Description
Savory Christmas Stuffed Mushrooms bring festive flavors from Italy’s rich culinary tradition. Creamy cheese, herbed breadcrumbs, and delicate mushroom caps create a perfect holiday appetizer you’ll want to share with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz (453 g) cremini or white button mushrooms
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (30 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil, divided
- ¼ cup (40 g) finely chopped onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup (30 g) panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp (15 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Gently cleanse mushrooms with a damp cloth, removing dirt while preserving their delicate structure. Carefully extract and finely chop stems and onions for the filling.
- Flavor Development: In a skillet, sauté chopped mushroom stems and onions in olive oil until caramelized and translucent. Add minced garlic during the final moments, releasing its aromatic essence without scorching.
- Filling Creation: Combine sautéed vegetables with cream cheese, Parmesan, thyme, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl, blending ingredients into a cohesive, flavorful mixture.
- Assembly: Arrange mushroom caps on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Fill each cap generously with the cheese mixture, creating elegant, slightly rounded peaks that extend beyond the mushroom’s rim.
- Topping and Finishing: Toss panko breadcrumbs with melted butter, then sprinkle evenly over stuffed mushrooms. Drizzle with additional olive oil to promote golden browning and enhance richness.
- Baking: Roast in a preheated 400°F oven until mushrooms become tender and the breadcrumb topping transforms into a crisp, golden-brown crust. This typically takes 15-20 minutes.
- Serving: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a burst of color and herbal freshness. Present immediately while warm to showcase the appetizer’s optimal texture and temperature.
Notes
- Mushroom Moisture Management: Use a slightly damp cloth to clean mushrooms gently, avoiding water saturation that can make them soggy and compromise their delicate texture.
- Flavor Layering Technique: Sauté mushroom stems and onions slowly to develop deep caramelized notes, ensuring maximum flavor extraction before adding garlic in the final moments.
- Breadcrumb Crispiness Hack: Toast panko breadcrumbs with melted butter to guarantee a golden, crunchy topping that provides irresistible textural contrast to the creamy filling.
- Temperature Precision: Bake at exactly 400°F and watch carefully to achieve perfectly tender mushrooms with a beautifully bronzed breadcrumb crust without burning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 79
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 102 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg