Mushroom Rarebit Food

RAREBIT MUSHROOMS WITH PICKLE DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high. Line a baking tray with foil. Brush the mushrooms all over with oil and season. Grill, turning, for 6-8 minutes or until they are just tender.
• Meanwhile, mash together the cheeses, mustard and worcestershire sauce, and season. Spoon into the mushroom cavities, then continue to grill until the fillings are golden and bubbling.
• Whisk together the vinegar and oil, then mix in the other dressing ingredients. Serve the mushrooms with the dressing spooned over, and the rocket alongside.

MUSHROOM RAREBIT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F.
• Place the mushrooms on an oven tray (stem sides up) and sprinkle them with oil and seasonings. Put the garlic cloves on the tray. Cook them in the oven until they are tender.
• Whisk the milk and flour together then bring them to the boil in a saucepan, continually whisking.
• Peel the garlic, crush and add to the milk and flour mixture, together with the mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce (to make a vegetarian version of this recipe, be sure to use Worcestershire sauce that does not contain anchovies), cheese, breadcrumbs, Guinness and ground pepper. Mix with a wooden spoon until all the ingredients are well combined and the the cheese has melted.
• Turn the heat off and add the egg and the egg yolk. Beat vigorously and then spoon a generous amount of the mixture onto the mushrooms.
• Grill until the mushrooms are golden and bubbling.
• Serve as an entrée to a main course, or as a side dish.

REAL WELSH RAREBIT

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat; blend in the flour, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and hot pepper sauce; continue cooking and stirring until the mixture is smooth and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; gradually stir in the milk; return to heat and stir continually until the mixture comes to a boil. Slowly pour in the beer; cook 1 minute more while still stirring. Melt the Cheddar cheese into the mixture in small portions until completely incorporated. Remove from heat.

MUSHROOM RAREBIT WITH MASH & THYME GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put a large pan of water on to boil and salt it well. Boil the potatoes until tender, about 15-20 mins. Drain, return the potatoes to the pan and place over a low heat. Add the butter and milk, then mash until smooth. Remove from the heat and season with salt. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, brush the mushrooms generously all over with oil. Place gill-side up in a baking dish, bake for 15 mins, then remove from the oven. To make the rarebit topping, melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat and fry the onion for 10-15 mins until soft and translucent. Add the flour and cook for 1 min. Reduce the heat, then add the Guinness, cheese, mustard and seasoning, stirring until the cheese has melted. Add the eggs and stir constantly until the mixture thickens, about 5 mins, but don't overcook or you'll end up with scrambled eggs. Spoon the rarebit mix into the mushroom caps and set aside.
• To make the gravy, heat the oil in a pan over a medium heat and add the onion and thyme. Fry for 10-15 mins until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 mins. Add the wine, stock and Marmite, then stir until thick. Simmer for about 5 mins.
• Just before serving, heat the grill to high. Place the mushrooms under the grill and cook for a few mins until the rarebit is puffed and golden. Reheat the mash if you need to, place a spoonful on each plate along with a mushroom. Spoon gravy around and over the mash, scatter with thyme and serve.