Gills Mushroom Tart
River Cottage head chef Gill Meller's mushrooms, pastry and pancetta, taken from the Hugh's Three Good Things on More4. Hugh's recognised a simple pattern that underpins so many well-loved dishes – that they are little more or less than three good things on a plate and in this series, he pursues that idea, experimenting with different flavours and textures.
Prep time
10 - 15 mins
Cook Time
15 - 20 mins
Servings
2 - 4
Ingredients
- 75g pancetta, chopped into lardons – you can also use Streaky Bacon
- 200-250g large flat chestnut mushrooms, cleaned and chopped
- 1-2 handfuls wild mushrooms, cleaned and chopped (optional)
- sprigs thyme, leaves only
- 250-300g all butter puff pastry
- 1 tbsp parsley leaves, roughly chopped
- Flour to dust
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Olive oil
Directions
Preheat the oven to 180C Gas Mark 4
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Heat a heavy based pan over a medium heat. Fry the pancetta until crisp then remove with a slotted spoon and set to one side. Fry the mushrooms in the pancetta fat in the pan until tender. Add the thyme leaves and a pinch of pepper. Mix together the mushrooms and crisp pancetta. Leave to cool.
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Fry the pancetta in a separate pan until cooked through, drain if necessary.
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Meanwhile roll the pastry out and place onto a baking tray. Score a rim 2cm wide around the edge of the pastry. Place the cooled mushroom mixture onto the pastry inside the rim and spread out evenly, sprinkle over the parsley.
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Transfer to the oven. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is cooked through and golden on the outside.
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Remove from the oven, slice and serve.