Baked mushrooms with goat’s cheese and caramelized leeks

This week’s flat Irish mushrooms are a great basic. Fried up in butter or olive oil then served on toast they make a brilliant 5 minute breakfast, lunch or snack. Stick them in a folded omelette with some cheese for something a little more substantial. Add some garlic, parsley and a dash of cream to the mix and you’ve got a pasta sauce. And of course they add brilliant flavour to any stew, soup or casserole. Last year’s superwarming chunky soup/stew with cabbage could be one to try seeing as temperatures are dropping.

I’ve been enjoying mushrooms for breakfast a lot recently. Baked in the oven then topped with wilted spinach and cheese they make a brilliant start to the day. This morning I tried some topped with toasted goat’s cheese and leeks cooked down in butter. with a splash of balsamic vinegar just to give things a little bite. Delicious.

Baked mushrooms with garlic, leeks and goat’s cheese (for 2)

You’ll need:

5/6 medium sized flat mushrooms or 2 large portabella with the stems removed

2 tablespoon olive oil

Juice 1/2 lemon

2 cloves garlic crushed

2 leeks trimmed of the tougher green part and washed

A knob of butter

100gr crumbled goat’s cheese

A small handful walnuts

Balsamic vinegar

Begin by mixing the oil, lemon juice and garlic with a little salt and pepper. Place the mushrooms darkside up on a baking tray then drizzle the oil mix over them. Place in a hottish oven (gas mark 5) for 12 minutes. Slice the leeks down the middle then into half moons. Heat a little butter on the pan and  fry the leeks with a pinch of salt for about 7-8 minutes til tender. Take the mushrooms out of the oven and top with the goat’s cheese. Toast under the grill til the cheese is soft with a golden crisp then finally top with the leeks, a drizzle of balsamic and a few broken walnuts. Serve hot on or with toast.

Of course you’ll need some orange juice with those mushrooms and this week sees the return of those great value 6.5k boxes of new season oranges. We’d be delighted to deliver a box with your next order so just give us a shout if you’d like some. They cost €12.

Have a great week,

Sarah