The Mushroom Appetizer (Botana de setas)

A simple starter dish from Mexico based on mushrooms, cilantro and green chiles, to be served chilled. This recipe is easy to make and you can use any type of fresh mushrooms you can find, or a combination of different types.

Recipe for the mushrooms appetizer

Ingredients

* 1 lb. fresh mushrooms
* Juice from one lemon
* 1 tomato chopped
* 1 onion, finely chopped
* Finely chopped cilantro
* 1 small can (5 oz.) tomato paste
* 4 serrano chiles, chopped
* 4 tablespoons olive oil
* 4-5 tablespoons ketchup
* Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1) In a saucepan with some hot oil, fry the sliced mushrooms (sliced if the mushrooms are big or keep them whole if they are small), for 5 to 10 minutes for them to release their water.

2) Once the mushrooms are fried, pour the lemon juice in. Remove from the stove and allow to cool down, reserve.

3) Separately, in the same pan fry the onions and the chopped chiles; when they become tender mix in the tomato paste with the oil and all the remaining ingredients; finally adding back the mushrooms to our preparation.

Season with salt and pepper to taste, refrigerate.

Serve this appetizer chilled, it is usually accompanied by tostadas…