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Warm Cheesy Roasted Portabella Caesar Salad

portabella mushrooms

When I saw these portabella mushrooms at a local grocery store, I swooned and my head filled with images of meaty roasted portabellas on a salad. Everything else I had imagined cooking vanished (I had really planned to stuff mushrooms with St. Patrick’s Day leftovers). I just wanted my warm portabellas and cool salad.

We’re mushroom fans here. Through and through.

On a recent evening, I browned cremini mushrooms in a skillet with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper and then swirled in a little red wine to finish them off. They were meaty, rich and tender. Then I spooned them over medium-rare sirloin steak served alongside some cheesy tortellini. Guess what the kids dug into first?

We eat mushrooms fairly often since the kids and I really love them. They are perfect for roasting alongside bell peppers, Brussels sprouts and other vegetable favorites to be spooned over rice or mixed into pasta with cheese and a little olive oil. They are sliced on salads and stuffed for appetizers. Sometimes, I will saute them and just eat them like that. And no matter how I cook them, they are always greeted with “Oooh! Mushrooms!” by my kids.

Selfishly, I wish they didn’t love them this much — there would be more for me!

I was recently asked to partake in the National Nutrition Month blog tour sponsored by The Mushroom Channel (aka the Mushroom Council, an organization of fresh-market mushroom producers and importers whose mission is to encourage the eating of mushrooms in a variety of meals), sharing how my family add mushrooms to our menu in a way that suits our family’s tastes and health goals.

March is National Nutrition Month and this year’s theme is “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day.” For us — well, the kids and I, at least — mushrooms aren’t just a great meat alternative, but they are also a versatile addition to a variety of dinners … and lunches too. And from a health standpoint, mushrooms also have a lot to offer — they are rich in antioxidants and have a healthy dose of vitamins B and D.

warm roasted portabella salad

Now, let’s talk about this bodacious meal.

I don’t think I have ever used the word ‘bodacious’ before, but I think it’s fitting here. Because it totally is. Bodacious, I mean. Anyway …

This salad is perfect for a light lunch. Meaty portabella mushrooms are roasted until tender and then topped with breadcrumbs and cheese and roasted a little more. Then, they are served on a cool, creamy Caesar salad. It takes a good 40 minutes to make — but most of it is hands-off as the portabellas roast. It’s a little longer than I like to spend making lunch on a weekday, but it’s so worth it.

Just don’t tell the kids that I’ve been indulging in this without them.

One More Thing …

If you love talking mushrooms, be sure to tweet away with the Mushroom Council at their Twitter Party on Wednesday, March 20th 8-9 PM EST.  The hashtag for the party will be #MushroomDish. The party will serve as a discussion for everything mushrooms, from their versatile nature to their flavorful umami qualities.

Warm Cheesy Roasted Portabella Caesar Salad

Warm Cheesy Roasted Portabella Caesar Salad

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Meaty portabella mushrooms are roasted with a breadcrumb and cheese topping, then served over cool, creamy Caesar salad.

Ingredients

  • 4 Portabella mushrooms, stems removed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp dried basil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 tsp Italian seasoned breadcrumbs, divided
  • 8 tsp shredded Italian cheese blend, divided
  • 4 cups lettuce
  • Caesar dressing, to taste
  • 1/2 cup chopped red peppers

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Wipe the Portobello mushrooms clean with a damp paper towel. Place on a nonstick baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and basil. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until soft.
  2. Sprinkle each mushroom with 1 teaspoon breadcrumbs and 2 teaspoons cheese. Return to the oven for five minutes.
  3. Stir together the lettuce and dressing and divide evenly among four plates. Top each with a mushroom and sprinkle with red peppers.
  4. Enjoy!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Mushroom Channel/Mushroom Council. Connect with them on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. All opinions and recipes within this post are my own.

Angie @ Big Bear's Wife

Tuesday 9th of April 2013

I would be so happy to have this as lunch! I love all things mushroom adn this would top the "cake"-- mushroom cake that is lol

Randi - Dukes and Duchesses

Thursday 21st of March 2013

Sarah, that looks absolutely delicious! I may have to run out and get the ingredients so I can make it for lunch today!

patsy

Tuesday 19th of March 2013

What a perfect way to enjoy portobello mushrooms! We love them, too!

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