Maitake Pâté
Special thanks to Chef Julie Schreiber of the Sonoma Mycological Society for this recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoon butter
- 4 Cups Maitake Frondosa mushrooms, broken or sliced into chunks
- ½ white onion, sliced
- 3 bay leaves
- 4 juniper berries
- 1/3 Cup hard apple cider (dry)
- Squeeze of lemon juice
- 1/3 Cup cream
Directions
- Sauté the maitake in 2 T of butter over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, until they start to brown. Season the mushrooms with salt and pepper. Cover, and lower the heat. Cook gently for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring from time to time - this will draw out their moisture.
- Remove the lid, add 1 T butter, the white onions, the bay and the juniper (put spices in cheese cloth to make them easier to pull out later). Increase heat to medium.
- Continue cooking till onions are golden. By now the pan bottom will start browning. Increase heat to medium-high and deglaze with the cider, stirring to scrape up the brown bits.
- Allow the liquid to cook off completely, then add the lemon juice and stir. Lower the heat to medium and add the cream. Cook gently for another 5 minutes. Taste again.
- Allow to cool, remove the bay leaves and juniper, and blend to a rough paste in a food processor. Pack in small jars and refrigerate.