Turkish Spicy Garlic Mushrooms

I don’t know about you but I love mushrooms. they are so versatile and umami-rich. This is a simple preparation the brings out their flavor and gets a nice kick of freshness from the herbs mixed in just before serving. If you don’t like whole seeds in your dishes, you can either crush the coriander seeds well, or use ground coriander.

Spicy Garlic Mushrooms (Sarmisakli mantar)

 From Classic Turkish Cooking by Ghillie Basan

16oz mushrooms, cleaned and left whole
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil and a little butter
½ tsp ground allspice
1 tsp coriander seeds, crushed
pinch of grated nutmeg
salt and freshly ground black pepper
fresh mint, basil, or parsley, (or a combination) chopped

1. Put the mushrooms into a saucepan with the garlic, spices, olive oil, and butter. Cook with the lid on over a high heat for about 10 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally, allowing the liquid to froth up.
2. Once the mushrooms begin to caramelize, remove the lid and cook for a further 4-5 minutes until some of the liquid has evaporated. Season to taste.
3. Spoon the mushrooms into a bowl and toss in a blend of fresh herbs. Serve hot or cold.