Mushroom pâté toasts with eggs & thyme salt

Method

• step 1

  Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and fry the shallot for 6 mins until soft. Add the chestnut mushrooms, turn the heat up to high and fry for another 8-10 mins until softened and all the moisture that has been released has evaporated. Stir in the garlic and 2 tsp of the thyme, and fry for another 1 min, then remove from the heat and leave to cool for 10 mins.

• step 2

  Spoon the mushroom mix into a small food processor, add the soft cheese and blitz until smooth, or do this in a jug with a hand blender. Transfer to a container and chill for 1 hr. Will keep chilled for up to three days.

• step 3

  Lower the eggs into a pan of simmering water and cook for 6 mins for soft-boiled, or 10 mins for hard-boiled (you may want a mix of both, depending on preferences). Cool under the tap until you can comfortably handle the eggs. Mix the flaky sea salt, remaining thyme and a crack of black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.

• step 4

  Peel the eggs, then cut the hard-boiled eggs into wedges for little fingers, or into slices. Cut soft-boiled eggs horizontally to reveal the jammy yolk. Spread the mushroom pâté over the toasts. (You could spread a base layer of soft cheese or butter first, if you like). For confident eaters, add the eggs on top and sprinkle over some of the thyme salt, then add a drizzle of truffle oil, if using. For little ones, serve the toast in finger-wide strips, alongside the boiled egg.