
A deeply savory and comforting vegetarian pie featuring a trio of fresh mushrooms and umami-rich dried mushrooms in a velvety cream sauce. The flaky, thyme-infused crust is made using a special frozen butter technique for the ultimate golden finish.
Prepare the pastry fat by wrapping the unsalted butter in parchment paper and freezing it for at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight, until completely solid.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the plain flour, thyme leaves, and half a teaspoon of fine salt. Coarsely grate the frozen butter directly into the flour, occasionally dipping the butter block into the flour to prevent clumping. Whisk one egg with the milk, pour it into the bowl, and quickly mix with a cutlery knife until a dough forms. Knead very briefly by hand (about 1 minute) to form a ball, wrap in plastic, and chill for 1 hour.
Place the dried mixed mushrooms in a heatproof bowl and cover with 150ml of boiling water; set aside to rehydrate. Meanwhile, chop half of the chestnut and portobello mushrooms into 2cm chunks, halve the remaining larger mushrooms, and leave the button mushrooms whole.
Heat olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Sear the fresh mushrooms in two batches for about 10 minutes per batch, stirring until they are deeply golden brown. Transfer to a plate. Batch frying is essential to ensure the mushrooms brown rather than steam.
In the same pan, melt the remaining butter over low heat. Sauté the sliced onion with a pinch of salt for 10-15 minutes until soft and caramelized. Stir in the remaining flour and cook for 2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with white wine vinegar and brandy, simmering until the liquid is nearly gone.
Gradually stir in the stock and bring to a simmer. Add the Marmite, double cream, and black pepper. Fold in all the fried mushrooms and the drained rehydrated mushrooms. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let it cool completely before folding in the chopped tarragon. This filling can be made up to two days in advance.
Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan/gas 6). Spoon the cold filling into a 28cm ceramic pie dish. Roll the pastry out to a 1cm thickness. Cut thin strips from the edge and press them onto the rim of the dish. Drape the remaining pastry over the top, crimp the edges to seal, and trim the excess. Brush with an egg wash (remaining egg beaten with a splash of milk), score the top lightly, and decorate with pastry scraps if desired. Chill for 30 minutes, then apply a final coat of egg wash.
Bake for 40-45 minutes until the pastry is crisp and dark golden. Allow the pie to rest for 15 minutes before serving. Pair with mashed potatoes and seasonal green vegetables.
For the best results, ensure your mushroom filling is completely cold before adding the pastry lid; a warm filling will melt the butter in the pastry and result in a soggy bottom. If you don't have brandy, you can substitute it with dry sherry or simply use a bit more stock. The Marmite is a secret ingredient that adds a deep 'meaty' umami flavor to the vegetarian gravy.




