Christmas veggie Wellington

bbc.co.uk

A show-stopping alternative to beef Wellington, this vegetarian recipe will have everyone asking for another slice.

Ingredients

For the filling

• 60g/2oz basmati rice, cooked according to the packet instructions
• pinch turmeric
• 1 lemon, zest only
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 600g/1lb 5oz brown cap mushrooms, sliced
• 50g/2oz butter, melted
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
• 1 tbsp dried cranberries
• 2 free-range eggs, hard-boiled, chopped
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the pastry

• 250g/9oz ready-rolled puff pastry
• 1 free-range egg, beaten
• 1 tsp sesame seeds
• vegetarian gravy, to serve

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. Combine the cooked rice, turmeric and lemon zest and set aside, covered, in the refrigerator.
3. Heat the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the onion and mushroom and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until softened. Set aside to cool.
4. Stir in the cooked rice, herbs, cranberries and hard-boiled eggs until well combined. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
5. For the pastry, cut a 40cm x 20cm/15in x 8in rectangle from the puff pastry.
6. Spoon the rice mixture down the centre of the pastry. Bring the sides of the pastry together and seal. Brush all over with beaten egg and chill for 30 minutes.
7. Sprinkle the pastry parcel with sesame seeds and bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until crisp and golden-brown.
8. To serve, place one slice of the Wellington onto each of six serving plates. Pour over vegetarian gravy.