When I met my wife I hated mushrooms. I wouldn’t order anything at a restaurant that had mushrooms in it. The mere sight of the fungus was repulsive to me.
Opening my eyes to the deliciousness of mushrooms is one of the innumerable ways my wife has changed me for the better. Portabella mushrooms are now one of my favorite ingredients. We put them in everything. They’re fantastic.
However, even with my new love of mushrooms I was more than a little hesitant when my wife asked me to grill gigantic portabellas and turn them into burgers. I just kept wondering…where’s the meat? You’ll find out just as I did that no meat is required for this grilled burger. It stands on its own in a very tasty way.
The first step is marinade (Recipe below). You want to marinade them for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to seep in and let the balsamic vinegar work its magic. You can do much longer if you have time – I usually do in the morning so they’re ready when I get home.
Before you start grilling, you’ll want to prepare the wonderful sauce that will go on top. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s very easy. (Recipe Below) Again, you can make this the day before – it will stay good in your fridge for an extended period, so don’t worry.
Set up your grill for direct cooking. You’re going to cook these just like regular burgers. Don’t even ask me if you should throw wood on when you know the answer is yes.
Place the portabellas on the grill, cap side up to start. You only need to grill them for 5-8 minutes on each side, depending how hot your grill is. Flip them over and feel free to pour any extra marinade on there…that’s tasty stuff. And yes, it’s safe.
After a minute or two, place your cheese on the portabellas and close all vents so the heat stays in to melt the cheese. It should only take 3-5 minutes for your cheese to be good and melted and your mushrooms to be warm and soft.
Take em off, place on a bun, add your spinach leaves, red onion and delicious sauce and enjoy this incredible – and VERY healthy – treat. You will be shocked at how “meaty” these mushroom burgers taste, and they are oh so good!
Grilled Portabella Mushroom Burgers
Ingredients
For Marinade
- 1/4 c Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/4 c Olive Oil
- 3/4 tsp fresh rosemary
- 1/2 tsp parsley
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 tsp Steak seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Toppings
- Smoked Gouda or any smoked cheese
- Spinach Leaves
- Thinly Sliced Red Onion
For Sauce
- 1 Jar Roasted Bell Peppers
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1 tbs fresh parsley
- 1/2 tbs basil
- 1/4 c chopped onion
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- Drizzle Olive Oil
Instructions
- Marinade the Mushrooms for at least 30 minutes.
- Remove mushrooms from marinade, but set aside what is left.
- Place mushrooms on your grill over direct heat, cap side up.
- Flip after 5 minutes and pour extra marinade on top (optional).
- After a couple minutes, place the Gouda cheese on the mushrooms and close all vents to trap heat for melting the cheese.
- Remove from grill when the cheese is melted, top with sauce and toppings.