the gilled sides (don't cut through to the other side!).
• Pair up the mushrooms, according to size, and lay one of each pair, gilled side up, on a work surface, then season to taste with salt and black pepper.
• Add one T. vermouth or white wine, follow by a little garlic and thyme and finishing up with grated cheese to each of the four mushrooms.
• Place another mushroom on top of each of the four mushrooms on the work surface and drive a cocktail stick or skewer through from the top, to secure together.
• Brush all over with olive oil then cook over hot coals, turning frequently and carefully, until very soft, juicy and melting inside.
• Serve with crusty bread.