Porcini and Pecan Pate

Food & Wine

SERVINGS: 4 to 6

1 cup pecans
1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms
1 cup boiling water
1/2 pound portobello mushrooms, stemmed
2 tablespoons tamari
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tablespoon nutritional yeast (see Note)
1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon chopped rosemary
1 teaspoon light miso
2 dry-packed sun-dried tomato halves
Salt
Toasted baguette slices, for serving

ACTIVE: 35 MIN TOTAL TIME: 1 HR 20 MIN 

Put the pecans in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let stand for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, in a small heatproof bowl, cover the porcini with the boiling water and let stand until softened, about 15 minutes. Rub the porcini to remove grit; transfer them to a small bowl. Reserve the soaking liquid.

Cut the portobello caps in half and, with a sharp paring knife, trim off the dark gills on the underside of each one. Slice the caps into 1/4-inch-thick pieces.

In a bowl, whisk together the tamari, olive oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, rosemary and miso. Add the sliced portobellos and toss to coat thoroughly. Let stand for 15 minutes, tossing occasionally.

In a small saucepan, combine the soaked porcini and sun-dried tomatoes. Slowly pour in the porcini soaking liquid, stopping before you reach the grit at the bottom. Bring the liquid to a boil, cover and simmer over low heat until the tomatoes are tender, about 4 minutes.

Drain the pecans and transfer them to a food processor. With a slotted spoon, transfer the marinated portobellos, porcini and tomatoes to the processor; puree to a coarse paste, adding about 1/4 cup of the porcini cooking liquid. Add a little more of the porcini liquid if the mixture is too thick. Season lightly with salt.

Transfer the pâté to a crock and serve with toasted baguette rounds.

Make Ahead: The pâté can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Serve lightly chilled or at room temperature.