Stuffed Mushrooms Italian Style - Appetizer - Fall 2023, Episode 3

Stuffed mushrooms are always a nice treat as an appetizer. The one drawback is they need to be served warm, so that’s a touch harder to do if you’re making a buffet. I like to use Italian sausage and add more seasonings and some parmesan. The cool thing about stuffed mushrooms is you can stuff them with just about anything from any cuisine.

Stuffed Mushrooms Italian Style
Serves 4-8

16 mushrooms about 2” in diameter, stems removed
1 pound Italian sausage – bulk or links with casing removed
4 cloves garlic, minced
⅓ cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup basil, fresh chopped
1 tsp. oregano, dry
½ tsp. fennel seeds, cracked
¾ cup parmesan, shredded
16 ounces marinara

1. Preheat oven to 400º.
2. In a sauté pan over medium-high heat, cook Italian sausage and garlic until sausage is cooked completely. Remove from heat and drain grease off.
3. Add breadcrumbs, basil, oregano and fennel seeds, stirring to combine. Allow the mixture to cool until you can touch it with your fingers.
4. Add parmesan to the sausage mixture and mix together. Using your hands, stuff the mushrooms with the sausage & cheese mix, mounding to make them full.
5. Bake the mushrooms in the oven for 20-25 minutes until mushrooms are tender.
6. While mushrooms are baking, gently heat the marinara either in the microwave or on the stove.
7. To serve, pour marinara on the bottom of the serving plate and gently place mushrooms on top of the sauce.

Tools needed:
Measuring spoons and cups
Mixing bowl
Cutting board
Chef knife
Sauté pan
Baking tray
Spoon