Vegan Mushroom Wellington Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's in a vegan Wellington? ›

Tying the tenderloin improves both the appearance of the final dish, and leads to more even cooking. Phyllo provides a moisture barrier, preventing the puff pastry from getting soggy. A double layer of plastic wrap makes it easier to wrap up the tenderloin.

I have used haggis, and it worked a treat! The oats soaked up the juices and kept the pastry dry, and it complemented the beef wonderfully. The only thing I would say is ensure that you only make a thin layer as haggis can have quite a strong taste. I've used both haggis and black pudding as an alternative to duxelle.

Pureed roasted garlic and shallot with a bit of herbs, cooked down till almost dry would work well. You could use a drier cheese, maybe a blue with bacon and red wine, some tomato, to do something similar. I like the anchovy paste idea as well. Mustards or horseradish could work as well.

Beer and Wine

Isinglass, a gelatin-based substance derived from fish, is used as a clarifying agent in some beer and wine. Other non-vegan ingredients sometimes used are casein (from milk) and egg whites.

Make sure you cook off as much liquid as possible from the mushroom mixture to avoid the dreaded soggy bottom. Mushroom wellington goes very well with the usual festive trimmings, though I especially like it with roast potatoes and a green vegetable or two.

If you prefer, you can make the various stages up to 24 hours ahead, but don't assemble it then as the pastry will start to discolour. Brown the beef, make the duxelles (fried mushrooms), then wrap separately in cling film and store in the fridge (wrapping the fillet tightly helps it keep its shape).

Brush the Bottom with Corn Syrup or Egg White

Adding a layer of corn syrup or a slightly beaten egg white before pouring in the filling will form a seal between the pie dough and the filling and will help make the crust crisp and flaky.

Duxelles is said to have been created by the 17th-century French chef François Pierre La Varenne (1615–1678) and to have been named after his employer, Nicolas Chalon du Blé, marquis d'Uxelles, maréchal de France. Some classical cookbooks call for dehydrated mushrooms.

Soaked in a smoky, umami-rich sauce (think soy sauce, liquid smoke, smoked paprika) mushrooms mop up all the flavors of bacon. Then they can be sliced thinly and pan-fried or oven-roasted for a faux bacon to top salads, burgers, and breakfast sandwiches.

What is the best mushroom to cook with? ›

Maitake Mushrooms

They're one of the most flavorful varieties of mushrooms, with a unique taste that stands out in any dish.

Lower the fat content of your wellington by using filo pastry instead of puff, eliminating butter, a non-stick frying pan to reduce the amount of oil needed, replacing the pate and using herbs and garlic to boost flavour without needing salt.

Typically you use beef filet or filet mignon for a beef wellington. You can also use venison loin, pork tenderloin, or lamb cannon if you don't eat beef.

We skip the prosciutto and dijon mustard all together, and instead, we add a rich liver paté infused mushroom duxelles directly to the puff pastry. If liver paté isn't your thing, feel free to skip it and just add some cream cheese to the mushroom duxelles to make it spreadable.

A vegan diet is based on plants (such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits) and foods made from plants. Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.

Seitan is a plant-based meat substitute made from wheat gluten that mimics the flavor and texture of chicken. You can buy it in many health food supermarkets, or you can make it yourself. It's typically made out of vital wheat gluten, an ingredient that has a similar texture to flour but is mostly, well, gluten.

Is puff pastry vegan? Not all store-bought puff pastry is vegan, but you're safe with brands like Pepperidge Farm and Wewalka. When you pick up a packet in store, make sure to scan the back for ingredients like eggs and butter, as, of course, these are not vegan.