PORTOBELLO
Agaricus Bisporus
Portabello mushrooms are large and have a rounded, flat cap with an average diameter of fifteen centimeters, which is connected with a thick stem. The smooth hat varies from dark brown to tan and is firm, thick and spongy. Under the cap are dark brown fleshy gills, a small ring of the cotton-like fleece, and the stipe is fibrous, white and dense. When cooked, portabellos have a memorable chewy and meaty texture and a smoky, earthy flavor. The portobello mushroom (sometimes portobella) can be cooked in various ways, including grilling and frying. The hats can grow up to 13 cm in diameter.
PREPARATION
Portabello mushrooms are suitable for cooked applications such as roasting, sautéing and grilling. They are very versatile and can be grilled whole to make a veggie burger or hollowed out and used as a pizza base or shell for other fillings. They can also be chopped and mixed into soups and stews, baked into pasta or rice dishes, sliced into salads, chopped into a filling for a mushroom strudel, or chopped and cooked into an omelette. The hat is the part that is most often cooked and consumed, as the stem can be fibrous and woody, but the tough stem can also be used to add flavor to stock. Portabella mushrooms go well with balsamic vinegar, fresh herbs such as oregano, rosemary, thyme or coriander, marinara, spinach, leafy greens, tomatoes, goat cheese, mozzarella, cream-based sauces, garlic and onions. They will keep for 7-10 days if stored in a paper bag in the refrigerator. They can also be cooked and stored in the freezer for a few months.
Portobello mushrooms are a good source of fiber, with 11 percent of the daily value, and they are high in water, giving them a low energy density. A 1-cup serving of sliced, cooked portobello mushrooms contains 15 percent of the daily value for pantothenic acid; 29 percent of the DV for riboflavin; 38 percent of the DV for niacin; and 6 percent of the DV each for folate and thiamine. These B vitamins are essential for a healthy metabolism and nervous system, and help keep your liver, skin, eyes and hair healthy. Portobello mushrooms are rich in minerals. Each serving contains 15 percent of the DV for potassium, 16 percent of the DV for phosphorus, 24 percent of the DV for copper and 38 percent of the DV for selenium. Potassium aids in nerve and muscle function and counteracts the effects of sodium on blood pressure.
other names
- PortabellaCriminiAgaricus Bisporus (Latin)
