Stuffed mushroom caps are a delicious addition to an appetizer spread at an hors d'oeuvres party or an elegant main dish for a simple dinner for two at home. Many people that have never been fond of mushrooms alone are surprised to find that they quite enjoy eating stuffed mushroom caps when trying them at a party for the first time. Stuffed mushroom caps have the unique ability to pair well with all types of flavors and ingredients, making them an ideal choice for their versatility and ease to make.
Geography
Cocktail parties and buffet-style dinners across the country have typically been the most common places to find stuffed mushroom caps on the menu. Different types of mushrooms grow in different regions around the world, but not all of them are well-suited to stuffing. In the U.S. several types of mushrooms are available in markets and grocery stores that are easy to stuff and serve as appetizers at parties. Since mushrooms go well with most flavors, regional and ethnic-inspired stuffed mushroom caps are often served at parties and dinners in different parts of the country.
Types
Stuffed mushroom caps can either be served as appetizers or as an entree, depending on the types of mushrooms and stuffing used and the occasion. The best mushrooms to use when making stuffed mushroom caps are button, cremini and portobello mushrooms. Since button and cremini mushrooms are small, they are ideal for use in stuffed mushroom caps intended as an appetizer, while portobello mushrooms are best for entree stuffed mushroom caps.
Features
In order to make stuffed mushroom caps, the mushrooms must first be cleaned and the stems removed. The mushroom caps should then be sauteed in olive oil and allowed to cool before stuffing and baking.
Common ingredients for stuffed mushroom caps include meats and seafood like sausage, bacon, crab, and shrimp, cheese, and bread crumbs. Appetizer stuffed mushroom caps may be stuffed with a simple cheese and breadcrumb mixture or a more elaborate crab or sausage mixture, while entree stuffed mushroom caps almost always include meat or seafood. Ingredients like sausage should be cooked before stuffing. All ingredients are mixed thoroughly and stuffed into the mushroom caps before baking. Baking times and temperatures for stuffed mushroom caps vary, though a common cooking time and temperature is 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
Benefits
Mushrooms are ideal for stuffing since their mild flavor blends well with any number of ingredients. Stuffed mushroom caps can be dressed up or down depending on the setting, with expensive ingredients like blue crab used in a formal setting and cheddar cheese and bacon for an informal gathering. Vegetarian stuffed mushroom caps are also quite popular with any combination of cheese, breadcrumbs, rice and vegetables used for stuffing.
Prevention/Solution
When cleaning mushrooms it is important to either rinse them briefly and quickly dry them or simply brush off any dirt with a towel to avoid excessive exposure to water and the resulting chewy or rubbery texture.
The mushroom stems can be finely chopped and added to the stuffing for the stuffed mushroom caps or reserved for later use in soup or other stuffing to avoid waste.
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