Sarah Brown
Olive Garden's stuffed mushrooms were once a popular appetizer on the menu, but they have since been removed. The removal came after a lawsuit was filed by a woman who claimed that the dish burned her mouth and throat, causing her to choke. While the incident occurred in 2017, it was not until restaurants reopened after the pandemic that customers began to notice the absence of the dish from the menu. Those who miss the taste of Olive Garden's stuffed mushrooms can find copycat recipes online, allowing them to recreate the flavors at home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Availability at Olive Garden | Removed from the menu |
| Recipe | Available online |
| Incident | A woman sued Olive Garden after the stuffed mushrooms burned her throat |
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What You'll Learn
- Olive Garden removed stuffed mushrooms from the menu after a lawsuit
- A woman sued the restaurant chain after suffering burns from eating the dish
- The recipe for Olive Garden's stuffed mushrooms is available online
- The recipe includes clams, onions, garlic, and cheese
- The mushrooms can be made healthier with a few substitutions
Olive Garden removed stuffed mushrooms from the menu after a lawsuit
On August 11, 2017, a woman named Danny Howard ordered the stuffed portobello mushroom appetizer at Olive Garden. The dish consisted of mushroom caps filled with clams, topped with breadcrumbs and mozzarella, parmesan, and Romano cheeses. However, when Howard took a bite, the mushroom burned her mouth and throat, causing her to choke and temporarily stop breathing. She had to go to the emergency room as a result of her injuries.
Howard sued Olive Garden over the incident, and the restaurant subsequently removed the stuffed mushrooms from their menu. While some customers speculate that the dish was removed due to the lawsuit, others believe it was because the recipe was changed before the COVID-19 pandemic, making it less popular and more time-consuming to prepare.
Following the incident, copycat recipes for Olive Garden's stuffed mushrooms began circulating online. These recipes instruct home cooks on how to recreate the dish, with some adding their own twists, such as using crab meat instead of clams or adding cream cheese.
While Olive Garden no longer serves stuffed mushrooms, the dish remains a favorite among customers, and some have expressed interest in seeing it return to the menu. In the meantime, those craving the appetizer can try making it at home using the various recipes available.
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A woman sued the restaurant chain after suffering burns from eating the dish
On August 11, 2017, Danny Howard dined at Olive Garden in Tarrant County, Texas, and ordered the stuffed portobello mushroom appetizer. The dish consisted of mushroom caps filled with clams, topped with breadcrumbs, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. However, when Howard took her first bite, the mushroom burned her mouth, and she began to choke on it. Unable to breathe or speak, she frantically sought help by moving around the restaurant. She eventually made her way to the kitchen, where she vomited and dislodged the piece of mushroom.
Believing that her burns required medical attention, Howard diverted her course from home to the emergency room. Fearing that she would suffocate before reaching the hospital, she called 911. An ambulance arrived and took her to Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth. From there, she was airlifted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where she was treated in the burn unit.
Howard filed a lawsuit against Olive Garden, claiming that the restaurant was negligent in failing to warn her about the temperature of the mushrooms. She argued that the mushrooms were "defective and unsafe" and that there was "no admonishment or warning" about the risk of severe burns. The lawsuit sought damages ranging from $200,000 to $1 million. It is unclear if Howard's case was ever settled, but Olive Garden ultimately removed the stuffed mushrooms from their menu.
This incident was not an isolated event for Olive Garden. In August 2023, the chain faced another lawsuit when a Michigan man alleged he had found a rat's foot in his soup. These incidents highlight potential concerns about food safety and the importance of proper warning labels to ensure customers' well-being. While restaurants have a responsibility to serve safe food, it is also crucial for diners to be aware of potential hazards and take necessary precautions to protect their health.
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The recipe for Olive Garden's stuffed mushrooms is available online
Olive Garden's stuffed mushrooms were removed from the menu after a woman sued the restaurant chain, claiming that she sustained burns while eating them. However, the recipe for these mushrooms is available online, allowing people to recreate the dish at home.
The recipe involves combining clams, onions, garlic salt, minced garlic, butter, oregano, Italian breadcrumbs, egg, clam juice, and a mix of Parmesan, Romano, and Mozzarella cheeses. This mixture is then stuffed into mushroom caps, which are then baked and sprinkled with more mozzarella. Some variations of the recipe include adding cream cheese, crab meat, and red bell pepper, or substituting the clams and clam juice with crab meat to make it suitable for those with seafood allergies or vegetarians.
The baking instructions are consistent across the different recipe variations. The oven needs to be preheated to 350°F, and a small baking dish should be lightly oiled. The mushrooms are then baked for 35-40 minutes, after which they are sprinkled with mozzarella and returned to the oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts. The mushrooms are then garnished with parsley and allowed to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Some people have made adjustments to the recipe to make it healthier or low-carb, such as omitting the breadcrumbs and butter, and adding olive oil. Overall, the recipe is well-loved by those who have tried it, with many claiming that it tastes just like the Olive Garden original.
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The recipe includes clams, onions, garlic, and cheese
It appears that Olive Garden no longer serves stuffed mushrooms after a woman sued the restaurant chain, claiming that she sustained burns while eating the appetizer. However, the recipe for the stuffed mushrooms, which includes clams, onions, garlic, and cheese, is available online.
To make the stuffed mushrooms, you'll need to combine clams, onions, garlic salt, minced garlic, butter, and oregano in a bowl and mix well. You can also add some cream cheese to the mixture for a creamier texture. Then, add Italian bread crumbs, an egg, and clam juice, mixing well again. To make the dish even more indulgent, add a generous amount of grated Parmesan, Romano, and Mozzarella cheeses to the clam stuffing and mix until everything is well combined.
Once your filling is ready, it's time to stuff the mushrooms. Place approximately 1 1/2 teaspoons of the clam stuffing mixture inside each mushroom cavity and create a slight mound. You should be able to stuff between 8-12 mushrooms, depending on their size. If you're using larger mushroom varieties like portobello, you'll need to adjust the amount of filling and baking time accordingly.
After stuffing the mushrooms, place them in a lightly oiled baking dish. For an extra buttery flavour, pour about 1/4 cup of melted butter over the top of the mushrooms. Cover the baking dish and place it in the oven, preheated to 350°F, for about 35-40 minutes. Once the mushrooms are tender, remove the cover and sprinkle more freshly grated mozzarella cheese on top. Pop the dish back into the oven just long enough to melt the cheese slightly. For an extra touch of freshness and colour, garnish the mushrooms with finely chopped parsley before serving them hot.
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The mushrooms can be made healthier with a few substitutions
Olive Garden's stuffed mushrooms were removed from the menu after a woman sued the restaurant chain for burns sustained while eating them. The dish consisted of mushroom caps filled with clams, topped with breadcrumbs, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese.
While the original recipe is no longer available at Olive Garden, there are copycat recipes online that recreate the dish. However, some people have suggested modifications to make the dish healthier.
Another option is to use almond meal flour instead of regular flour to make the dish low-carb. You can also adjust the type and amount of cheese used. For example, using 1/3 less fat cream cheese instead of regular cream cheese can reduce the overall fat content. Grated Parmesan, Romano, and mozzarella cheeses can be used, but in smaller quantities than the original recipe to reduce the sodium content.
Furthermore, you can add more vegetables to the stuffing mixture to increase the nutritional value. Roasted red peppers, onions, and garlic can be included, along with spices and herbs such as oregano, parsley, paprika, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
By making these simple substitutions, you can create a healthier version of stuffed mushrooms that still tastes delicious and has improved nutritional value.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Olive Garden removed stuffed mushrooms from their menu after a woman sued the company, claiming that she sustained burns from eating the appetizer.
The stuffed mushrooms at Olive Garden were portobello mushroom caps filled with clams, onions, garlic, butter, oregano, breadcrumbs, and cheese.
A woman named Danny Howard ordered the stuffed mushroom appetizer at Olive Garden in 2017. She began to choke on the food, causing her throat and mouth to burn. She sought help and eventually vomited to remove the mushroom from her throat. She then went to the emergency room to receive medical attention.
Following the incident, Olive Garden removed the stuffed mushrooms from their menu. The woman who sustained burns, Danny Howard, sued the company.
Yes, there are many copycat recipes available online that allow you to recreate the flavors of Olive Garden's stuffed mushrooms at home. These recipes are said to be flavorful and easy to make.
