Poached duck egg / black pudding / grlled portobello mushroom / horseradish cream

Image courtesy of jessicalettucetomato.wordpress.com

*part of the sizzling-staffordshire menu series*

This is a wonderful dish, and in combination provides great balance of flavour, texture and general yummyness. I suppose it could be easily attributed to being a breakfast dish, but in the same respect it goes well equally as a light lunch or even as a main course starter.

You will need (per serving):

1 duck egg (large or small its up to you)
1 large portobello mushroom, stallk removed.
1 large round slice of black pudding (roughly 1/2 inch in thickness). if you can only get a smaller one, dont worry. We can rework the arrangement.
1/2 tsp creamed horseradish.
35ml white wine or vermouth.
100ml double or whipping cream.
1/2 tsp chopped chives
1.2 tsp chopped parsley
1/2 tsp fresh thyme.
sea salt and black pepper.
2 tbsp white vinegar.

The doing bit:

Combine the herbs in a small bowl and mix. Season the mushroom (top side down) with the salt, pepper and a pinch of the herbs. Add a little oil (no more than 1/4 tsp) and then grill on a moderate heat along side the black pudding until the mushroom is soft to touch, and the black pudding has cooked also.

Add some ater to a saucepan and heat until boiling. add the vinegar and some pepper and turn to a simmer. Add the egg and bring up the heat a little until the egg is poached to desired preference. Remove from the liquor, then allow to dry on a piece of kitchen towel.

For the cream: Heat up the white wine and then add the cream to a pan. Add the horseradish and simmer gently for about 3 mintues until the mixture has thickened.

Assemble as follows: black pudding, mushroom on top then poached egg (in the well where the mushroom stalk was). Serve with a small amount of cream on top of the egg and the rest around. Garnish with the remaining herbs and devour.