Chilied Mushroom And Cashew Pate Food

KILLER CHILIED MUSHROOM AND CASHEW PATE

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, over a high heat, melt the butter. Saute the mushrooms 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion, cook until translucent then add the garlic for a minute or so, then the spices. Cook until the mixture is fairly dry. Cool.
• In a food processor fitted with a metal blade or blender, chop the cashews finely and slowly; add the oil to make a paste. Add the mushroom mixture and continue mixing until smooth. Taste and add more chile powder or salt, if necessary. Place in a serving bowl and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve at room temperature.

VEGETARIAN SPINACH-WALNUT PATE

Steps:

• Special equipment: 5-inch ramekin
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Line a 5-inch ramekin with plastic wrap, leaving at least a 2-inch overhang; smooth out the plastic in the ramekin as much as possible.
• Add the spinach to the pot of water, stir to submerge and cook until wilted and tender, about 2 minutes. Drain and let cool completely. Squeeze every last drop of water out of the spinach, then finely chop. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Process the walnuts, 1/3 cup warm water, cilantro, tarragon, dill, vinegar, scallions, garlic, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, coriander and cayenne in a food processor until the mixture is the consistency of mayonnaise.
• Add the walnut-herb mixture to the bowl with the spinach, and stir to combine thoroughly. Spoon into the prepared ramekin, and pat down with the back of the spoon to compact. Cover with the plastic overhang, and refrigerate at least 4 hours up to overnight.
• To serve, unwrap and invert onto a serving platter. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and chopped walnuts. Serve with crackers or crudites.

CASHEW MUSHROOM PATE

Steps:

• In a food processor, chop mushrooms by pulsing on and off until mushrooms are coarsely ground. Transfer to a medium bowl.
• Process onion and carrot in same manner. Transfer to a small bowl. Rinse out processor.
• In a large frying pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and carrots, and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add ground mushrooms, lemon juice, garlic, tarragon and sherry. Cook, stirring occasionally until most of liquid in pan has evaporated, 4-5 minutes. Transfer to medium bowl.
• In a dry medium frying pan, toast cashew pieces over high heat, shaking pan back and forth to prevent scorching, until nuts turn golden, 3-4 minutes.
• Transfer to a plate and let cool 5 minutes. In a processor, pulse nuts until finely ground.
• Add ground nuts to mushroom mixture. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

SPINACH MUSHROOM CASHEW ENCHILADAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch square or 9-by-13-inch baking pan with vegetable oil or cooking spray.
• Combine the mushrooms and cashews in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.
• Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped mushrooms and cashews and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms cook down and reduce, about 5 minutes.
• While the mushrooms cook, combine the onion and garlic in the food processor bowl (no need to rinse it out first) and pulse until coarsely chopped. Transfer to the skillet with the mushrooms. Add all of the spices and tomato paste and stir to combine. Continue to cook until the liquid has evaporated and the mixture has thickened and reduced, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the spinach and cook 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup of the sour cream and 1 cup of the mozzarella. Set aside.
• Place about 1/2 cup of the salsa verde in the baking pan and spread to coat the bottom in a thin layer. Working with 1 tortilla at a time, place a generous spoonful of the filling down the center of the tortilla. Roll it closed and place seam-side down in the baking pan. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling, using as much filling as possible in each tortilla. (If using a square pan, you may need to cut one of the tortillas in half to fill the space.)
• Pour the remaining salsa verde over the filled baking pan, tilting to spread the salsa evenly. Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella.
• Bake until bubbling, the cheese is melted and slightly golden and the tortilla edges are toasted, about 30 minutes.
• Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then serve topped with dollops of the remaining sour cream and sprinkled with the cilantro.