Warm shitake mushroom caps are layered with a sun-dried tomato and olive spread, then topped with lightly dressed greens.
I like to think of mushrooms as culinary blank canvases. Their mild earthy taste and chewy texture makes them easily adaptable to all manners of savory preparations.
This particular one is all about layers and textures.
Warm, savory, nutty and layered with flavor these stuffed mushrooms make an easy but elegant appetizer or light lunch.
At the base are large thin stemmed umbrella shaped shitake mushrooms. Prized for their immune boosting properties and vitamin D content, they have a long tradition of medicinal and culinary use and make a nice alternative to portabellas or button mushrooms.
The over-sized shitake mushroom caps are first bathed in a mixture of olive oil, garlic and wine, and then roasted in a hot oven until juicy and tender. The savory fungi sizzle and soften in the heat, and develop a rich almost nutty flavor and chewy tenderness. Baking the caps before topping them allows the excess liquid to release and eliminates sogginess.
Next up is a layer of sun-dried tomato and olive paste. Similar to pesto but with an added punch from bright sun-dried tomatoes and briny olives minus the cheese, its flavor is bolder and more concentrated.
Drippy with their own juices, the warm mushroom caps are slathered with a generous layer of the chunky spread, building the next layer of flavor and texture.
Finally, lightly dressed greens are heaped on and bring a much needed layer of freshness and a sprinkle of salt or a few shavings of Parmesan brings the whole thing together.
It’s stuffed mushrooms with an oomph.
Have you tried shitake mushrooms?
Warm shitake mushroom caps are slathered with a generous layer of sun-dried tomato and olive spread, then topped with lightly dressed greens.
30 minPrep Time
20 minCook Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 4 to 6 large shitake or portabella mushroom caps, rinsed or wiped clean (you want them about the size of your hand)
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoon dry white wine (optional, if not using wine replace with 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice or additional olive oil)
- 1 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- ½ cup/56g raw walnuts, soaked in water overnight or for at least 4 hours (soaking makes the nuts more digestible but can be skipped if you are short on time)
- About 10 large black kalamata olives, pitted
- 2 to 3 large sun-dried tomatoes, either packed in oil or dried and re-hydrated in warm water
- 1 large handful of fresh parsley leaves
- 1 medium garlic clove
- 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ tsp sea salt (less if your olives are particularly salty)
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons/30ml extra virgin olive oil
- 3 oz baby spinach or any mixed greens
- 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar or freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon/15ml extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- Parmesan shavings to top (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the mushroom stems from the caps (save the stems and use for soups or stock).
- Whisk olive oil, wine, garlic and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Pour marinade over prepared mushroom caps in shallow baking dish, flipping the mushrooms to coat. Set aside for 15 minutes to marinade or cover and place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight until ready to bake.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In roasting pan, place mushroom caps gill-side up. Bake for about 20 minutes flipping the caps halfway through, or until mushrooms are tender (baking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of your mushrooms).
- Remove caps from pan and drain any excess liquid. Set aside to cool while making the filling.
- Drain and rinse walnuts and place in the bowl of a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients up to the olive oil. Pulse until coarsely chopped then switch to on and slowly drizzle in the olive oil until just combined (you want it to be a little chunky not completely smooth).
- Place warm mushroom caps gill side up on serving plate and spread a spoonful of the sun-dried tomato and olive filling on top, pressing with the inside of the spoon to smooth.
- Top with a handful of dressed salad greens and additional salt and pepper to taste and Parmesan shavings if desired.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, For Paleo and Vegan omit Parmesan and top with walnuts instead
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she’s been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
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