Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary, lightly chopped, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
  • 4 large portobello mushrooms, stems removed and set aside
  • Salt
  • 1/2 pound spicy Italian sausage, removed from casing
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped
  • Reserved portobello stems, cut in 1/4-inch dice, optional
  • 1 medium zucchini, grated
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup fresh ricotta cheese, optional
  • 2 tablespoons lightly chopped fresh parsley and/or fresh basil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 400F.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and rosemary.
  • Wipe the top of the portobello caps with a damp cloth or paper towel.
  • Using a spoon or paring knife, scrape the gills from the mushrooms (see below).
  • Using a pastry brush, brush both sides of the mushrooms with the marinade.
  • Salt them lightly and bake, gill side up, for about 5 minutes, or just until they start to wilt.
  • Set aside.
  • Cook the sausage in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, stirring, until no longer pink.
  • Remove from the heat, drain, and place in a medium bowl.
  • When it is cool, break up the sausage with your fingers.
  • Return the pan to the heat and pour in the olive oil; swirl to coat the bottom.
  • Add the onion, pepper, and portobello stems and cook, stirring, over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, until wilted.
  • Add the zucchini and stir to combine.
  • Cook another 35 minutes, until the zucchini has released its liquid.
  • Transfer the vegetables to the bowl with the sausage.
  • Stir the mixture and let it cool for 5 minutes, then add the egg, bread crumbs, optional ricotta, and herbs, and season with salt and pepper.
  • Mound the filling onto the portobello caps and top with grated cheese.
  • Place them in a baking dish and bake immediately, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to several hours.
  • When ready to serve, bake at 400F for 1012 minutes (20 minutes if the mushrooms have been chilled), until the filling is heated through and the cheese is golden brown.
  • I love portobellos, but a pet peeve of mine is the way the gills tend to bleed when they cook, making everything dark and muddy-looking.
  • I avoid this by getting rid of the gills altogether.
  • Hold the mushroom, gill side up, and scrape the gills off with a spoon or paring knife held parallel to the mushroom surface.
  • Its best to do this over a bowl or the trash, as it is a messy operation.
  • Then proceed to use the mushroom in whatever way the recipe calls for.
  • Its an extra step, but to me its worth it.