All the flavors of a caprese salad, tucked inside of a grilled portobello mushroom. This makes for a great vegetarian meal or appetizer!

It seems that there's a slight imbalance in the backyard barbecue world. After talking to a couple of vegetarian friends in the past, I realized that non-meat eaters tend to get the shaft when summertime grilling season hits. Green salads, watermelon slices and the occasional vegetarian pasta salad. "Where's the good stuff?!" they wanted to know.

(Your unsolicited language lesson: I am fascinated by where different expressions, like "get the shaft" originated. So, as soon as I wrote the above paragraph, I had to look it up. According to the Urban Dictionary, it "(originated) in Old Europe during the Middle Ages, where burial space was often in short supply throughout many communities. To maximize use of space in many cemetaries, the dead were often buried in a 6 foot vertical shaft, rather than the usual horizontal grave position. The vertical position was considered less socially respectable. Thereafter the term began to mean poor treatment given to someone in such a way that demeans him or affirms second hand status as a citizen." Now you are fully prepared for your appearance on Jeopardy!)

Back to the mushrooms...

I have quite a few vegetarian grilling recipes, but figured that one can never have enough meatless ideas in the recipe arsenal to satisfy guests who prefer to avoid the hamburgers and ribs.

Once summertime hits and tomatoes are practically spilling out of garden beds, I can think of one thing, and one thing only...caprese. In case you're not in the "caprese know", it's a salad that stars tomatoes (the sweeter, the better), fresh mozzarella, basil and a drizzle of really good olive oil. Sometimes I also like to add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. I know you're not really questioning my love of caprese, but just to prove myself, I counted six caprese-inspired recipes on my site, in the form of everything from Make-Ahead Baked Caprese Eggs and Caprese Spaghetti Squash with Roasted Tomatoes to Caprese Olive Oil Bread and a Caprese Frittata.

For this recipe, be sure to choose portobello mushrooms that have high enough sides so that the filling doesn't start to slip out as the cheese melts. Use the sweetest tomatoes you can find, whether or not they're Roma tomatoes (which I happen to call for in the ingredients list). The sweetness factor is more important than the variety of tomato. You could even use quartered cherry or grape tomatoes, if you prefer.

If serving these as an appetizer, one per person will do. If serving as an entree, allow for two mushrooms per person, particularly if they're aren't a lot of other vegetarian-friendly dishes being offered.

[Tweet "It's for some vegetarian grilling! Grilled Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms from @cookincanuck https://www.cookincanuck.com/2015/06/grilled-caprese-stuffed-portobello-mushrooms-recipe/"]

Other vegetarian recipe for the grill:

Cookin' Canuck's Grilled Zucchini & Eggplant Parmesan
Cookin' Canuck's Grilled Italian Panini with Zucchini, Summer Squash & Basil
The Savoury Cellar's Grilled Halloumi & Peach Salad
Delish Knowledge's Hawaiian Veggie Burgers
The Study of Yum's Pupukea Naan Vegetable Wrap

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Grilled Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms Recipe

All the flavors of a caprese salad, tucked inside of a grilled portobello mushroom. This makes for a great vegetarian meal or appetizer!

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Appetizers, Entrees

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Grilling Recipes

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 25

Servings: Stuffed Mushrooms

Calories: 154kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

4 large Portobello mushrooms preferably ones with tall sides
1 ½ tablespoons canola oil
½ teaspoon salt

The Filling:

2 ½ ounces fresh mozzarella chopped∞
2 Roma tomatoes chopped
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons balsamic
6 large basil leaves thinly sliced
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions

Preheat the grill to medium. Lightly brush the grill with oil or coat with cooking spray.
Remove the stems from the mushrooms and, using a small spoon, scrape out and discard the gills.
Brush both sides of the mushrooms with the canola oil and season with ½ teaspoon salt.
Grill the mushrooms until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Pour out any accumulated liquid.

The Filling:

In a medium bowl, stir together the mozzarella, tomato, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, ¾ of the sliced basil, salt and pepper.
Divide the mozzarella mixture between the 4 mushrooms. Place on the grill, close the cover and cook until the cheese is almost melted, 2 to 3 minutes.
Garnish with the remaining basil and serve.

Notes

Weight Watchers Points: 4 (Points+), 3 (Old Points)

Nutrition

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Comments

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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