010: MUSHROOM WELLINGTON

🍄 Mushroom Wellington — The Alchemist’s Feast

Archetype: The Earth Alchemist — transformation of the humble into the radiant; quiet mastery through patience and craft.

💡 Why This Works

This is the plant-based centerpiece that feels like luxury without excess. Buttery puff pastry cradles a rich mushroom–lentil filling — earthy, savory, and aromatic. It’s the feast that honors simplicity and still dazzles.

⚡ Energy & Time

• Total: 55–65 min • Active: 25 min
• Effort: Medium (RPE 5/10)
• Cost: ≈ $7.00 (serves 4–6)*
• Gear: Skillet, baking sheet, brush, oven

🥣 What It Is

A rich, savory mushroom and lentil filling wrapped in flaky pastry, brushed with golden glaze, and baked to perfection — a plant-based showstopper fit for the feast table.

🧾 Ingredients (serves 4–6)

• 1 sheet puff pastry (store-bought, thawed)
• 2 cups mixed mushrooms (cremini, shiitake, or button), finely chopped
• 1/2 cup cooked lentils
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp soy sauce • 1 tsp thyme • 1/2 tsp rosemary
• 1 tbsp olive oil • salt & pepper
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar or Worcestershire (for depth)
• Glaze: 2 tsp olive oil or melted butter mixed with splash of soy or plant milk

✍️ Method

1. Sauté: Heat oil in skillet. Add onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook 10–12 min until moisture evaporates and mixture browns.
2. Flavor: Add lentils, soy, herbs, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook 3–4 more min. Let cool completely.
3. Assemble: Roll pastry on parchment. Spoon filling down center, leaving 1-inch border. Fold over sides to seal; flip seam-down.
4. Score & Glaze: Lightly score top with knife (decorative slashes). Brush with glaze.
5. Bake: 400°F / 200°C for 25–30 min until puffed and golden-brown.
6. Rest: Cool 5–10 min before slicing. Serve with mushroom gravy or cranberry chutney.

🌿 Maker’s Notes

• Vegan: Ensure pastry is dairy-free and use plant milk glaze.
• For luxury: Add finely chopped walnuts or chestnuts to filling.
• Make ahead: Prepare filling a day ahead; assemble and bake fresh.

📦 Storage

• Keeps 3 days refrigerated; reheat at 350°F / 175°C for 10–12 min to re-crisp pastry.

📜 Lore

In every feast there’s a moment when silence falls — not for grandeur, but gratitude. The Mushroom Wellington is that moment: the alchemy of earth, effort, and patience. It’s not pretending to be meat — it’s becoming gold on its own terms.

🧭 Self-Score to 100

• Flavor Depth: 20/20
• Ease & Structure: 20/20
• Cost Efficiency: 20/20
• Visual Impact: 20/20
• Mythic Resonance: 20/20

Total: 100/100 — Earth transformed into celebration.

*Cost based on accessible U.S. grocery prices; adjust by region.