Mushroom Magic: Creative Stuffing Ideas

what to stuff mushrooms with

Stuffed mushrooms are a versatile dish that can be served as a snack, appetizer, or main course. They are easy to prepare and can be stuffed with a variety of ingredients, making them a popular choice for entertaining. While the type of mushroom used can vary, larger varieties such as portobello mushrooms are often preferred as they provide more space for filling and can be a hearty option for vegetarian or vegan guests. Common ingredients used to stuff mushrooms include cheese, meat, seafood, and herbed breadcrumb fillings, with popular cheese options including Parmesan, cream cheese, goat cheese, and Gruyère. Meat options include sausage, prosciutto, and bacon, while crab and lobster are popular seafood choices. When preparing stuffed mushrooms, it is important to clean and season the mushrooms before filling and baking them, with baking times ranging from 15 to 45 minutes depending on the recipe.

Characteristics Values
Mushrooms Cremini, Baby Bella, Mini Portobello, Portobello, White Button, White
Cheese Pecorino, Parmesan, Mozzarella, Goat Cheese, Gruyère, Fontina, Feta, Cream Cheese, Swiss, Cheddar, Brie
Other ingredients Pine Nuts, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Parsley, Garlic, Breadcrumbs, Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Proscuitto, Shallots, White Wine, Goat Cheese, Crab Meat, Peppers, Chorizo Sausage, Bacon Bits, Green Onion, Scallions, Breakfast Sausage, Butter, Paprika, Sage Sausage, Egg, Ritz Crackers, Worcestershire Sauce, Blue Cheese, Clams, Spinach, Artichoke, Beef, Chicken Sausage, Turkey Sausage, Lobster Meat, Shrimp, Ham, Prosciutto, Toasted Pecans, Walnuts, Almonds, Bacon, Onions, Herbs, Basil, Italian Herbs

anspore

Cheesy stuffed mushrooms

Ingredients

  • Mushrooms (cremini, baby bella, mini portobello, white button, or portobello)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Filling of choice (see below for options)

Filling Options

Option 1:

  • Grated/shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, Gruyère, feta, goat, or brie)
  • Sun-dried tomatoes
  • Parsley
  • Garlic
  • Pine nuts
  • Breadcrumbs

Option 2:

  • Goat cheese
  • Proscuitto
  • Caramelized onions

Option 3:

  • Cream cheese
  • Crab meat
  • Roasted red pepper
  • Garlic seasoning
  • Black pepper
  • Chives

Option 4:

  • Cream cheese
  • Bacon bits
  • Green onion
  • Mrs. Dash seasoning
  • Mozzarella

Instructions

  • Clean the mushrooms with a damp paper towel or quickly rinse them under water and pat dry.
  • Remove the stems from the mushroom caps, leaving a cavity for the stuffing. Finely chop the stems.
  • Season the mushroom caps with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil.
  • Prepare the filling by mixing the ingredients of your chosen option above.
  • Stuff the mushrooms with the filling, piling it as high as possible.
  • Drizzle the stuffed mushrooms with olive oil and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is golden brown and melted.
  • Allow to cool slightly, then season to taste and serve.

Tips

  • For a more well-rounded meal, serve the stuffed mushrooms with steak, roast chicken, pork chops, creamy grits, mac and cheese, cauliflower steaks, or vegan meatballs.
  • For a vegetarian option, stuff the mushrooms with risotto or spinach and artichoke dip.
  • Get creative with your fillings! Other options include breakfast pork sausage, ground beef, or leftover chicken.

anspore

Crab-stuffed mushrooms

To make crab-stuffed mushrooms, you will need the following ingredients:

  • Crab meat (fresh, canned, or imitation)
  • Mushrooms (cremini, baby bella, or white button mushrooms)
  • Cream cheese
  • Freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • Breadcrumbs (preferably fresh, but processed are also fine)
  • Herbs and spices (such as parsley, thyme, chives, oregano, rosemary, paprika, or Old Bay seasoning)
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  • Clean the mushrooms with a damp paper towel and remove the stems. Chop the stems finely and set them aside to be added to the filling.
  • In a medium bowl, mix the crab meat, cream cheese, breadcrumbs, herbs, spices, and grated parmesan cheese. You can also add in chopped onion, shallots, or garlic for extra flavor.
  • Stir the filling until it is well combined.
  • Lightly spray or drizzle olive oil onto the mushroom caps.
  • Use a spoon to fill the mushroom caps with the crab mixture.
  • Sprinkle the tops of the stuffed mushrooms with a little more parmesan cheese.
  • Place the stuffed mushrooms on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops are golden and the mushrooms are slightly soft.
  • Garnish with extra parsley before serving.

These crab-stuffed mushrooms are sure to be a hit with your guests and can be served as an appetizer or a main course. Enjoy!

The French Way: Washing Mushrooms

You may want to see also

anspore

Meat-stuffed mushrooms

Ingredients

  • Large mushrooms (cremini or portobello work well)
  • Ground beef
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Butter
  • Bread crumbs
  • Salt and pepper
  • Cream
  • Olive oil
  • Chilli powder
  • Cheese (optional)

Method

  • Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  • Clean the mushrooms with a damp paper towel and remove the stems. Chop the stems into small pieces and set aside.
  • In a saucepan over medium heat, add the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Cook until the beef is no longer pink, then drain any excess fat.
  • Add the chopped mushroom stems, butter, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper to the saucepan. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
  • Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the cream.
  • Dip the mushroom caps in melted butter and stuff them generously with the meat mixture.
  • Arrange the stuffed mushrooms in a baking dish and sprinkle with chilli powder. If you're using cheese, you can sprinkle it on top now.
  • Bake the mushrooms in the preheated oven for 15 to 25 minutes, or until the filling is golden brown.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Variations

You can also get creative and experiment with different types of meat and seasonings. Some ideas include:

  • Spicy Italian sausage
  • Bacon
  • Prosciutto
  • Breakfast pork sausage
  • Chorizo sausage

anspore

Vegan-stuffed mushrooms

Ingredients

  • Large cremini mushrooms or button mushrooms
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • Filling of choice (see below for ideas)
  • Breadcrumbs (panko or regular)

Filling Ideas

You can choose from a variety of vegan fillings to stuff your mushrooms:

  • Vegan cream cheese (homemade or store-bought) with leftover mushroom stems and seasonings
  • Vegan mozzarella
  • Vegan ricotta (tofu-based or almond-based)
  • Vegan feta
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Quinoa
  • Onions
  • Garlic
  • Herbs
  • Lemon zest and juice
  • Nutritional yeast or dry active yeast
  • Miso
  • Sage, rosemary, and thyme
  • Spinach
  • Artichoke dip

Instructions

  • Wipe the mushrooms clean with a damp paper towel and remove the stems to create a cavity for the stuffing.
  • Season the mushroom caps with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  • Prepare your chosen filling by mixing the ingredients in a bowl.
  • Stuff each mushroom with about 2 teaspoons of filling, mounding it slightly.
  • Top the stuffed mushrooms with breadcrumbs.
  • Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 20 minutes, until the tops are golden brown.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve hot as an appetizer or side dish.

anspore

Gluten-free stuffed mushrooms

Ingredients

  • Mushrooms: Baby Bella or brown mushrooms are flavourful options, but you can also use white button mushrooms or white mushrooms.
  • Gluten-free breadcrumbs: Gluten-free panko breadcrumbs have a light, crispy texture and a larger surface area than traditional breadcrumbs.
  • Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan will give you the best results and flavour.
  • Butter: This adds richness and flavour to the dish. You can also use olive oil instead.
  • Sausage: Use regular ground pork sausage. If you buy pork sausage or Italian sausage in casing, simply cut it open before browning the sausage.
  • Cream cheese: You can use fat-free cream cheese to hold the stuffing together.
  • Other ingredients: Onion, garlic, wine or broth, salt, and pepper to taste.

Method

  • Preheat your oven to 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Clean the mushrooms with a damp paper towel and remove the stems, setting them aside.
  • In a skillet, brown and crumble the sausage. Set aside to cool.
  • Add onions and garlic to the skillet and cook for 2-5 minutes until soft.
  • Pour in wine or broth to deglaze the pan, and allow the liquid to evaporate.
  • Add the chopped mushroom stems and cook for another 2 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and an egg yolk. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.
  • Add the cooled sausage and mushroom stems to the cream cheese mixture.
  • Stuff the mushroom caps generously with the filling. The filling tends to shrink as it bakes.
  • Top with extra herbs like basil or parsley.
  • Bake for 15-25 minutes, or until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is golden brown and melted.
  • Allow to cool for at least 5-10 minutes before serving.

Variations

You can also experiment with different fillings for your gluten-free stuffed mushrooms:

  • Mediterranean flavours: Feta, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes.
  • Breakfast pork sausage, button mushrooms, and browned ground pork sausage.
  • Goat cheese, prosciutto, and caramelized onion.
  • Sage sausage, egg, and shredded Parmesan cheese.
  • Crab meat, diced peppers, chorizo sausage, shredded cheese, roasted red pepper, garlic seasoning, and chives.
Mushrooms: Do They Think and Feel?

You may want to see also

Frequently asked questions

You can stuff mushrooms with a variety of vegetarian options, including spinach and artichoke dip, risotto, or a combination of cheeses such as feta, goat, and brie.

Some meat options for stuffing mushrooms include crab meat, sausage, bacon, and ground beef.

There are several dairy options for stuffing mushrooms, including cream cheese, goat cheese, and shredded mozzarella.

Gluten-free options for stuffing mushrooms include goat cheese, spinach, onions, and bacon. Oats can also be used as a gluten-free alternative to breadcrumbs.

Mushrooms should be cleaned with a damp paper towel or a specialty mushroom brush to remove any dirt. The stems can then be removed and chopped, and the mushroom caps can be tossed in olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper before stuffing and baking.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment