Mushroom Crisp

An impressive dish which is easier to make than it looks.

Vegan. Hands-on time: 15 mins. Total time: 45 mins.

Contributed by Moira Adams (March 2003).

This is an excellent dish for entertaining or special occasions. It looks impressive and has a delightful nutty texture, but it is not all that difficult to prepare - especially if you use a pack of ready-chopped nuts. Served with potatoes and a green salad, these quantities will make a satisfying meal for four.

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp. olive oil
• 4 cups (8 oz, 225 g) fine breadcrumbs
• 1½ cups (6 oz, 180 g) finely chopped nuts
• 1 large onion, chopped
• One 14-oz (400 g) can of tomatoes
• 8 - 10 mushrooms (7 - 10 oz, 200 - 250 g), sliced
• ½ tsp. dried parsley or thyme

Method

Oven: Pre-heat to 375F (190C)

Warm half the olive oil in a skillet. Add the breadcrumbs and the nuts, and cook for about ten minutes over medium heat, stirring as necessary to prevent sticking.

In a separate pan, sauté the onions in the remaining oil. When they are soft, add the remaining ingredients. Cook for a further five minutes.

Arrange the two mixtures in layers in an oiled oven-proof dish, starting and ending with a layer of the breadcrumbs. Cook for 30 minutes.

Note on quantities and temperatures:
Quantities are given in American (cups), imperial (oz, fl oz) and metric (g, ml) units. Do not mix the units - use one or other system throughout the recipe.
See also How much does a cup weigh?
oz = ounces, fl oz = fluid ounces, g = grams, ml = milliliters, tsp = teaspoons, tbsp = tablespoons.
Oven temperatures are given in degrees F (Fahrenheit) and C (Celsius).
For fan-assisted ovens, reduce the temperature by 20F or 10C.