My husband and I have a standing joke about vegetarian meals. I usually will ask for a vegetarian meal at medical meetings or awards dinners when my only other choice is beef. The joke is that 90% of the time the main vegetarian dish will be a portobello mushroom. Apparently the chefs can’t see past the mushroom when designing a meal of vegetables. I know that they want a “meaty” substitute but vegetarian cuisine can star any number of delicious option besides the “meaty” mushroom.
That being said, I’m bringing you a stuffed portobello mushroom to Fiesta Friday. 😉
I was craving pizza, lasagna, pasta, and all things Italian. I had arugula in the crisper that had to be eaten and these gorgeous mushrooms. The mushrooms are stuffed with a ricotta and sun-dried tomato base and topped with arugula pesto and parmesan. I have seen arugula pesto recipes but I had never tried one. I was pleasantly surprised at the fresh taste of this pesto and I will definitely make it again. I think it would make a great base for a salad dressing too.
Arugula Pesto Stuffed Portobello
Ingredients:
1 portobello per person
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, diced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon crushed fennel seed
2 cloves garlic
3 oz parmesan cheese divided
2 cups arugula
2 tablespoons lemon or plain extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup marinara sauce
Dash of salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Make pesto by combing arugula, olive oil, garlic, 2 oz shredded Parmesan and olive oil in a food processor until almost smooth. Adjust salt and set aside. Clean mushrooms, remove stem and scrape out gills. Stir tomatoes into ricotta. Add oregano and crushed fennel seeds. Fill the base of the mushroom with ricotta filling and spoon pesto over ricotta. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan over pesto. Bake in a covered dish at 350 F degrees for 35 minutes. Remove cover and bake until cheese is golden brown. I added a tablespoon of marinara sauce to each for color and served more on the side.
What's for dinner, Doc? 
Tracey, you will make this at the ranch, yes?
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Instead of grass fed Nevada beef? You’re joking right? I might get lynched if the cowboys are restless. But for you my friend, anything.
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Yum!
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Thanks Lori. It was yummy.
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This looks delicious!!
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As someone who enjoys meat the portobello is a great alternative, I agree that vegetarian cuisine has so many other options besides mushrooms, that said your portobello sounds fantastic, I think I would rather have that than lasagna or pizza. Love it.
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Ok, it’s a deal, if you come out West for Meatless Monday I’ll fix you a mushroom. You bring the sour dough bread!
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I love the meaty texture and delicate flavor of mushroom!
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Funny. They might not be overly inspired chefs, however, hard not to love a stuffed mushroom. I will think of you at my next industry dinner and smile like silly child if I am presented with the option of a stuffed portobello. Looks lovely.
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If you pay attention I bet you’ll see the pattern. If “Greens” in San Francisco only served mushrooms as veg cuisine no one would pay their stupid prices. Mark my words. Ha ha
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I love anything mushroom, so no doubt that this dish is a winner for me. Happy FF, Tracey. xx
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Hi Tracey! I ate such mushrooms long time, it’s a good reminder to remake them! Pesto and mushrooms =super tasty! 😀
Hope you are enjoying FF! 🙂
Mila
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Love the Italian slant on these stuffed mushrooms, Tracey. It looks like a hearty and flavorful dish. 🙂
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Never made pesto with arugula but it sounds delicious. Not being a mushroom fan I might use tomatoes instead 🙂
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This sounds like a great combination, full of flavour 🙂
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Thanks Petra. They were yummy.
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