Italian Portabella Appetizer Recipes

SAUSAGE-STUFFED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Using your hands, lightly rub each portobello mushroom with 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
• Cook the sausage in a medium skillet until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, and mushroom stems and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat.
• Transfer sausage-vegetable mixture to the bowl of a food processor. Add, 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs, 1/4 cup of Parmesan, 1/4 cup of parsley, the Essence, and the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Pulse until mixture is finely chopped and comes together slightly, about 30 seconds. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, add the egg, and stir until well combined.
• Divide the filling among the mushroom caps, about 1/2 cup for each mushroom. Place the filled mushrooms on a baking sheet. Combine remaining 1/4 cup of bread crumbs and 1/4 cup of Parmesan in a small mixing bowl. Divide the bread crumb mixture evenly among the tops of the mushrooms. Bake until golden brown on top and the mushrooms are tender, about 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with remaining tablespoon of parsley, drizzle with olive oil and vinegar and serve warm or at room temperature.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch
• Published by William and Morrow, 1993.

ITALIAN PORTABELLA APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Place cleaned portabellos upsidedown in well-oiled 9x13" casserole dish.
• Sprinkle with 1/4 cup feta each.
• Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon breadcrumbs each.
• Bake 15-20 minutes until cheese is slightly melted.
• Broil till golden brown.

GRILLED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS -ITALIAN STYLE

Steps:

• Arrange mushrooms in a shallow glass dish. In a bowl whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Add the oil, a little at a time, whisking until combined well. Stir in the herbs. Pour dressing over mushrooms, turning to coat, and marinate for 15 minutes. Heat grill pan until hot. Add mushrooms and grill for 3 minutes on each side, basting with marinade, or until just firm.
• Recommended Wine: 1994 Coturri Albarello, Sonoma

PORTABELLA NIRVANA

Steps:

• Preheat your oven's broiler. Clean mushrooms, and remove stems, reserving them for later. Marinate the mushroom caps in Italian dressing for 15 minutes. Remove from marinade, and place into a baking dish.
• Broil at least 6 inches from heat for about 10 minutes. Check occasionally to make sure they do not burn. Turn off the broiler, and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Chop reserved mushroom stems. Sautee onion, garlic, mushroom stems and celery until tender. Add the crabmeat, and heat until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet mixture to a medium bowl, and mix in crackers, 1/3 cup of the cheese blend, and mix until well blended. Use some of the Italian dressing marinade to hold the mixture together if necessary. Pack the crab mixture into the cavities of the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven, and sprinkle remaining cheese over the tops, then return to the oven for 3 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

PORTABELLA MUSHROOMS STUFFED WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE

Steps:

• STUFFING:.
• Brown the sausage in a nonstick skillet making sure sausage is crumbled into small pieces.
• Once browned drain fat and transfer to a paper towel to cool.
• In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with milk and then mix in the parsley, basil, garlic, croutons, and Parmesan cheese.
• Add the cooled sausage and mix well (mixture should be wet but firm and hold together easily).
• Top portobella mushrooms with sausage mixture and bake in 350 degree F oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
• SAUCE:.
• In sauce pan, heat cream and lightly boil until it is half its original volume being careful not to scorch it.
• Once it is reduced by half, mix in the Parmsan cheese, basil, salt and pepper.
• Spoon 2 ounces of sauce over top of each mushroom.
• Garnish with a sprig of fresh Italian Parsley or Fresh Basil.