Chicken and Mushroom Pie

Chicken and Mushroom Pie

Chicken and Mushroom Pie

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
500g chicken thigh fillets, trimmed, cut into 3cm cubes
2 x 250g punnets Swiss Brown Mushrooms, cleaned, trimmed, thickly sliced
50g butter
35g (1/4 cup) plain flour
1½ tsp mixed spice
500ml (2 cups) milk
1 cup frozen peas
2 sheets puff pastry, thawed in the fridge
1 egg yolk
Salt and pepper, to season

Directions

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In batches, cook the chicken for 5 minutes, turning, until browned, then remove from the pan and set aside.

Add the mushrooms, cook for 4 minutes or until golden, tossing the pan frequently, then remove and set aside.

Reduce the heat to medium. Melt the butter in the pan, then stir in the flour and mixed spice. Cook for 1 minute before gradually whisking in the milk until thickened slightly.

Return the chicken and mushrooms to the pan and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook for a further 2 minutes or until sauce thickens. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and allow to cool.

Preheat the oven to 190°C. Remove the pastry sheets from the fridge and cut each sheet in half and place one on top of the other. Using a rolling pin, roll the pastry out to a 4mm-thick rectangle that fits the size of a rectangular 1.5-2L baking dish.

Stir the frozen peas through the pie filling mixture to combine, then transfer to the baking dish. Place the pastry over the top to cover, pressing down on the edges with a fork to seal in the filling. Make a small cross-incision in the centre of the pie to allow the steam to escape.

Brush the egg yolk over the surface of the pie, then bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until the pastry is golden. Serve immediately.

Bolognese of Mushroom Meatballs

Bolognese of Mushroom Meatballs

Bolognese of Mushroom Meatballs

Ingredients

750g beef mince
350g Button Mushrooms, blended in food processor
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 small red chilli (optional)
1 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley
1 tbsp chopped chives
2 tbsp thickened cream
1 splash sherry vinegar (optional)
1/2 Spanish red onion, finely chopped
Olive oil, for frying
700ml tomato purée (passata)
500ml chicken stock
2 garlic cloves finely sliced
1 onion finely chopped
4 sprigs thyme
1 carrot finely chopped
1/2 leek finely chopped
500g cooked spaghetti
Basil & oregano to garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 200°C.

In a food processor, blend Mushrooms, onion, garlic, chilli, chives, parsley, thickened cream, sherry vinegar, salt, pepper and olive oil.

In a bowl, combine the mushroom mince with the beef mince.

Roll mince mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs.

Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until browned.

Sauté thinly sliced garlic, onion, thyme, carrot and leek in a medium size saucepan on medium heat till soft, add tomato purée and stock bring to a simmer for 5 min.

Add meatballs and reduce to low and cook for 5 minutes or until cooked through.

Toss through pasta, garnish with Parmesan and herbs.

Funguy Chicken Pie

Funguy Chicken Pie

Funguy Chicken Pie

Ingredients

200g Swiss Brown mushrooms, sliced
600g chicken thighs, diced
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
1 onion, grated
1 carrot, grated
1 tomato, finely diced
1 tbsp flour
350ml chicken stock
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp crème fraiche (or thickened cream)
Few sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary
½ tsp ground nutmeg
50g grated tasty cheese
1 sheet puff pastry
1 egg (lightly beaten)
Salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 170°C.

Place a pie dish (or baking tray) over a medium heat, add a splash of olive oil and butter and sauté onion, carrot and tomato till soft.

Add some extra butter, chicken and flour, cook until brown. Then, add mushrooms.

Add Dijon mustard, crème fraiche and chicken stock and stir well.

Add thyme, rosemary, nutmeg and then season with salt and pepper. Allow to simmer.

Take off the heat, sprinkle with tasty cheese, salt and pepper and cover pie dish with puff pastry.

Squeeze with your finger tips to tuck the puff pastry around the edge, brush with egg wash then bake for 15 minutes, or until golden and puffy.

Remove from the oven and serve.

BBQ Mushroom Skewers with Rosemary Gremolata

BBQ Mushroom Skewers with Rosemary Gremolata

BBQ Mushroom Skewers with Rosemary Gremolata

Ingredients

2 large bunches rosemary
500g Button Mushrooms, cleaned, stems removed
1 garlic clove
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lemon, zest finely grated
10g butter
Salt and pepper, to season

Directions

Strip the leaves from sharpest end of the rosemary sprigs, leaving a few at the top, making enough for 12 skewers. Alternatively, you can use short, soaked bamboo skewers. Thread 3 mushrooms onto each skewer.

Finely chop the garlic and 1 tbsp of the rosemary leaves together on a board. Heat 2 tsp oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Lightly toast the garlic and rosemary mixture for 1 minute or until lightly golden. Remove and combine with the lemon zest in a bowl.

Increase the heat to medium-high. Melt the butter and remaining oil in the pan. Cook the mushrooms skewers for 4 minutes each side or until golden and cooked. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter and scatter over the gremolata to serve.

Black Skin Roasted Mushroom Chicken

Black Skin Roasted Mushroom Chicken

Black Skin Roasted Mushroom Chicken

Ingredients

1 large chicken
20g unsalted butter, softened
400g Swiss Brown Mushrooms, quartered
3 sprigs thyme, leaves picked
1 tsp Spanish smoky paprika
2 Portobello Mushrooms
1 tbsp olive oil
2 fresh chorizo sausages, diced
4 medium Flat Mushrooms, chopped
4 spring onions, chopped
1 bunch baby beets, washed, halved (golden and purple)
1 bunch Dutch carrots, washed, trimmed (purple, yellow, orange)
1 bunch spring onions, trimmed
2 bulbs baby fennel, quartered

Directions

Preheat oven to 180°C (allow 30 minutes cooking per 500g of chicken).

Blend the butter, Swiss brown mushrooms and thyme in a food processor and season generously with salt and pepper.

Gently loosen the skin by pushing your fingers along the surface of the meat around the breast and thighs.

Push the butter under the skin and work the butter as far down under the skin as possible.

Sprinkle the paprika over the skin and rub until evenly coated.

For the stuffing, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat.

Add the chorizo, flat mushrooms and spring onion and cook for 2 minutes, stirring regularly.

Season to taste and remove from the heat.

Push one of the Portobello Mushrooms and chorizo mixture firmly into the cavity inside the chicken, creating pressure so they roast with the chicken juices.

Close up the cavity with the other Portobello Mushroom.

Chop the veggies and place into the base of a baking tray.

Season the veggies with lots of salt and pepper, then drizzle with olive oil and mix together using your hands.

Cook the veggies together with the chicken.

Remove from the oven and serve with stuffing and veggies.