Caramelised Onion and Mushroom Spread

Spread this on crusty bread or savoury biscuits, use it as a topping for tartlets or as a delicious spread in sandwiches. Used as a sandwich spread, I simply add something like a slice of roasted red pepper and baby spinach leaves. Or slices of ham. I adapted this recipe from one I found online because I was not satisfied with the gourmet spreads I'd been buying. Well they classified themselves as gourmet but they were, in fact, rather ordinary and also quite expensive! I love the fact that this recipe also has mushrooms in it - and a few other goodies! The original recipe must have been a Birds Eye recipe as it specified using Birds Eye Frozen Sliced Onions. I've slightly increased the mushrooms and garlic as I generally do with recipes and I've added leeks as the combination of flavours from onions, leeks and garlic is just so delicious. And I've also added thyme. Vary the garlic - and any of the ingredients - to suit your taste preferences. I've suggested adding more balsamic vinegar if your onion mixture seems too dry. If like me, you are a bit inexact in the measurement of some of the ingredients - oh, I may as well use all of that! - ;) this would obviously be the easiest way to correct this. Have fun playing with this recipe - and I hope that you enjoy it. I keep meaning to add some chopped nuts, probably walnuts, and must try to remember to do so next time I make this.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 3 cups

Ingredients

• 30  g butter
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 500  g  frozen sliced onions
• 2  leeks, thoroughly washed, dried and chopped
• 400  g  swiss brown mushrooms, finely chopped
• 3  garlic cloves, minced
•  thyme, to taste
• 2  tablespoons brown sugar
• 3  teaspoons  balsamic vinegar, add more if needed
•  salt, to taste
•  fresh ground black pepper, to taste
•  oil, to drizzle
•  crusty bread, to serve

Directions

1. In a large non-stick pan, heat the butter and oil; add the frozen onions and leeks and cook over a medium-high for 5-6 minutes, stirring constantly. Add a bit more oil if needed.
2. Add the mushrooms, garlic and thyme - and cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the brown sugar and reduce the heat; allow the mixture to caramelise for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally (liquid should slowly reduce and the onions turn a caramel colour); remove the pan from heat and set aside to cool.
4. Place the onion mixture in a food processor, add the balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper and process until chopped but still a little chunky. Or you could leave a tablespoon of the mixture out and add back into the mixture once you've removed it from the food processor.
5. To Serve: Spoon the Caramelised Onion and Mushroom Spread into serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil and serve with fresh crusty bread.
6. TIP: This dip is also yummy when used to make little tarts, or to top any savoury biscuits. Simply place teaspoonfuls of the Caramelised Onion and Mushroom Spread mixture into the mini savoury tartlet cases or onto the biscuits, add crumbled feta cheese and half a Kalamata olive. Garnish with a parsley leaf and serve.