Vegan Pate: More Delicious Than It Looks!

 I don't think it matters what kind of pate it is, one thing is always true--based on physical appearance alone, it never seems very appetizing. Pate looks like catfood, it is true. However, despite its appearance, I happen to be a fan of vegan pate, and I love surprising omnivores with a delicious-tasting vegan spread, whether it comes in a can or is made from scratch.

Today I am going to share with you information about both kinds of vegan pate. The first comes in a can and is made by a company called Elianni. They have a variety of flavors, all of them certified organic: peppercorn, zesty apple, mushroom, vegetable, and red pepper olive. I have had the pleasure of trying each of these flavors, and they are all delicious. At first I was a little wary of the "zesty apple" flavor--apple in a pate? I wasn't sure what to think. But it ended up being my favorite one. I brought a couple of these to work as part of a birthday celebration, and they were a hit even with omnivores.

Unfortunately I was too busy eating it to actually photograph what it looks like on a cracker, so all I have is a picture of one of the cans, but as I said before, you can't really judge a pate by its appearance any way. I am not sure if there is any place locally where you can purchase this product yet, but Vegan Essentials does carry it for order online.

If you want to try making your own pate, I would like to share a recipe with you that is my favorite pate recipe ever. Not only is it tasty, it is quick and easy to make. And, it even meets with the approval of my omnivorous foodie mother-in-law! I made a batch of this to share over Christmas, and it was a huge success.

Mushroom Walnut Pate

•  12 to 16 ounces of fresh mushrooms (any kind)
• 4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sherry
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• pepper to taste
• 1 cup walnuts

Saute chopped mushrooms and garlic in olive oil for a few minutes. Add the sherry and cook a little longer until slightly caramelized. Add the salt, pepper, and thyme. Remove from heat and pour the contents of the pan into your food processor with the walnuts, and blend until smooth-ish. Serve with crackers, breads, or whatever you desire!