Throughout May on SLOAN! Online, best-selling cookbook author, Fairtrade and sustainability champion, Melissa Hemsley, shares a tasty selection of mushroom recipes perfect for Spring. Perfect for both flexitarians and vegetarians, Melissa’s range of dishes appeases all tastes. Her final recipe in this series is a delicious dinner dish that feeds 2 as a main or 4 as a side as part of a spread. Cooking time approx. 40 minutes…
Za’atar roasted chestnut mushrooms and sweet potato wedges with fried halloumi salad and a chilli honey lemon dressing
Ingredients
- 400g So Chestnut Mushrooms, Organic (Sainsbury’s)
- 1 tbsp za’atar – ZAY’TOUN ZA’ATAR is by far the tastiest
- 2 tbsp ghee or olive oil
- 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses or balsamic vinegar
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed but unpeeled
- 1 handful of pistachios or pumpkin seeds
- 250g pack of halloumi, sliced into 12, patted dry
- Handful ripe cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 handfuls rocket or your favourite salad leaves
- 2 handfuls fresh herbs like basil & mint
- Sea salt & pepper, to taste
Lemon honey chilli dressing
- 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tsp za’atar
- ½ garlic clove, finely grated
- 1 tsp raw honey or maple syrup
- Fresh chilli, finely chopped or chilli flakes, to taste
- Sea salt & pepper, to taste
Method
Preheat the oven to 220ºC.
Roughly chop the mushrooms into quarters and slice the sweet potatoes into thin wedges (not too thick so they roast quickly with the mushrooms). Take a roasting tray and tumble the mushrooms and sweet potato wedges onto the tray then toss in oil (or melted ghee) with sea salt & pepper then spread out into one even layer (which helps them roast rather than steam) and roast for 20 minutes.
Remove the tray from the oven, drizzle over the pomegranate molasses and sprinkle over the za’atar plus the pistachios, toss again, spread out again and roast for another 10 minutes until the sweet potatoes are tender and going golden at the edges.
Meanwhile make the dressing by finely grate the garlic into a clean jam jar then add the rest of the ingredients, pop the lid on and shake until combined. Alternatively, whisk in a small bowl. Season to taste.
When you’re ready to eat, on a large serving platter, scatter over the rocket, cherry tomatoes and the fresh herbs, tearing larger ones and keeping smaller herb leaves whole. Distribute the hot mushrooms and sweet potato wedges and drizzle over half the dressing
Halloumi of course is best eaten straight from the pan so finally, cook the halloumi by heating up a large frying pan and fry the halloumi on each side for about 90 seconds until nicely golden on each side. Then transfer to the salad platter and drizzle over a little more dressing and finish with the rest of the herbs and pistachios.
The UK and Ireland Mushrooms Producers have partnered with Melissa Hemsley to inspire the nation to cook new and flavourful food that highlights the versatility of mushrooms in recipes. For inspiration on how to use tasty mushrooms in an array of meals, head to @madewithmushrooms on Instagram to see the latest creations.