Mushroom Tarragon Pâté Food

MUSHROOM & TARRAGON PâTé

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large frying pan. Add shallots, leek and garlic, then gently fry for 7 mins until softened.
• Increase the heat, add the chestnut and the shiitake mushrooms, then cook for 10 mins, stirring, until the juices have evaporated and the mushrooms are tender. Stir in the mustard and crème fraîche, then season well. Cook for a further 2 mins then stir in the chopped tarragon.
• Preheat the grill. Cut the French stick into diagonal slices, drizzle with a little olive oil, then grill until golden. Spoon the hot pâté on to the toasts, garnish with the extra tarragon, then serve with salad leaves.

TRIPLE CHEESE & TARRAGON-STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high. Remove the central stalks of the mushrooms, season and place on a baking tray. Mix the cheeses and tarragon together and season. Spoon the cheese mixture onto the mushrooms and grill for 8-10 mins, or until bubbling and oozy.
• Remove from the tray with a spatula, season and serve with a rocket salad.

WALNUT-MUSHROOM PATE

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and saute for 3 to 5 minutes until translucent, then add the garlic, thyme, tarragon, salt, and papper, and cook another minute. Next, add the mushrooms and cook for 7 to 10 minutes until they are very soft, lowering the heat if necessary to prevent them from burning.
• While the mushrooms are cooking, place the walnuts in a food processor or blender and process until very fine.
• Add the cooked mushroom mixture to the walnuts in the food processor, along with the balsamic vinegar, beans, and remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Process until smooth, adding the vegetable broth 1 tablespoon at a time as needed. Continue to puree the ingredients until the pate resembles a smooth, thick and spreadable paste. Scrap mixture into an airtight container and chill for at least an hour before serving, to allow the flavors to meld.

SAUTEED MUSHROOMS WITH TARRAGON CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• First wipe the button mushrooms clean with a damp paper towel. Slice the morels in half first and check for bugs that might have crawled inside. If using fresh morels, wash them first; if dried you may reconsititue them by soaking them in warm water for 30 minutes.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a pan and saute the button mushrooms over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes or until done. Set these aside.
• Now melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the same pan and saute the shallots over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes. Add the sliced morels and sauted for a minute more.
• Reduce the heat slightly and deglaze the pan with the wine. Stir in the stock and cream. Add the tarragon and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Let the sauce bubble for a few minutes until it reaches the desired consistency, then add the mushrooms back in and heat through.
• Serve with crostini (slices of a French bagette, toasted).