Preparation time
less than 30 mins
Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour
Serves
Serves 4
By Jose PizarroFor the mushroom, chestnut and jamón ibérico wellingtons
- 20g/¾oz unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 banana shallot, peeled and finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 200g/7oz seasonal mushrooms, finely chopped
- 200g/7oz cooked chestnuts, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 3 tbsp flatleaf parsley, finely chopped
- 2 x 320g block ready-made all butter puff pastry
- plain flour, for dusting
- 18 slices jamón ibérico
- 1 free-range egg, beaten
For the salad
- 4 heads white chicory
- 1 orange, peeled and cut into segments
- 20g/¾oz walnuts, toasted and chopped
- squeeze lemon juice
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- edible flowers, such as nasturtiums or violets (optional)
Method
To make the wellingtons, heat the butter and the oil in a pan and gently fry the shallot for 10 minutes until soft. Add the garlic, mushrooms and chestnuts and fry for a further 10 minutes until golden and tender. Season well and stir in the breadcrumbs and parsley. Allow to cool.
Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
Unravel one of the pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface. In the middle of each piece of pastry, layer two thirds of the jamón to form a 15cm/6inx20cm/8 in rectangle. Spoon the cooled mushroom and chestnut mix on top of the jamón, shaping it into a large sausage to keep it contained. Cover the filling with the remaining jamón.
Brush the edges around the filling with egg, then layer the second puff sheet on top, pressing well around the filling to seal. Trim the edges and crimp with your index fingers. Gently lift and place on a baking sheet then brush all over with egg. Prick the pastry with a fork to allow steam to escape, then and bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and puffed.
Meanwhile, toss the chicory with the orange segments, walnuts and flowers. Drizzle with a little lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil and seasoning. Serve the wellington in slices, with the bitter leaf salad on the side.