Mixed Mushroom Stuffing

Peel and finely chop the shallots (2) and garlic (4 cloves), and roughly chop all the mixed wild mushrooms (350 g) and chestnut mushrooms (400 g). Pick the fresh thyme (0.5 bunch) leaves and tear the stale bread (350 g) into small chunks.

Lightly toast the pecans (100 g) or hazelnuts (100 g) in a dry frying pan, then roughly chop. Pick and roughly chop most of the fresh parsley (1 bunch), reserving some for garnish.

Cover the dried porcini (25 g) with water (300 ml) and leave aside to rehydrate.

Heat the olive oil (80 ml) in a large, wide pan and add the shallots (2) and garlic (4 cloves). Cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 8 minutes or until the [shallots] are softened but not coloured. Start 8m timer

Drain the soaked dried porcini (25 g) over a bowl, reserving about 150ml of the liquid (sieve it first). Add the drained [porcini] and the rest of the mixed wild mushrooms (350 g) and chestnut mushrooms (400 g) to the pan along with the bay leaves (2 fresh) and fresh thyme (0.5 bunch) leaves. Cook until all the [mushrooms] are well softened. If they release a lot of liquid, pour it onto the stale bread (350 g) and continue cooking.

When the [mushrooms] are tender and browned, tip the mixture into a large bowl and leave to cool completely.

Preheat the oven to 190ºC/375ºF/gas 5.

Once the cooked [mushroom] mixture has cooled, add the chunks of stale bread (350 g), a pinch sea salt (1 good) and pinch black pepper (1 good), the pecans (100 g) or hazelnuts (100 g), and about half of the reserved porcini soaking liquid. Combine well.

If the [stuffing] seems too dry, just add a little more of the reserved porcini liquid.

Add most of the chopped fresh parsley (1 bunch) and stir it through, then tip the [stuffing] into a lightly greased baking dish of approximately 20cm x 25cm and cover with foil.

Place in the oven and bake for 35 minutes, then remove the foil and cook for a further 10 minutes. Scatter over the rest of the chopped [fresh parsley] before serving. Start 45m timer