Wild mushroom toast

Mushrooms are a highly nutritious food

Mushrooms are an amazing food. They are one of the few foods that contain vitamin D. They are also a good source of fibre called beta-glucan which has been linked to improving cholesterol and boosting heart health as well as supporting the immune system. It can also help your body regulate blood sugar, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. In addition mushrooms are a rich source of vitamin B’s which improve skin, hair and nail health. Mushrooms also contain copper (helps your body make red blood cells and maintaining healthy bones and nerves). In addition mushrooms are rich in the antioxidant called selenium. If you ever have the opportunity to pick them yourself in the wild you will enjoy this dish even more.

This recipe is inspired by a visit to an Italian restaurant in Amsterdam. The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity which shows off the flours of the ingredients incredibly. Fresh is always the best but in this case, it is more than others as it is about displaying the basic flavours of the ingredients, earthy mushrooms, creamy mozzarella and slightly singed crunchy toast.

Wild mushroom toast

Serves 2

Ingredients

250 grams wild mushrooms ( I used 2 types of chanterelle)
2 garlic cloves
2 slices of good quality buffalo mozzarella
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
bunch of flat leaf parsley
salt & peper

Instructions

1. Place the mushrooms in a pan and slowly heat. No oil is needed at first as you first need to “sweat out all the liquid from the mushrooms”.
   While the mushrooms sweat, toast or grill 2 slices of bread. Slice 1 garlic clove in half and run over the toasts.

2. Chop the other garlic clove and once the mushrooms have wilted and shrunk and no more water bubbles in the pan add the olive oil and garlic and fry for another 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper.

3. Slice or tear the buffalo mozzarella in half and pile the mushrooms evenly on the toast and add one-half of the mozzarella to both plates.