Recipe for mushroom, shallot and goat’s cheese tarts Posted on 13 February 2011 The inspiration for this dish came from the amazing variety of wild mushrooms we saw growing in the forest where we walk the dog. Some of them look like leather, there are curly ones, and purple ones! I still have absolutely no idea which ones you can eat and which ones are poisonous but I’d say the purple ones are off-limits. They seem to like it on damp, dark, mulchy bark and rotting leaves. So does Rufus. I was too scared to pick any but it got me craving earthy garlic mushrooms and melting cheese. Nigel Slater is always good for earthy, delicious comfort food and he didn’t let me down. This recipe is a mixture of a couple of his recipes. He makes a big rectangular tart from a sheet of puff pastry. I made individual ones because I had some offcuts of pastry left I had to use up, and I don’t like sharing! Ingredients Serves 2, vegetarian, adapted from a Nigel Slater recipe 1 sheet puff pastry, defrosted in the fridge overnight About 300 gr mushrooms, try to get a mixture of different types 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped 4 or 5 shallots, quartered & peeled 2 tbsp olive oil A good squeeze of lemon juice About 20 – 30 gr butter 100 gr goat’s cheese, sliced into 1/2 cm coins you could use Brie or Tallegio 1/2 tsp fresh chopped rosemary/ thyme leaves, plus extra for sprinkling 1/2 tsp oregano Salt & black pepper Cooking method Melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium low heat and cook the shallots slowly for about 20 minutes until they are softened and caramelized. Meanwhile 1/2 or quarter the mushrooms if large and put them in a bowl with the olive oil, lemon juice,garlic, rosemary, oregano, salt & pepper and mix well. When the onions are done remove them from the pan, add a bit more butter and throw in the mushrooms and garlic mix. Pre-heat oven to 220 degrees. Cook the mushrooms for about 5 minutes until tender and slightly browned. Meanwhile roll out your pastry to about 2 mm thick. If you are keeping it as a rectangle, score a border around the edge of the pastry about 2 cm wide and prick all over the centre inside the border with a fork. If not cut two circles (I used side plates) from your pastry and score a 2cm border round the edge & prick the base with a fork. Put the pastry circles/rectangle on a lined baking sheet and scatter over the shallots and mushrooms, don’t go into the border. Break up the goat’s cheese and stick it in amongst the mushrooms & shallots, sprinkle with a bit more rosemary. Brush the borders with some of the butter from the mushroom pan drizzle over any remaining butter. Cook in the preheated oven for 15 – 20 minutes until the pastry is puffed & golden. Eat with something green, like broccoli, if you think it needs something else. If not, just eat it on it’s own, in slices with your hands like a mushroom “puff” pizza. Enjoy! Related Posts 3 Wine estates to visit in KwaZulu Natal 31 May 2023 The Cape may be the wine capital of South Africa, but you can still enjoy... read more 11 alcohol-free drinks for the sober curious 26 May 2023 Ocsober and Dry January are all good and well, but how about a permanent shift... read more Treat yourself to a one-of-a-kind fine dining experience in Franschhoek 20 March 2023 If you love a unique fine dining experience, you'll want to treat yourself to the... read more PREV ARTICLE NEXT ARTICLE
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