Michael Davis
Grilled Portobello mushrooms are a tasty treat and a great way to enjoy vegetables. They are large mushrooms with a distinct meaty texture and flavour. Portobellos are the mature version of cremini or baby bella mushrooms, which are also suitable for grilling. Before grilling, the mushrooms should be cleaned and the stems and gills removed. The mushrooms can then be marinated in a mixture of ingredients such as balsamic vinegar, olive oil, rosemary, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne, and soy sauce. After marinating for 30-40 minutes, the mushrooms are grilled for 8-10 minutes until slightly charred. Grilled mushrooms can be served as a side dish or used in recipes such as tacos, burgers, or salads.
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What You'll Learn
Marinating the mushrooms
Marinating portobello mushrooms is a simple process that adds tons of flavour to your dish. Before marinating, it is important to clean the mushrooms with a damp paper towel and gently twist off the stems. You can also use a small spoon to remove the gills, although they are edible.
For the marinade, you can use a combination of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, rosemary, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne. You can also add soy sauce and shredded Parmesan cheese to enhance the flavour. Simply whisk all the ingredients together in a shallow dish and let the mushrooms sit in the marinade for 30-40 minutes in the refrigerator. Do not exceed this time, as mushrooms are highly absorbent and you don't want the marinade to overpower their natural flavour.
If you are grilling baby bella or button mushrooms, you can skewer them after mixing with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. You can then grill them for about 10 minutes until tender.
For a Mediterranean-style flavour, brush the grilled mushrooms with pesto, or drizzle with balsamic reduction and sprinkle with basil. You can also paint them with teriyaki or BBQ sauce before and after grilling.
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Preparing the grill
Baby bella mushrooms
Baby bella mushrooms, also known as cremini, are smaller than portobello mushrooms. The easiest way to grill them is on skewers, preferably metal ones, as wooden skewers require soaking. Preheat your grill to a medium-high heat of 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the mushrooms with olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and pepper, and then thread them onto the skewers. Place the skewers on the grill grates and cook for about 10 minutes, until tender.
Portobello mushrooms
Portobello mushrooms are the largest mushrooms available at most grocery stores and are the mature version of cremini mushrooms. They have a meaty flavour and texture and are great grilled. Preheat your grill to a medium-high heat of 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are using an outdoor grill, you can also preheat it to a medium heat. Oil the grill grates with a paper towel dipped in vegetable oil. Place the mushrooms on the grill, gill-side down, and cover. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until tender and lightly charred.
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Cooking the mushrooms
First, preheat your grill to a medium-high heat of 375 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. While the grill is heating up, prepare the mushrooms. Clean them with a damp paper towel, then gently twist or cut off the stems. If you like, you can also use a small spoon to remove the gills from the underside of the caps. The stems and gills are edible, but removing them will improve the texture and overall flavour of your grilled mushrooms.
Next, prepare the marinade. You can use a simple combination of balsamic vinegar and olive oil, or try something more complex like the mixture outlined in the "Grilled Portobello Mushrooms" recipe from Well Plated: balsamic vinegar, olive oil, rosemary, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne, and soy sauce. Whisk the ingredients together in a shallow dish, large enough to hold the mushrooms in a single layer. Then, coat the mushrooms in the marinade. You can do this by placing the mushrooms gill-side up in the dish and pouring the marinade over them, or by brushing it onto the mushrooms with a pastry brush. Leave the mushrooms to marinate for 30 to 40 minutes, or up to an hour if you prefer a stronger flavour.
Once the mushrooms have absorbed the flavours of the marinade, it's time to place them on the grill. Put them gill-side down, and cook for around 4 to 5 minutes. Then, flip the mushrooms and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. In total, the mushrooms should be on the grill for around 8 to 10 minutes, or until they have grill marks and a slightly darkened colour. If you want softer mushrooms, you can leave them on the grill for longer.
Finally, remove the mushrooms from the grill and serve. You can sprinkle them with fresh herbs like basil, parsley, mint, or tarragon, or try something more unusual like cucumber yoghurt sauce, chimichurri, or pesto. Grilled portobello mushrooms go well with a variety of main courses, or you can serve them in a bun with lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mustard for a vegetarian burger.
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Removing stems and gills
To remove the stems from baby bella mushrooms, gently twist or cut them off. The stems are edible, but they can be tough, woody, fibrous, and unpleasant to eat. Removing them makes it easier to grill the mushrooms evenly.
Portobello mushrooms are mature baby bella mushrooms, so the process of removing the stems is the same. However, because of their larger size, you can also simply pull the stems out by hand.
To remove the gills, use a small spoon to lightly scrape around the underside of the mushroom caps. The gills are also edible, but they can turn your dish an unappetizing colour. Additionally, because they are so thin, they tend to get crispy and charred quickly. Removing the gills before grilling can improve the overall flavour of the mushrooms.
After removing the stems and gills, wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp paper towel.
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Serving suggestions
Grilled Bella Mushrooms can be served in a variety of ways, depending on your preferences and the occasion. Here are some serving suggestions:
As a Side Dish
Grilled Bella Mushrooms make an excellent side dish to accompany various main courses. Their smoky, savoury, and almost meaty flavour pairs well with grilled meats, chicken, or fish. They can be a tasty and healthy substitute for meat-based sides. You can also serve them alongside other grilled vegetables for a vegetarian option.
In a Bun or Burger
For a vegetarian option, you can serve grilled Bella mushrooms in a bun, similar to a burger. Add toppings such as lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard, cheese, avocado, spinach, or any other fresh toppings of your choice. You can also use cloud bread or 90-second bread for a gluten-free and low-carb option.
As a Main Course
Grilled Bella Mushrooms can be the star of the show as a hearty main course. Serve them as ''mushroom steaks'' with sides like mashed cauliflower and broccoli salad. You can also stuff the mushrooms with fillings of your choice or pair them with grains.
Appetisers and Snacks
Leftover grilled Bella mushrooms can be used to make tasty appetisers or snacks. Create an antipasto plate with cold mushrooms, quick pickles, cold meats, and cheeses. You can also chop up the grilled mushrooms and add them to recipes, such as tacos, for a healthy twist.
With Sauces and Seasonings
Grilled Bella Mushrooms pair well with various sauces and seasonings. You can brush them with olive oil and season with salt and pepper before grilling. After grilling, you can sprinkle them with fresh herbs like basil, parsley, mint, cilantro, or tarragon. For an extra kick of flavour, try sauces like teriyaki, BBQ, pesto, balsamic reduction, or marinara.
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Frequently asked questions
Bella mushrooms should be wiped clean with a damp paper towel. The stems can be gently twisted off and discarded, and a small spoon can be used to lightly scrape around the underside of the caps to remove the gills.
A simple and tasty marinade for Bella mushrooms can be made by combining balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. You can also add herbs like rosemary, spices like garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne, or even a little shredded Parmesan cheese.
Depending on the level of heat and how soft you want the mushrooms to be, grilling time can vary from 4-10 minutes. Grill marks and a slightly darkened color are good indicators that the mushrooms are done.
