Mushroom and ale pie, ale and mushroom pie. I mean I know I've been living in the UK for awhile now, but I still have these overstated fantasies of provincial England. You know, homemade bread, pie, jam tarts. Romantic and embellished non-existent England.
This vegetarian mushroom and ale pie recipe makes enough to serve four, provided you've got some veggies on the side. Think typical here: peas (mushy or not) and potatoes. My preference? Roasted spuds and minted peas, topped with either a mushroom or red wine gravy. I love me a heap of puff pastry with a Sunday roast, the way the gravy soggifies (yes, that's not officially a word*) part of the pastry while the rest stays crispy and golden.
*in my head, anyway. I spend a lot of time there. Can you tell?
Vegan Mushroom and Ale Pie
Serve this pie with roast potatoes or mash for a comforting winter meal. In the UK Jus-rol sells a vegan puff pastry in virtually every supermarket. You can purchase this in pre rolled sheets or in blocks to roll yourself.
- Oil, to fry
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 220 grams-280 grams (3-4 cups) diced mushrooms
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 475 millilitres (scant 2 cups) vegan ale + 2 tablespoon extra (30ml)
- 1 ½ tablespoon cornflour
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon Marmite or other yeast extract
- 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 30 grams mixed dried mushrooms
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 350 grams puff pastry
- Soy milk, for brushing pastry
- Preheat your oven for 180° C (just over 350° F).
- Fry the onion in a bit of oil for about five minutes, until they begin to brown. Add the fresh mushrooms, garlic, thyme, and coriander, stirring to ensure the mushrooms are coated with the oil. Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the mushrooms have softened and cooked down a bit.
- Add the 475 ml ale, vinegar, soy sauce, yeast extract, nutritional yeast, dried mushrooms, salt, and bay leaf. Mix thoroughly, and leave to simmer over a medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
- Mix the cornflour with the remaining 2 tablespoon of ale to a slurry, and slowly pour into the mushroom gravy whilst stirring. The sauce should thicken quite quickly. When it does, remove from the heat and set aside.
- Meanwhile, prepare the puff pastry. I used a solid 350g block and rolled it to fit, but feel free to use a pre rolled sheet (and you don't have to use as much, either. I just like loads of pastry). Place the cooked mushroom mix into a roughtly 7 x 10 inch (18 x 25 cm) oven dish and cover with the pastry so the edges just overlap.
- Brush the pastry with a bit of soy milk and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the pastry turns a crispy golden colour.
- Serve hot with your vegan Sunday roast.
- Author: Kip Dorrell
- Serves: 4 as part of a roast dinner
- Cuisine: British