Mushrooms hold a certain mystery. Earthy, magical and delicious.
In my younger years, my parents often took 2 vacations a year. It was the beach during the summer months and mountains in the fall. Since I have an utter obsession with water, the beach was always my preferred place. While it was packed with people, laughter and excitement exploding all around, the mountains offered the opposite. I viewed them as an enigma – intimidating and humbling.
Our vacations generally involved a lot of hiking; long days filled with my searching for edible clover, drinking fresh water from tiny creeks and stopping to investigate every mushroom I spotted.
Mushrooms fascinated me. I never was allowed to touch them. As relaxed as my parents were about things, that was the one thing they wouldn’t budge on. And naturally, being told that I couldn’t do something made me want it all the more. I would get on the ground, admire the shapes, the earthy colors, the drops of dew slowly making their way off the cap. My parents waited. They understood. Kids need the time to explore.
But let’s fast forward to today. I don’t forage for mushrooms, though maybe some day I will. I pick them up at the farmers market or grocery store and sauté them with ghee and herbs.
Today I wanted to try something a little different. An appetizer that’s easy to make, with simple ingredients that are accessible to everyone. Whether you’re hosting a March Madness party, making them for Easter or just entertaining friends and family, this is an easy one to throw together. I’m using one of my pantry staples and create this delicious appetizer that’s sure to please a crowd.
I’ve been using Mahatma rice for some time now. It’s flavorful, versatile, delicious and affordable. You can check out Mahatma rice here. For this dish, I decided to infuse the rice with green tea, golden raisins and toss it together with a combination of sautéed shallots, reduced white wine and bacon and top it with some fresh parsley. Then I take the mixture and stuff it in baby Portabella mushrooms and bake it for 15 minutes. An easy appetizer you can toss together even as your hungry guests arrive. Happy March everyone!
stuffed mushrooms with rice, walnuts, bacon and raisins
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Prep time: 5 minutes
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Cooking time 30-35 minutes
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Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
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1/2 cup Mahatma rice thoroughly rinsed
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1 green tea bag (optional)
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1 1/2 cups water
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1/4 cup golden raisins
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2 pints baby Portabella mushrooms, stems removed and hollowed out
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2 slices of uncured, nitrate free bacon chopped
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2 shallots, chopped
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1/4 cup white wine (optional use broth)
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2 tbsp finely chopped walnuts
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2 tbsp chopped parsley
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1/2 tsp salt
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1/4 tsp pepper
Equipment:
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medium sauce pan
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large frying pan
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parchment paper
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baking sheet
Directions:
In sauce pan combine rice, water, tea bag and raisins. Bring to a boil, remove tea bag, cover and turn heat down to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, turn off heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In frying pan, add bacon and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat, stirring continuously. Remove bacon pieces with slotted spoon and rest on paper towel lined plate, leaving bacon drippings in pan.
Add shallots and pinch of salt and sauté on low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring continuously, until shallots caramelize. Deglaze with wine and increase heat for 1-2 minutes until wine reduces. Turn off heat.
Once rice is cooked, add to frying pan, along with walnuts, salt, pepper and 1 tbsp parsley. Add most of the bacon back in reserving a little to top mushrooms once they finish baking. Stir to combine.
Place mushroom caps on parchment paper lined backing sheet and top with as much of the rice filling as you’d like. Bake for 15 minutes. Once mushrooms are baked, top with leftover bacon and additional parsley.
(This post is sponsored by Mahatma Rice)
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14 Comments
theresa
March 8, 2018 at 6:51 pmThis sounds absolutely incredible
Daniela Modesto
March 11, 2018 at 9:35 pmThank you, Theresa! I very much appreciate that!
Raia
March 8, 2018 at 7:01 pmOh wow! What a delicious sounding flavor combo!
Daniela Modesto
March 14, 2018 at 10:15 pmThank you so much, Raia!! 🙂
Melissa Schollaert
March 8, 2018 at 11:20 pmSo creative! I love mushrooms and trying different combos. Thank you
Daniela Modesto
March 11, 2018 at 9:35 pmWonderful! I’m so happy to hear this!
Linda Spiker
March 9, 2018 at 1:03 amStunning recipe and amazing photography!
Daniela Modesto
March 11, 2018 at 9:34 pmThank you so much, Linda and thank you for your kind words 🙂
Tina
March 14, 2018 at 5:44 pmThese look absolutely delicious! I can not wait to make them for my next party. Love that you added rice in with them.
Daniela Modesto
March 14, 2018 at 7:43 pmThank you so much. Tina! They really are quick and simple to make!
Mambo Sprouts
March 14, 2018 at 5:45 pmThe perfect combo Mahatma rice and mushrooms. What a great appetizer.
Daniela Modesto
March 14, 2018 at 7:42 pmIt’s delicious and truly a fantastic jasmine rice! 🙂
KB
April 4, 2018 at 3:28 pmYum! Loved anything stuffed in a mushroom!
Daniela Modesto
April 4, 2018 at 4:52 pmThank you so much! 🙂