Receta Twelve Days of Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres (Fifth Day)
On the fifth day of Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres, my true love gave to me…
Wild~Mushroom~Pate~
Be very happy these posts aren’t accompanied by my singing voice. Computer monitors around the globe would shatter, I’m sure of it. The good thing for me is that I can’t really hear how bad I sound, and its still fun to sing along. I really should stick to whistling though, that I can do without too many complaints from those around me. Or better yet, I should stick with cooking, which brings me to today’s post:
Wild Mushroom Pate
Traditional pate, made from either chicken, duck, or goose liver, has made an appearance on elegant holiday tables for years. I remember my grandfather, especially, looking forward to this special treat around the holidays, served in a small brown ceramic crock with toasted French bread.
In an effort to carry on the tradition of serving pate around the holidays, I have created a healthier, twist on this vintage dish, using a combination of fresh and dried mushrooms, simmered with herbs in white wine and brandy. The result is a luxurious, velvety mix of earthy rich flavors.You won’t even think about the fact that the pate is vegetarian. Serve with crispy Parmesan Toasts and fresh chives… I think even my grandfather would have approved.
- Wild Mushroom Pate with Parmesan Toasts
- ½ ounce dried blend shiitake/porcini mushrooms
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 stick butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup finely chopped sweet onion (such as Vidalia)
- 6 ounces Crimini (baby bella)mushrooms, sliced
- ½ tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried sage leaves
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- ½ cup dry white wine
- ¼ cup brandy
- 1 package cocktail rye bread
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted (for rye bread toasts)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup freshly snipped chives for garnish
Soak the dried mushrooms in hot water for 10 minutes, until very tender. Drain well.
Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic until beginning to soften (about 3 minutes). Add mushrooms, herbs, salt, and pepper; sauté until very tender. Once liquid begins to evaporate, add the wine and brandy. Reduce until most of the liquid is gone. Cool, taste and adjust seasonings, then add to food processor and process until very smooth. Pour into a small bowl or crock and chill until set. Remove from refrigerator an hour before serving to soften a bit.
For rye toasts: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place rye bread squares on a large baking sheet. Bake until lightly toasted on each side. Brush one side with melted butter, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and return to oven and bake an additional 3 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
Spread pate on toasted rye bread and sprinkle with chives.
Serves 8-10
Tokyo Terrace has paired a lovely champagne cocktail for us:
Pomegranate Spiked Champagne