I made this one for Christmas dinner and it was a hit even with the meat eaters, which is always a good marker of success for a veggie meal. It's more of a side dish than a standalone meal, but that makes it a great centre piece for dinner parties or potlucks. As they so often do, the portabella mushrooms give it a meaty quality - that combined with the melted cheese and sweetness of caramelised onion is a winning combo. It's a tricky one to photograph, as it's kind of just like a log of pastry - but what it lacks in presentation it totally makes up in flavour!
Ingredients (serves 4-6)
A sheet of puff pastry
6 large portabella mushrooms
300g Camembert (Brie works also)
3 red onions
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup of water
1 tablespoon chopped thyme (or dried)
1 free range egg
Dried sage
Method
Start by preparing the caramelised onions, frying them in an oiled pan for about 10 mins till they start to go soft and brown. Add in the sugar, balsamic vinegar and water and cook for a further few mins till it goes to a sticky and saucy consistency. Turn off the heat and add in thyme. Set aside to cool.
Cut the stalks off the mushrooms so they are flat and fry them (as many as you can fit at a time) in an oiled pan, gently pressing them with a spatula to make them flatter. You'll want to cook for about 5 mins on each side, till the juices are coming out. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels and place fridge to cool.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius. Line an oven tray with baking paper and lay out the sheet of puff pastry on it, rolling it out to make it a bit thinner.
Spread the caramelised onion down the middle of the pastry, leaving a couple of cm at either end (for folding). Cut the mushrooms in half then layer them alternately with the cheese, on top of the onion, repeating a second layer on top.
Fold the pastry over top of the mushrooms to make a log and make sure it's sealed at the ends.
Brush over the pastry with beaten egg to glaze, before sprinkling the dried sage on top and popping it in the oven. Cook for 30-40 mins till puffed up and golden looking.
Serve cut into slices and enjoy!
Eva x
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