Recipe Style: Mediterranean

Spaghetti & Mushroom Bolognese

  • 300g cup mushrooms (sliced or diced)
  • 1 brown onion. diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2tbs olive oil, extra for drizzling
  • 300g pork sausages in natural casing (Italian or pork & fennel)
    or
    300g of Beef and Pork 50/50 blend
  • ¼ cup Tomato Paste
  • 1 cup Passata sauce
  • 300g spaghetti
  • Fresh basil
  • 20g parmesan to serve
  1. Heat large non-stick fry pan over high heat.
  2. Add onions and garlic and sauté until translucent. Add mushrooms and cook through then add meat (if using sausages, remove the meat from the casings and cook through). Cook for approx. 4-6 mins.
  3. Add Tomato Paste to mixture & cook for a further 4 minutes.
  4. Reduce heat, add Passata sauce & simmer for a further 2 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile bring a large pot of water to the boil & cook pasta to packet instructions.
  6. Strain & set aside.
  7. Add pasta to sauce & serve with basil leaves and shavings of Parmesan.

Portobello Mushroom Pizza

  • 1/3 cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 12 Portabella Mushrooms
  • 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 120g goat’s cheese
  • 1 cup small basil leaves
  • Salt and pepper, to season
  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C Combine the oil with the garlic, salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture over the mushrooms on an oven tray lined with lightly greased foil.
  2. Roast mushrooms for 5 minutes, then top with the tomatoes and return to the oven for 5 minutes.
  3. Turn the grill onto high. Crumble over the goats’ cheese and place under the grill for 5 minutes or until the tomatoes and goats’ cheese is lightly golden.
  4. Remove from the oven. Scatter with the basil leaves and drizzle with oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pappardelle with Mushroom Sauce

  • 400g pappardelle pasta
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 long red chilli, deseeded & finely chopped
  • 1 long green chilli, deseeded & finely chopped
  • 400g button mushrooms, sliced
  • 300ml thickened cream (see tip)
  • 2 eggs
  • 50g parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • ¼ cup chopped flat leaf parsley
  1. Cook pappardelle in a large saucepan of boiling salted water, following packet directions, until tender.
  2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add garlic and chilli and cook 2 minutes until soft. Increase heat to high, add the mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.
  3. Drain pappardelle and return to the hot saucepan, reserving ¼ cup of the pasta water. Whisk the cream, eggs and reserved pasta water in a jug with a fork until well combined, then add to the hot pasta with the mushrooms and half the parmesan.
  4. Return the pan to medium-low heat. Toss pasta for 1 minute or until egg begins to set. Remove from heat. Add parsley, season with salt and pepper. Spoon into bowls, serve topped with remaining parmesan.

Pancetta Pasta with Mushrooms

  • 400g spaghetti
  • 200g thinly sliced pancetta, shredded
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 brown onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 500g cup mushrooms, thickly sliced
  • 60g parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  1. Cook spaghetti in a large saucepan of salted boiling water, according to packet directions, until al dente.
  2. Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan over high heat. Add pancetta and cook, stirring often, for 4-5 minutes until pancetta is crisp. Remove to a plate and set aside.
  3. Add 2 tbs oil to the frying pan and heat over medium heat, add onion and garlic and cook 4 minutes until soft. Add the mushrooms, increase heat to high and cook, stirring often, for 4 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and golden. Set pan aside.
  4. Drain spaghetti and return to the hot saucepan. Add pancetta, mushrooms and remaining oil. Toss gently over low heat for 2 minutes or until heated through. Remove from the heat, add the parsley and half the parmesan, season with salt and pepper. Toss well to combine.
  5. Spoon into serving bowls, top with remaining parmesan and serve immediately.

Mushroom & Haloumi Salad

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 large lemon, juiced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 3 tsp dried Greek oregano
  • 1 small red chilli, finely chopped
  • 400g haloumi, drained, sliced (see tip)
  • 375g cup mushrooms, thickly sliced
  • 2/3 cup semi-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 100g baby spinach leaves
  • Extra virgin olive oil & crusty bread barbecued, to serve
  1. Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, chilli and salt and pepper in a bowl. Whisk until well combined. Use a little of the marinade to brush over both sides of the haloumi.
  2. Add the mushrooms to the remaining marinade and stir to coat all the mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate both the mushrooms and haloumi for 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat a greased barbecue plate on medium-high. Barbecue the mushrooms for 5 minutes, turning occasionally until just tender. Remove to a large bowl.
  4. Barbecue the haloumi for 1-2 minutes each side or until golden and warmed through. Add to the warm mushrooms.
  5. Add the tomatoes and spinach to the mushrooms and cheese, toss gently to combine.
  6. Arrange on serving plates, drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and serve with barbecued bread.

Fast & Fierce Mushroom Pizza

  • 300g self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 300g Greek yoghurt
  • 1 1/2tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, finely grated
  • 1/3 cup Passata sauce
  • 200g pizza cheese
  • 150g white sliced mushrooms
  1. Preheat oven to 220°C Fan Forced.
  2. Place flour, yoghurt, baking powder, 1 tbs of olive oil and 1 tsp salt in a food processor. Pulse until it forms a dough. Place dough on a floured surface and form a ball.
  3. Roll out with a rolling pin to form a 30cm circle. Combine garlic and oil in a small bowl, then season with salt and pepper. Brush some of the oil over the pizza tray. Cover with dough and brush with more oil.
  4. Add Passata sauce to remaining oil, mix and use to coat the dough.
  5. Top with cheese then mushrooms.
  6. Bake in the oven for 8 minutes then, switch the oven to grill and cook for a further 2 minutes, or until golden and the cheese is bubbling.

Slice and serve.

Note: If you don’t want to make a pizza base, you can use a store bought one.