Guest Recipe
LEEK GREEN, WILD MUSHROOM AND GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI INGREDIENTS • 1 baguette (12 inches, or 30 cm), sliced ¼ inch (6 mm)thick on the diagonal • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) olive oil, divided • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 2 cups (178 g) finely chopped leeks (dark green leaves only, see Preparation Tip below) • ½ pound (225 g) mixed wild mushrooms, finely chopped • ½ teaspoon salt • ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper • ⅓ cup (80 ml) dry white wine • ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh parsley • 4 ounces (115 g) creamy goat cheese (chèvre) 8 - 10 Servings
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C, or gas mark 5). Spread the baguette slices across a large, rimmed baking sheet in a single layer and drizzle 2
LINDA LY
tablespoons (28 ml) of oil over them. Bake until crispy and golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl in the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of oil and add the garlic and leeks. Stir and cook until the leeks are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, salt, and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms are soft and any juices have evaporated, 6 to 8 minutes. 3. Pour in the wine and bring the mixture to a rapid boil for 1 minute, then reduce the heat and simmer until all of the liquid is absorbed. Turn off the heat and scatter parsley across the top. 4. To assemble the crostini, smear some goat cheese on a slice of toasted baguette and top with the leeks and mushrooms. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Preparation Tip: The key to using leek tops is to cut the green leaves off the white stem and wash them separately. As the part of the plant that grows above ground, leek tops gather even more grit than the bottoms and it takes a good scrubbing to make sure you get all the dirt between the layers and inside the creases. If the leaves look especially beaten up, remove and discard the outermost layer; often you’ll find fresher and more tender leaves tucked inside.
After more than a decade of growing and preserving her own food, raising chickens in urban backyards, and trying to craft a more sustainable and simple life for her husband and their two daughters, Linda Ly has a wealth of experience to offer. The No-Waste Vegetable Cookbook takes a unique top-to-tail approach by teaching you how to use up every edible part of the plants you grow or buy.
The No-Waste Vegetable Cookbook; Recipes and Techniques for Whole Plant Cooking Linda Ly Harvard Common Press
Tel. 01308 423031 The Marshwood Vale Magazine February 2021 37
