There is something special about the spring boletus mushrooms we forage in the High Sierra, part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The porcini, heavy for their size, emerge from beneath the coniferous duff (the accumulation of pine needles, leaves and dirt covering the mushroom) after spending most of its time growing underground, and become dependent upon snowmelt rather than the cold rains and winter fog on the Sonoma Coast.

This low-acid, wild porcini mushroom crostini is refreshingly bright while remaining a wine friendly pairing for Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. Garnish this light vegetarian appetizer recipe with the first elements of spring—pea shoots and pea blossoms—and our local Humboldt Fog chèvre.

Instructions

Yields 12 pieces

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes

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For the mushroom conserva, place the sliced mushrooms in a heavy-bottomed pot on low heat. Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan, heat two Tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add shallots, fennel, garlic and thyme, and sweat until translucent. Add tomato paste and fennel pollen, then stir for one minute. Carefully add remaining olive oil and bay leaf and bring to 190 degrees. Remove saucepan from heat and pour hot oil mixture over the mushrooms. Stir to coat. Continue to cook on low heat, stirring occasionally until bubbles just break the surface (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and allow to sit. After 30 minutes, stir in the olives, lemon juice, lemon zest, apple cider vinegar and parsley. Taste and adjust for acidity and seasoning. When cool, cover with additional olive oil, if necessary, and refrigerate. Use within two weeks due to this recipe’s low acidity.

For the crostini, slice the seeded baguette into ¼-inch slices. Brush with olive oil and grill at the last moment. They should still be soft at the center. Set aside.

To plate, warm the porcini mushroom conserva to room temperature and gently stack on the crostini. Garnish with fresh peas, crumbled chèvre, pea shoots, blossoms, fleur de sel and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately.