Mushrooms on Naan Pizza

Asked by JoJammi. Answered on 17th March 2014

Full question

Nigella uses jarred mushroom antipasto in her Naan Pizza recipe. However it is difficult to find them in the Philadelphia area. Do you have a recipe you can suggest. Not as easy as opening a jar, but I am willing to make the time for a great result. Will you help? Thanks.

Our answer

Nigella's Naan Pizza (from Nigella Express and on the Nigella website) uses jarred mushroom antipasto mainly for convenience. The jars of mushrooms are a good store cupboard standby and using them means that the pizza can be assembled in a matter of minutes.

To make the antipasto you would start by either salting or blanching the mushrooms and then marinating them in herbs, garlic and oil (and sometimes a little vinegar). If you have a local Italian deli then they may sell the mushrooms from a deli counter. Mushrooms a la Greque would be similar and you may find these at a good deli.

Unfortunately Nigella does not have a recipe for marinated mushrooms. However you could use sliced and sauteed mushrooms as an alternative. You will need about 8 ounces (225g/2 cups, sliced) raw mixed mushrooms. Saute them in olive oil mixed with a clove of minced garlic. At the end add a little chopped fresh parsley and/or thyme. Nigella's recipe for Mushrooms on p336 of How To Eat would also be a good recipe to use.