Mushroom Walnut Pate Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread walnuts in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Toast for 10 minutes, or until fragrant and lightly browned.
• In a large saute pan, cook shallots in butter over medium heat until translucent. Then add chopped mushrooms, garlic, parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Process toasted walnuts and olive oil in a blender or food processor until mixture forms a thick paste. Spoon in the cooked mushroom mixture, and process to desired texture.
• Pack mixture into well-oiled ramekins or bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.

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.

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium heat and saute onions and mushrooms for 2 minutes.
• Add water, cover pan, and cook for 8 minutes over medium heat.
• There should be a small amount of water left in the pan at this time.
• Meanwhile, chop walnuts in food processor.
• Add the mushroom mixture to the walnuts in the food processor and process until smooth.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is dark brown, 15 to 20 minutes-it should be darker than golden, but not black. Stir in the cremini and shiitake, 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoons pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are soft and golden and the liquid they release has evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the sherry and cook, scraping up the browned bits from the pan, until almost evaporated, about 1 minute. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
• Transfer half of the mushroom mixture to a food processor. Add the walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, zest, 3/4 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Process until smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the remaining mushroom mixture and the eggs. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Season to taste with more salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Serve in a crock or bowl or mounded on a platter, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with flaky sea salt and scallion greens or chives.

Steps:

• Spread nuts in shallow pan and toast in oven until lightly browned (note: if you're using a combination of nuts, toast each kind separately, as some take longer than others).
• Melt butter or margarine in large frying pan/skilled on medium heat.
• Add onions, garlic, mushrooms, salt, thyme, and pepper.
• Cook, stirring occasionally,'til onion is soft and most of the juices have evaporated.
• In food processor, whirl nuts to form paste.
• Add oil and whirl until creamy.
• Add mushroom mixture and whirl until smooth.
• Can be served hot, cold, or even at room temperature with fresh bread or your favorite crackers.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a high heat, and fry the mushrooms for 15-20 mins until very soft, and any liquid that's been released has evaporated. Stir in the garlic, 1 tbsp thyme leaves, 1 tsp sea salt and a good grinding of black pepper, and cook for 3 mins more. Leave to cool slightly.
• Transfer the mushroom mixture to a food processor and blitz to a thick paste. Add 100ml soya cream, then blitz again until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as you go. You may need to add up to 50ml more cream. Season to taste, then spoon into a serving dish or bowl and smooth the top with the back of a spoon. Drizzle over enough olive oil to coat the top of the pâté - it should be just enough to stop it drying out. Cover and chill for 2 hrs until firm. Will keep in the fridge for up to 24 hrs.
• To make the walnuts, put the sugar in a medium heavy-based frying pan with 1 tsp water, and stir to dissolve. Bring to a medium-high heat and bubble for 10 mins without stirring until the sugar has melted and turned into a golden caramel. Stir in the nuts, 2 tsp thyme leaves and a pinch of sea salt, then tip onto a baking tray lined with baking parchment and leave to cool. Once cool and set, bash or break into chunks.
• To serve, spread the pâté over the sourdough toast, then cut into bite-sized squares. Top with dollops of chutney and the candied walnuts.

Steps:

• Soak walnuts in water for 6-8 hours.
• Drain them and add remaining ingredients to food processor. Process into paste. Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula. Salt to taste.
• Transfer to a serving dish and serve with crackers. I like Whole Foods 365 brand sesame crackers.
• If not eating right away, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days (if it will last that long!).