In a cheese toastie cook-off, chef Sasha Matkevich came out on top with this rich, cheesy comforting recipe with quick-pickled mushrooms.
I love Wild garlic so any recipe that gives me a chance to use it, well i try it.
INGREDIENTS
4 light sourdough slices (Sasha used a loaf with a touch of rye)
4 thin pancetta slices, chopped into 1cm pieces
100g mature cheddar (Sasha used montgomery’s), cut into thin slices
10g wild garlic leaves, cut in half if longer than the bread
For the quick-pickled mushrooms
100ml white wine or cider vinegar
30g caster sugar
2 tsp sea salt flakes
½ shallot, finely chopped
50g wild or button mushrooms
METHOD
01.For the quick-pickled mushrooms, put the vinegar, sugar, salt and shallot into a bowl and stir to dissolve the sugar and salt. Add the mushrooms, toss to coat, then leave while you assemble the toastie.
02.Heat a large heavy-based pan over a medium heat – don’t add any oil or butter. Toast 2 slices of sourdough in the hot pan for 2 minutes until starting to brown. Top with pieces of pancetta, divide half the cheese between the slices, then layer on the wild garlic. Add some pickled mushrooms (well drained), then top with the remaining cheese and bread slices. Cook until the cheese is starting to melt and the underside of the bread has good colour.
03.Flip the sandwich carefully, then cook for a few minutes, pressing with a spatula, until the underside is golden and the cheese oozes from the sides. If you want, finish the toasties with a 5-minute blast in a hot (200°C/180°C fan/gas 6) oven to ensure all the cheese has melted.