Mushroom Meze Platter
No brunch is complete without a side platter of mushroom meze
Ingredients
For the mushroom tapenade:
- 250 g pitted olives, green and black mixed
- 250 g cooked mushrooms (portabellini or button)
- 2 anchovy fillets
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp caper berries, chopped
- 5 fresh basil leaves
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
*For the pickled mushrooms:
- 500 g button mushrooms or portabellini
- 3 cloves garlic, finely sliced
- 1 small shallot or 2 spring onions, sliced
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 100 ml olive oil
- 1 Juice and rind of lemon
- 100 ml white balsamic vinegar
- Handful fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 serrano chilli, sliced
- Sea salt flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper
To serve:
- Cheese
- Olives
- Pickled onions
- Sundried tomatoes
- Seasonal fruit
- Crudités
- Breadsticks
- Baguette
Gin Pairing:
- 50 ml Six Dogs Karoo Gin
- Lime zest
- 150 ml tonic water
Instructions
For the mushroom tapenade:
- Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well combined and fine.
For the pickled mushrooms:
- Into a medium sized pot add the olive oil, garlic, vinegar, onion/shallot, bay leaves, thyme, lemon zest, chilli, a generous pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper.Bring to the boil.In the meantime, slice the mushrooms in half.
- Once the liquid has come to a boil add the mushrooms, lemon juice and parsley.Place the lid on the pot, turn the heat off and leave for 10 minutes.
- Allow the mushrooms to cool slightly before carefully transferring them into a large glass jar and then place in the fridge.
- Assemble your meze platter with your favourite cheeses, pickles and breads. Slather the mushroom tapenade onto crusty baguette and enjoy the pickled mushrooms with a creamy goat’s cheese or just as is!
Gin Pairing Note:
- *Make the pickled mushrooms the day before serving your meze platter. The flavours develop better after a few hours in the fridge.
- Fill desired glass with ice and add a ribbon of lime zest. Pour in the Six Dogs Gin and top with tonic.
- Six Dogs Gin and this collection of small bites centered around marinated mushrooms & mushroom tapenade are a perfect accompaniment. The acidic bite from the marinated mushrooms is balanced by the subtle flavors of the Karoo thorn and lavender which emanate from the Six Dogs. This provides a refreshing contrast to the variety of flavors encountered on this meze platter.