When I want savory, comfort food, I generally think about vegan stuffed mushrooms or Vegetable Strudel as the main course to plan my meal. However, I love portobello mushrooms because they are meaty and versatile for cooking. Vegan stuffed mushrooms, for instance, are perfect for a weeknight meal or a holiday dinner.
Easily prepped ahead of time, vegan stuffed mushrooms can be made and cooked conveniently. Regardless of the type of stuffing, my vegan stuffed mushrooms hold all the flavors inside their great caps.
However, for this vegan stuffed mushroom recipe, I provide a few options for fillings to give you several meal options in one vegan stuffed mushroom recipe.
HOW TO SELECT THE BEST PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS AT THE STORE
When shopping for portobello mushrooms, avoid any spots, which indicate the beginning of rot. Instead, look for caps that are firm and uniform in color. And, look for dry mushrooms, not ones that appear wet or slimy.
For example, I prefer lighter-colored mushrooms instead of darker ones for a more delicate flavor. On the other hand, if you prefer a deeper earthy taste, look for darker mushrooms, but be careful of spots and texture.
Sometimes, a darker mushroom can appear dry, but it may be starting to get slimy, and no one likes slimy.
HOW TO STORE PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO USE THEM
Once you get the portobello mushrooms home, place them in the refrigerator in the packaging. But, if you selected the mushrooms yourself, without packaging, do not leave them in a plastic bag.
Plastic bags, for instance, break down the mushrooms causing them to smell and get slimy.
Again, to avoid the slime, place the portobello mushrooms in a paper bag, such as a lunch bag, until ready to use. When you buy any mushrooms without packaging, you should always store them in a paper bag to prolong freshness.
Whatever you do, make sure you always cook portobello mushrooms before you freeze them, storing them in the freezer for up to one month. Then, when you wish to reheat the mushrooms, make sure you thaw completely before reheating.
HOW AND WHY ARE THE GILLS REMOVED BEFORE GRILLING PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS
To remove the gills, turn the cap over to the open side, and carefully remove the gills by scraping the gills with a small spoon. Then, make sure you use minimal water and a paper towel to dry.
Even though the gills are edible, I think they produce a yucky brown residue that makes a mess of your plate.
MANY STUFFING OPTIONS FOR VEGAN STUFFED MUSHROOM RECIPE
LENTIL STUFFING (PICTURED)
- 1 cup white onion, diced
- 1 shallot diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces mushrooms, diced
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 cup cooked brown lentils (or use Trader Joe's pre-cooked steamed lentils)
VEGAN SAUSAGE STUFFING (NOT WFPB)
- 1 cup white onion, diced
- 1 shallot diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
- 2 Field Roast Apple Sage Sausage, ground in a food processor, cooked
SPINACH RICE STUFFING
- 1 cup white onion, diced
- 1 shallot diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 8 ounces mushrooms, diced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
SAVORY POTATO STUFFING
- 1 cup white onion, diced
- 1 shallot diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large baked potato, flesh removed, and mashed
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley
Regardless of your stuffing choice, each recipe offers a different recipe for vegan stuffed mushrooms. For each recipe:
- Saute diced onion, shallot, and garlic
- Use a small amount of vegetable broth if the vegetables begin to stick
- Add remaining vegetables and cook a few more minutes
- Add cooked lentils, vegan sausage, or rice, or potatoes
- Add herbs
- Stir together until combined
- Wait until cool to the touch to stuff into the mushroom caps
PREPARING AND COOKING VEGAN STUFFED MUSHROOMS
Once the portobello mushrooms are cleaned, and the gills are removed, I like to pre-bake them to get some moisture out before I stuff them. So, first, line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Next, place the mushrooms, opening down, on a baking sheet. Then, cook in a 300 degree preheated oven for 15 minutes.
When the portobello mushrooms are removed from the oven, place them on a paper towel to cool and discard the juice on the pan; as soon as the portobello mushrooms are cooled, stuff each cap full with whatever stuffing mixture you choose.
Now, either cook the vegan stuffed mushrooms immediately or put them in the refrigerator for up to a day before cooking.
FAQs
SUGGESTIONS OF SIDE DISHES FOR VEGAN STUFFED MUSHROOMS
One idea to serve with vegan stuffed mushrooms is Butter Bean Mash with Easy & No-Chicken Gravy (pictured). Another idea is Vegan Mashed Potatoes Recipe.
OTHER IDEAS
- Oil-Free Smokey Scalloped Potatoes
- Grilled Asparagus
- Grilled Caesar Salad
- Sauteed Spinach
- Mediterranean Couscous Salad
- Mediterranean Salad
- Vegan Waldorf Salad
- Vegan Oil-Free Cornbread Recipe
- Vegan Carrot Soup
Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 4 large portobello mushrooms cleaned and gills removed.
Lentil Stuffing (pictured)
- 1 cup white onion diced
- 1 shallot diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 8 ounces mushrooms diced
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary chopped
- 1 cup cooked brown lentils I used Trader Joes steamed, cooked lentils
VEGAN SAUSAGE STUFFING
- 1 cup white onion diced
- 1 shallot diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme chopped
- 2 Field Roast Apple Sage Sausage ground in a food processor, cooked
SPINACH RICE STUFFING
- 1 cup white onion diced
- 1 shallot diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 8 ounces mushrooms diced
- 2 cups fresh spinach
SAVORY POTATO STUFFING
- 1 cup white onion diced
- 1 shallot diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large baked potato flesh removed, and mashed
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
- Place mushrooms, opening down, on the baking sheet
- Baked for 15 minutes
- Remove from the oven, place portobello mushrooms on a paper towel, and discard juice from the pan.
- Change temperature on the oven to 350 degrees
- Now make your chosen stuffing recipe
- Stuff the mushrooms, and using your hand, push it into the cap and form a rounded top.
- Place on baking she and cook for another 15 minutes until heated through.
Regardless of your stuffing choice, cook as follows:
- Saute diced onion, shallot, and garlic
- Use a small amount of vegetable broth if the vegetables begin to stick
- Add remaining vegetables and cook a few more minutes
- Add cooked lentils, vegan sausage, or rice, or potatoes
- Add herbs
- Stir together until combined
- Wait until cool to the touch to stuff the mushroom caps in a skillet, saute onions, garlic, and shallot until browned.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Anonymous
Amelia
Wondering if I could use the stuffing to stuff something other than portobellos or if I could use it as a side for something (and if so, what would it go well with)? I welcome any suggestions 🙂
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Amelia, yes, you can use the stuffing in peppers, squash, pasta shells, or anything you want. I have also served it as a side dish as well.
Brian
How long do you cook the stuffed caps? I don't see that in the recipe
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Brian, sorry for the confusion and thank you for letting me know some of the directions disappeared. I fixed the recipe. Once the mushroom is cooked for the initial 15 minutes, increase the temperature to 350 degrees, and stuff the mushrooms. Then transfer to a baking sheet and cook for another 15 minutes until heated through.