Meal Occasion: Lunch

Barbecue Mushrooms with Eggplant & Basil

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • 8 small flat mushrooms (portobella or white flat)
  • 1 medium eggplant, cut into 1cm-thick slices
  • 2 vine ripe tomatoes, sliced
  • 4 bocconcini*, sliced
  • 1/3 cup basil leaves
  • Toasted Turkish bread, to serve or our favourite a fresh crunchy ciabatta loaf!

*bocconcini are fresh mozzarella cheese balls available from supermarkets and delicatessens.

  1. Preheat a greased barbecue plate on medium-high. Combine oil, garlic and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Brush both sides of mushrooms and eggplant with oil. Barbecue eggplant for 3 minutes on each side and mushrooms for 2 minutes on each side or until tender.
  2. To assemble; place mushrooms onto serving plates. Top evenly with vine ripened tomatoes, eggplant, bocconcini and basil leaves.
  3. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with toasted Turkish or crunchy ciabatta bread.

Mushroom & Chickpea Dip

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 small brown onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tbs ground cumin
  • 400g cup mushrooms, chopped
  • 300g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained
  • 1/2 cup greek-style yoghurt
  • 1 tbs tahini (sesame paste)
  • 1/2 small lemon, juiced
  • 1/2 cup chopped chives
  • Extra chopped chives & olive oil to serve
  1. Heat 2 tbs oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high. Add the onion and cumin and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes until soft. Increase heat to high, add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally 5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Set aside to cool to 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, place the chickpeas, 2 tbs yoghurt, tahini, 1 tbs lemon juice and remaining 1 tbs oil in a food processor. Process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl.
  3. Drain excess moisture from the mushrooms and add to the chickpea mixture with the chives and remaining yoghurt. Season with salt and pepper and stir gently to combine.
  4. Place a piece of wrap onto the surface, cover and refrigerate overnight if time permits. Sprinkle with extra chives & drizzle with olive oil to serve.

Herb Crusted Mushrooms

  • 3 eggs
  • 1/3 cup plain flour
  • 3 cups fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 tbs finely chopped chives
  • 18 Button or small cup mushrooms
  • 18 Swiss Brown button mushrooms
  • canola oil, for frying
  • lemon wedges, to serve
  1. Preheat oven 150°C. Whisk the eggs together in a shallow bowl. Place the flour in a large snap lock bag, season with salt and pepper. Combine the breadcrumbs, parsley and chives in a shallow bowl.
  2. Place all the mushrooms into seasoned flour, shake to coat. Dip 1 mushroom at a time into the egg and then coat well in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing the breadcrumbs on to secure.
  3. Heat the oil and a medium saucepan or wok over medium heat until hot. Cook the mushrooms in batches for 3-4 minutes or until golden. Use a slotted spoon to remove mushrooms to a wire rack over a baking tray. Keep warm in the oven while cooking the remaining mushrooms.
  4. Serve warm with lemon wedges.

Mushroom and Chicken Burgers

  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 350g Cup mushrooms sliced or diced
  • 400g chicken mince
  • 6 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
  • Bread rolls, shredded lettuce & mayonnaise to serve
  1. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook for 8 minutes, stirring often, or until the liquid evaporates. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
  2. Combine the mushrooms, chicken mince, green onions, egg, breadcrumbs and parsley in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, mix well to combine. Shape into 4 patties. Place on a tray, cover and refrigerate 30 minutes if time allows.
  3. Preheat a greased barbecue plate on medium heat. Barbecue the patties for 6-8 minutes on each side or until just cooked through.
  4. Serve the patties on fresh bread rolls with lettuce and mayonnaise.

Mushroom and Chicken Sausage Rolls

  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 400g cup mushrooms, finely diced
  • 400g chicken mince
  • 6 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped flat leaf parsley
  • 3 sheet ready rolled puff pastry, thawed
  • 2 tbs sesame seeds
  • Sweet chili sauce, to serve
  1. Preheat oven 200°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally for 6 minutes until all liquid evaporates. Transfer to a large bowl, set aside to cool.
  2. Add the chicken mince, green onions, 1 egg, breadcrumbs and parsley to the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Mix until well-combined.
  3. Lightly whisk the remaining egg in a shallow bowl. Brush edge of a pastry sheet with beaten egg and cut sheet in half. Arrange filling in a sausage shape along one edge pastry sheet. Roll up. Press to secure roll. Repeat with remaining chicken mixture and pastry.
  4. Brush pastry tops with beaten egg, sprinkle with sesame seeds and cut each roll into 6 smaller ones. Place onto baking trays. Cook for 18-20 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Serve with sweet chilli sauce.

Handy tip: These are great to make ahead and freeze.

Mushroom, Tomato & Avocado Salad

  • 200g button or cup mushrooms, halved
  •  15cm piece Turkish bread, split
  •  Olive oil cooking spray
  • 2 large ripe avocados, halved, stone removed
  • 500g cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 lebanese cucumbers, halved, deseeded, sliced
  • 1 cup small basil leaves

Dressing
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbs lemon juice
  • 2 tbs mirin or sweet sherry
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  1. To make the dressing, combine all the dressing ingredients in a screw-top jar with salt and pepper. Shake well to combine. Place the mushrooms in a bowl. Pour over two-thirds of the dressing, stir to coat. Cover and set aside 30 minutes until mushrooms have absorbed the dressing.
  2. Preheat oven 220C. Cut turkish bread into 1cm cubes. Place onto a baking tray. Spray both sides of bread with olive oil. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, tossing occasionally until golden and crisp. Set aside to cool.
  3. Dice the avocados. Add to the mushrooms with the tomatoes, cucumber, basil and toasted turkish bread. Pour over the remaining dressing, toss gently. Serve immediately.

Cooks tip – This is great as a side dish or add 1kg cooked peeled prawns and serve as a main.