Guest Post: Pizza Stuff Portobello Mushrooms

My name is Alisa Infanti and I am the recipe developer and food photographer for The Delicious Spoon.  I live in Hamilton, Ontario and am a wife and mom of two so I understand how important it is to be able make a meal for my family that is as easy to make as it is delicious! 

As a kid you couldn’t get me to eat a mushroom.  I mean in school they tell you it is a fungus and then well, that was game over for me.  It wasn’t until I was at my friend’s home for dinner and their parents served mushrooms in a pasta dish and my mother’s rule “eat what is put in front of you” rang in my head. So down the hatch that mushroom went and I have been a fan ever since.  I love the subtle woody and earthy flavour and meaty texture of mushrooms and now add them into my recipes whenever I can.

Ingredients

• 4 portobello mushrooms cleaned and stems removed
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic minced
• 1/4 tsp salt
• pinch black pepper
• 1/2 cup pizza sauce
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
• 2 pepperettes, sliced
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 4 fresh basil leaves, whole or rough chopped

Method

1. Preheat oven to 440°F.
2. In a small bowl add 2 tbsp of olive oil, 1 1/2 tsp of minced garlic, 1/4 salt and pinch of black pepper. Mix well. Baste the top of each mushroom cap with the oil mixture and place the mushrooms top side down on a non-stick baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes and remove from oven.
3. Add 2 tbsp of pizza sauce, 1/4 cup cheese, 1/2 a sliced pepperette and any other desired toppings. Sprinkle with a pinch of Italian seasoning. Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
4. Top with a fresh basil leaf whole or rough chopped and serve.

Notes

• Choosing portobello mushrooms – Look for mushrooms that are firm and uniform in colour… not spotty. Good ones will feel dry, a little tacky but never slimy.
• Storing leftovers – Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat for 90 seconds in the microwave or in an oven at 350F for about 10-12 minutes.
• Freezing – make these ahead of time and freeze them for up to 3 months. You can freeze them for up to 3 months by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap. When you are ready to make them just thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven or microwave

If you like this recipe, you can check out more delicious dishes made by Alisa. Follow her cooking journey at The Delicious Spoon and on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.