Mushroom Wellington

For a truly splendid vegetarian meal try this tasty pastry parcel, filled with a rich mushroom and nut filling

Serves 12-16

500g Puff Pastry
60ml sunflower oil
675g onions, chopped
4 garlic clove, crushed
450g chestnut mushrooms, left whole
2 tbsp chopped tarragon
4 tbsp soy sauce or tamari, (replace 1 tbsp with Marsala or sherry if wanted)
salt and fresh ground black pepper
320g broken cashew pieces
175g fine breadcrumbs, freshly made, white or wholemeal
320g ground almonds
1 egg, beaten
roasted root vegetables, to serve
creamy mushroom and chive sauce, to serve

Roll out the puff pastry into two rectangles, each 30 x 23 cm, and set aside in the fridge to rest.
Meanwhile, make the filling. Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan. Fry the onion and 2 crushed garlic cloves over a low heat for 20 minutes, stirring now and then. Set the fried onion mixture aside.
Add the chestnut mushrooms, remaining garlic and half the tarragon to the frying pan and cook over medium heat, stirring, until the mushrooms have softened, about 10 minutes.
After 5 minutes of frying add in the soy sauce or tamari and Marsala or sherry is using. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Strain the mushrooms and set aside, reserving the mushroom juices.
In a food processor, blend the cashews and the reserved liquor to a smooth paste, adding a little water if necessary.
Add the fried onions and mushrooms into the food processor and blend until smooth.
In a large mixing bowl mix together the cashew paste, onion and mushroom mixture, breadcrumbs, ground almonds and remaining tarragon.
Preheat the oven to 220°C/ Gas 7 and remove the pastry from the fridge.
Place half the filling mixture onto the middle of one of the rectangles and shape into a sausage with your hands.
With a sharp knife, cut the pastry either side of the filling, into strips. Start in the left hand corner and work at a forty-five degree angle towards the filling. Then repeat on the right hand side.
Fold in the pastry ends first and then cross over the pastry strips from alternate sides.
When the mixture is well-wrapped within the pastry, glaze the pastry parcel with the beaten egg.
Repeat the process with the remaining pastry rectangle and filling.
Place the parcels on a floured baking sheet and bake for 35-45 minutes until golden brown.
Serve with roasted vegetables and a creamy mushroom and chive sauce.

Source: The Cranks Bible Nadine Abensur

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