Vegan Mushroom, Chestnut and Thyme Pithivier

A main course pithivier which is sure to please. Filled with mixed mushrooms, the filling has shallots, garlic, chestnuts, Madeira and fresh thyme in it which made for a very decadent and rich pie that has all the right attributes for a special celebratory meal. Serve this pie with all the usual trimmings such as cranberry sauce, vegetables for a delicious and special vegan main course that will be just as tempting to everyone else as a main course dish.

Serves 8 Cooking and Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients:

640g of puff pastry, vegan, ready-rolled 400g of mixed seasonal wild mushrooms 12 cooked chestnuts 4 shallots, peeled and finely diced 2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced 2 tbsp of thyme leaves, fresh 2 tbsp of Madeira, or sherry 300g of silken tofu, cut into small cubes salt black pepper

Method:

1.) Preheat the oven to 220°C/gas mark 7. Line a large round baking tray such as a pizza sheet 2.) Place all the filling ingredients into a large wok or pan with a lid and cook with the lid on over a low to medium heat until the tofu has melted and all the filling ingredients have cooked down to a thick sauce type texture – see photos – this will take about 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes 3.) Cut out two large discs to fit the baking tray from the rolled pastry, keeping the trimmings for other baking tray, and place one disc onto the lined baking sheet 4.) Pile the filling ingredients into the middle of the pastry disc and then sit the other pastry circle on top of the filling, crimping the edges with your forefinger and a knife to make an attractive pattern 5.) With a sharp knife make a sunbeam type pattern on the pastry lid – see photo - and then bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the pastry is a deep golden brown and is puffed up 6.) Serve the Pithivier pie immediately, cut into wedges, with vegetables and vegan trimmings