SEATTLE —

Strawberry Jerk Oyster Mushrooms with Strawberry Scotch Bonnet Dressing

from Gaz Oakley's new book "Plant to Plate"

SERVES 4 

Ingredients:

• 4 oyster mushroom clusters or 10 large portobello mushrooms 
• 4 tbsp olive oil 

For the strawberry jerk sauce: 

• 6 spring onions (scallions), roughly chopped 
• 5 garlic cloves, peeled 
• ½ Scotch bonnet chilli 
• 100g (3½oz) strawberries 
• 4 tbsp soy sauce or coconut aminos 
• 3 tbsp thyme leaves 
• 2 tsp ground allspice 
• 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger 
• 2 tbsp coconut sugar 
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg 
• 1 tbsp tomato paste 
• ½ tsp sea salt

To serve:

• Rice 
• Roasted cashew nuts 
• Sautéed greens

Preheat your oven to 220°C/200°C fan (425°F/Gas Mark 7). 

Add all the jerk sauce ingredients to a food processor and blitz into a paste. Check for seasoning and spice, then set aside.

Trim any tough parts from the base of the oyster mushroom clusters, halving any that are very large (if using portobello mushrooms, simply score them with a sharp knife). Place an ovenproof pan (ideally cast iron) over a high heat and add the olive oil. When hot, sear the mushrooms for around 5 minutes on each side, using a press, the base of another heavy pan, or wooden spatula to press the mushrooms as they cook, helping them to release any liquid and achieve a meaty texture. 

Once caramelized, flip and cook them until caramelized on the other side. When the mushrooms are golden, begin brushing them with lashings of the jerk sauce, using a pastry brush or rosemary sprig to apply it. 

Flip, baste and cook until the mushrooms are really sticky and caramelized, then add a bit more jerk sauce (reserving a little for later) and place the pan in the hot oven for 10–15 minutes, to allow the mushrooms to char a little and get even more tender.

Serve the mushrooms up with some rice, roasted cashews, sautéed greens and any remaining jerk sauce. 

Note:

You can also cook and baste the mushrooms on the BBQ until sticky, charred and tender.

Segment Producer Joseph Suttner. Watch New Day Northwest 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.