Top greengrocer and Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace, Michelin star chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and leading food writer Sophie Conran have come together to celebrate their love of mushrooms and have agreed to share their favourite recipes with the nation.

 

Gregg has created a delicious Mushroom Soup, and says: “This is a lovely little soup and looks gorgeous served with a swirl of cream”. While Sophie says: “One of my all time favourite mushroom recipes is my Chicken and Mushroom Pie, ideal for all the family." And Jean- Christophe has shared his recipe for Strudel of Roast Portabello Mushroom with Fondue of Beaufort Cheese. He says: “This is a fabulous recipe combining fresh cultivated mushrooms in a fondue of Beaufort cheese, which actually is a personal favourite of mine, but you can use gruyere instead. I have fond memories from my home town of Arras in northern France where we have a local dish of mushrooms in mornay sauce wrapped in a pancake. This is my own variation on it."

 

They’re not alone in their love of the humble mushroom! From top chefs and greengrocers to domestic goddesses and even the ‘average Joe', one thing we all have in common is our love of mushrooms. A whopping 72 per cent of UK consumers enjoy eating mushrooms, with over a third stating that they are one of their favourite vegetables*. 

 

Of course, botanically they are neither vegetable nor fruit, but a fungi and therefore in a class of their own, and according to research it is their uniqueness and earthy flavour that makes us love them so. Consumers voted pasta as their favourite way of serving them, closely followed by stir fry, and then in a stew or casserole. Click here to see the Top 10 Ways with Mushrooms.

*According to a recent NOP survey.