This easy to make Mushroom Pâté is a tasty vegetarian rendition of the French classic. Better still, the pâté can be frozen and used as a flavourful addition to soups and stews. Slow cooked (or confit) duck leg meat can be substituted for mushrooms if you’re not a fan of mushies.
Mushrooms are one ingredient that you either love or hate. Personally, I am a mushroom lover. I have been known to put sliced mushies on grilled cheese sandwiches – something I inherited from my years growing up in Poland where the only “junk food” available back then were grilled Mushroom and Cheese Baguettes sold on most street corners.
Creamy Mushroom Sauce is my favourite topping for steak.
PS For the next couple of posts, I am going to go a little butter heavy. Why? Because, unless you are vegan or lactose intolerant, pure butter makes for a much healthier choice than any other (especially “vegetable” oil!) spread. It tastes better, and if you are after a more natural spread butter is it. More about the ins and outs of the Butter vs Margarine Debate on Friday.
Easy Mushroom Pâté
Ingredients
- 500 g button mudshrooms
- 2 tbsp butter or ghee
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2-3 tsp sea salt plus extra to taste
- 1/2 orange, zest and juice
- 1/4 cup port
- 20 g butter or ghee
Instructions
- Brush off any dirt from mushrooms and slice them finely.
- Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and add mushrooms, thyme, pepper and salt. Cook stirring until the mushroom have browned and wilted.
- Add orange juice, zest and port and cook for a further minute or so, stirring, for the liquids to cook down. Add extra salt if desired. Remove from heat.
- Using a stick blender, blend mushrooms until smooth (or leave it lightly coarse if you prefer). Divide pâté between 2 ramekins - or spread one serve into an ice cube tray if using for sauces, and allow to cool.
- Melt butter or ghee and pour over the top of the pâté. Allow to set before serving.
18 comments
there is a place called the Old Mill in Dublin, Ireland that has an entree of these crumbed and deep fried mushrooms served with a garlic sauce, they are crispy on the outside, juicy inside and so delicious when dipped in the sauce!
Your pate is so intriguing! Love it :-) I am a massive mushroom lover too. My favourite way of using mushrooms is by braising. Usually in a deep dark sweet & savoury pork stew. My auntie makes the best. The pork and meaty mushrooms (usually shitake or eryngii) are stewed for about 2 hours until the sauce becomes a sticky glaze. So so good!
Loving the mushroom pate, especially for my vegetarian partner!! xx
Lovely recipe I want to try soonest: I have used cognac rather than port and have not used orange juice either, so, loving mushroom pate as much as I do, am really looking forwards to that! Have not dare freeze it either: just have made smaller amounts . . . that’s another lesson :) !
I love butter ! I love mushroom pate on garlicky country toast and mushroom risotto also makes me happy.
Of course! You can also add the pate paste to risotto – thanks Maureen! :-)
I love making a pizza with broccoli and shiitake mushrooms. I know most people don’t use shiitake on pizza but it’s really yummy.
I like mushrooms sautéed in butter until crispy and then add a little balsamic vinegar and reduce it down. I don’t always like mushroom, but this pate recipe sounds awesome.
I love this idea! I’ve seen it done a couple itmes now and have been meaning to try it. I think it’ll be a hit for my mother!
Love the layer of butter on top. Also love the idea of adding it to soups/stews, never thought of it! Will be making it in our next party.
It’s a great way to save leftovers from the bin :-) Enjoy Gaby
This is a recipe I’d surely gonna try this weekend!!!
I like taking baby portabellos and button mushrooms, about one pound total, chopped in coarse slices, saute in pan with butter, small chopped onion, add 2 or 3-tsp. worcestershire sauce, salt/pepper and when it looks very done and water is all gone…add a few drops of hot sauce…..goes great with beef.
This would taste really nice and rich! Love it
There were a few great entries into the mini giveaway.. I loved patnj’s worcestershire sauce idea, TC’s exotic mushroom pizza sounded nice too but the overall standout was… Jayne Aunty’s Sticky Braised Pork and Mushrooms – I can just imagine the wonderfu flavours and textures! Congrats Jayne!
Hi Martyna, might be a silly question but if making this (fantastic sounding!!) recipe with the duck – do I add white wine… and still use port?
Thx Meganska
Hi Meganska, yes, I would add the wine and cook it down a little longer in the first stage to get the flavours intensified. The port adds a sweet smoky flavour so definitely keep it too.
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