step 1
For the filling: Place the porcini mushroom (30 g) in a small bowl. Pour boiling water over from the kettle.
step 2
Cut the potatoes (2) into 1cm slices, then use a 6cm pastry cutter to cut each slice into rounds - you will need 24 slices (add the leftover pieces to homemade soup if you like).
step 3
Pour the stock (1000 ml) into a medium saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the potato slices and cook for 5 minutes until tender but still firm. Drain well and leave to cool.
step 4
Melt 2 tbsp of the butter (100 g) in a small frying pan, add the shallots (2), thyme leaves (2 tbsp), and garlic (4 cloves) and sauté for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the parsley (25 g) and some seasoning, transfer to a bowl and cover. Chill.
step 5
Drain and finely chop the porcini mushrooms. Heat the olive oil (2 tbsp) in a medium frying pan, add the porcini and chestnut mushrooms (150 g), season well and sauté until all the liquid has evaporated and they are dry. Add the remaining butter and cook until the mushrooms are caramelised and golden brown. Tip into a bowl, cover and chill.
step 6
Now build the pithivier filling. Place a 6cm pastry or chef’s ring on a square of baking parchment. Add a potato disc, a little of the shallot/garlic mixture, 1 tbsp grated M&S comté cheese (30 g) and 1 tbsp mushroom mixture, then repeat these layers using 6 discs of potatoes in total. Press down firmly. Repeat this layering process again in three more pastry/chef rings. Chill.
step 7
Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan and place a baking sheet on the middle shelf to heat up.
step 8
Roll out the puff pastry (500 g) to a 3-4mm thickness, then cut out four 9cm pastry rounds and four 12cm rounds. Put the 9cm pastry circles onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
step 9
Place one ring of filling on each pastry disc, then remove the ring. Brush egg yolk (2) around the edge of the stack of filling. Place another 12cm pastry disc over the top of the filling, then smooth the pastry down the sides of the stacks, squeezing out the air as you go and closing it at the bottom. Crimp the base to seal the two pieces of pastry and brush egg yolk all over. Repeat with the remaining fillings.
step 10
Cut a small hole in the top of the pastry to release steam as it cooks. Using a 7cm cutter, trim away the excess pastry from the base, leaving a small lip. Brush the pastries with the egg yolk again and season. Score the domes of the pithiviers for decoration and put them on baking paper on the hot baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
step 11
While the pithivier are cooking, make the sauce. Heat the vinegar (1 tbsp) and white wine (50 ml) in a small pan and reduce until there is 1 tbsp of liquid left. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter (100 g) one piece at a time, making sure each piece of butter is completely melted before adding the next. Place back over a gentle heat if the sauce gets too cool. Stir in the double cream (1 tbsp) and 1 tsp lemon juice (1) and season to taste.
step 12
To make the garnish, you can use same pan that you cooked the mushrooms in. Melt half the butter (2 tbsp) and add the leeks (2). Sauté for a few minutes then add the peas (200 g), M&S frozen British broad beans (100 g) with a splash of water. Blanch the asparagus (180 g) in boiling water and add to the pan with the remaining butter, lemon juice (1/2) and some seasoning.
step 13
To serve, use the vibrant green garnish to make a decorative circle on the plate and drizzle over the beurre blanc. Place the pithivier into the centre of the circle, and garnish with pea shoots (100 g).
ONE LAST THING....
Due to our seasonal product ranges, ingredient availability may vary. We recommend searching for ingredients and checking the stock in your local store using our online catalogue or speaking with a colleague in-store for the most up-to-date information. Leave a comment below the recipe if you’d like to ask about an ingredient substitution and one of the team will get back to you to suggest a relevant swap, if applicable.