Social media users are aghast after one of the world’s best-known newspapers dropped a seasonal recipe that appears to be in the poorest possible taste.

The New York Times has been swamped with thousands of comments since posting a “crowd pleaser” for Americans to consider for their upcoming Thanksgiving holiday – a “vegetarian mushroom Wellington”.

“This is an unbelievable recipe! Time consuming, yes. But so worth the labour of love. I’ve made it two Thanksgivings in a row and it is now officially ‘my’ specialty for holidays!” the leading US publication said in a Facebook post for a recipe from New York food and beverage photographer Christopher Testani on Wednesday.

Somehow the outlet – which has 580,000 print subscribers and nearly 12 million digital subscribers – missed the obvious unpleasant comparisons with one of Australia’s (and the world’s) most notorious criminal cases: The triple-murder trial of Erin Patterson in Victoria earlier this year.

But its followers were quick to point out the links.

“It’s also a murder weapon, as seen worldwide by the famous Aussie killing her family with the poison mushrooms in it,” wrote on follower.

“Hey Alexa, Google beef Wellington Australia,” suggested another.

A third suggested: “Next week we’ll do puffer fish, also from the Erin Patterson cook book.”

From a fourth: “Aussie here, gotta say it’s pretty bold cutting out the beef and making the ‘secret’ ingredient front and centre… If you know, you know.”

Patterson, 51, was jailed for life, with a non-parole period of 33 years, in September after being convicted of the murder of three members of her estranged husband’s family, and the attempted murder of a fourth.

It followed a guilty verdict in July after her near-11 week trial in the regional Victorian town of Morwell.

The parents of Patterson’s estranged husband Simon, Don and Gail, 70, and his aunt Heather, 66, all died in hospital days eating a  death cap-mushroom laced beef Wellington she had cooked for a family lunch in 2023. Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson survived, although he spent months in hospital.

Patterson continues to deny the three murders and attempted murder and has flagged an appeal against her convictions.

Victoria’s Director of Public Prosecutions has also appealed the sentence, claiming Justice Christopher Beale made a mistake in showing mercy because Patterson faced years in solitary confinement in jail.

The sensational trial captivated not only Australia but the world, with more than 50 witnesses delivered testimony during its marathon 11 weeks.

The BBC ran a live blog that led its online site, while the Al Jazeera network and US masthead The Washington Post also covered it from afar.

Since then, there have also been numerous podcasts, books, movies and TV series covering the case.

But, seemingly, all were missed by the editorial department at the NY Times.