Soy rocks?

[JebGriffin]

I'm trying to figure out a way to make something look like hard soil...but a savory way. Don't want it to be sweet but earthy, and will most likely pair it with mushrooms. Any ideas? Make sense?

[Mjx]

Minced/dried mushrooms, buckwheat groats, cacao? Cacao itself isn't at all sweet, very little of it adds deep colour, the flavour (this is subjective, obviously) works nicely with mushrooms and buckwheat, and buckwheat provides volume without becoming really expensive. Or you might consider teff, which is also dark, or black sesame seeds, or one of the black versions of various grains/legumes (rice, lentils), to add a dark, earthy colour to a paler base.

[mkayahara]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "hard soil," but have you looked at the edible soil recipes in the Noma cookbook and in Modernist Cuisine? The former is based on a mix of malt powder, hazelnut flour and beer, while the latter is based on almond flour, black bread, malt powder, chicory root, porcini powder and shiitake powder. They might give you a starting point, anyway.