Cooking for myself is one of my favourite things. There is no dinner by consensus and no fussy eaters to consider (except myself). I can choose whether to eat just a little or obscene amounts, add extra heat or perhaps lick the plate afterwards. And I can do it all while watching series two of Sex Education on Netflix.
When the opportunity arises, I like to make something by foraging in the fridge and the cupboard, and the formula goes a bit like this: something fresh (like mushrooms) with some quick flavour (miso) on toast. Always toast.
Miso mushrooms on toast
Prep 5 min
Cook 10 min
Serves 1
Light olive oil
1 reasonable hunk ciabatta, halved
1 tsp brown rice miso
2 tsp white shiro miso
200g mushrooms – a mixture of wild and chestnut mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
10 chives, very finely sliced
First toast the bread. Set a large, nonstick frying pan on a medium to high heat and drizzle a little oil over both sides of the bread. When hot, fry the bread for two to three minutes on each side, until golden, then transfer to a plate.
Put the two miso pastes in a small bowl, add two tablespoons of water, mix to combine and set aside.
Using the same pan, heat a couple of tablespoons of oil over a medium to high flame and, when hot, add the mushrooms, making sure they all have room to cook. Leave to cook undisturbed for four minutes, until they turn a shade of golden brown, then stir in the garlic and cook for another two minutes.
Pour in the miso mixture – be careful, it may splatter – and turn the heat right down. The mixture will quickly bubble up and the liquid frazzle away, and you’ll be left with a thick glaze around the mushrooms. Stir in the chives, then tip the lot on to the ciabatta. Drizzle with a little oil, if you wish, and serve immediately.
