Feature Friday Series: Mushroom Varieties - Portabella

In this New Feature Friday Series, we will explore all the different varieties of fresh mushrooms grown locally right here in Canada.

Today we are focusing on a close relative to the white mushroom, and a "big brother" of the crimini mushroom, the Portabella.

Name: Agaricus Bisporus

Description: Portabellas are fully-grown crimini mushrooms, with a large, light tan cap. Portabellas are the largest of all domestic mushrooms.

Taste: Since they are grown to a large size, Portabella mushrooms lose some moisture, giving them a meaty texture and earthy taste.

Uses: Can be grilled, baked, or deep-fried, are great as an appetizer, side dish or entrée. Because of their natural meatiness, Portabella mushrooms are great meat substitutes with no fat, sodium, or cholesterol.

How they Grow: Since Portabella mushrooms are also in the Agaricus Bisporus family, they grow they exact same way as the whites and criminis do, with one exception; they are picked later. Since mushrooms double in size every 24 hours, a large portabella would be picked approximently 3-4 days after a crimini is picked.

Delicious Portabella Recipe Ideas:
- PBLT Salad
- Baked Mushroom Parmesan
- Grilled Chicken with Portabella Mushrooms and Peppercorn Sauce

posted by Brittany