I dare anyone to argue with me when I say that portobello mushrooms are the most decadent of all the mushrooms. Actually, let me rephrase that: Please don’t argue with me when I say that portobello mushrooms are the most decadent of all the mushrooms. I’m just not a fan of confrontation.
Sure, the shiitakes have their rich smokiness going for them, and oyster mushrooms are slightly sweet and chewy, making them a pleasure to cook with. The crimini, being the baby version of the portobello, are classic household staples but pale in comparison to their adult version. Portobellos have a magnificently hearty density to them that is so satisfying to bite into. Their capacity to retain flavor and moisture makes each bit a flavorful, juicy treat. They can easily stand on their own against burgers on the grill and be just as tasty, if not more, than their patty-shaped counterparts. Portobellos readily absorb any flavor you add to them, but can be just as succulent when cooked with a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper. There is just something about the portobello that causes my heart to be all aflutter when I find them on a restaurant menu or at a farmer’s market stand.
I have a very hard time not buying portobellos when I hear them calling my name from the shelf at the grocery store. Usually, if we don’t make eye contact, it’s much easier, but once I set my eyes upon those beauties, all bets are off. I was at a grocery store recently when such eye contact occurred. Fast forward to me delicately pulling them out of my grocery tote and placing them on the counter as if I were handling rare gems. Since tacos are my favorite way of enjoying, well, everything lately (see exhibits A, B, and C), there was no question about the fate of these gorgeous fungi.
The portobellos were roasted in a simple, smoky, and savory sauce, then thickly sliced and placed atop a bed of sautéed corn, bell peppers, and collard greens and dressed with just a few chunks of rich avocado. Rather than a fill a crunchy taco shell, I opted for a softer version, and though I used corn tortillas, small flour tortillas would work just as well. These tacos were probably some of the best tacos I have ever had. They were reminiscent of juicy taco-truck tacos. You know, the kind that you have to eat right over your plate to catch the bits of corn falling out and have napkins ready to wipe the juice from the portobellos that drip down your chin. These tacos were the ultimate ode to portobello mushrooms, and though they were accompanied by several other delicious flavors, the portobellos really shined.
I dare you not to make these tacos. Actually, I don’t dare you. I’m telling you. Please make these tacos.
ROASTED PORTOBELLO SOFT TACOS
makes 6 tacos
Ingredients:
- 3 portobello mushrooms, stems removed and chopped
- 2 T Bragg Liquid Aminos
- 1 T balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp liquid smoke
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried marjoram
- ½ tsp dried onion granules
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup corn kernels (I used an organic frozen variety)
- ½ onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2-3 large leaves of collard greens, stems removed and roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ancho chile pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup cilantro
- ½ avocado, diced
- 6 corn tortillas (or small flour torillas)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the Portobello mushrooms, bottoms up, on the sheet.
- In a small bowl, mix together the Bragg Liquid Aminos, balsamic vinegar, liquid smoke, thyme and marjoram. Drizzle over the mushrooms. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes (depending on how firm you want them). Remove and let cool until they are cool enough to handle.
- While the mushrooms are in the oven, you can cook the veggies. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for one more minute. Add the bell peppers, corn, mushroom stems, cumin, smoked paprika, and ancho chile pepper, and mix to combine. Saute until bell peppers start to get a little soft, about 5-7 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste, then add the collard greens. Saute until the collards just start to wilt (you don’t want them to get completely wilted). Toss in the cilantro, mix to combine and remove from heat.
- Once the mushrooms are cool enough to handle, slice them, on a diagonal, into wide strips.
- Take a clean kitchen towel and lightly wet it. Wrap the corn tortillas up in the damp kitchen towel and place the kitchen towel, with corn tortillas wrapped inside, on a baking sheet and place in the oven for 5-6 minutes.
- Divide the veggie mixture amongst the 6 tortillas. Top the veggies with 2-3 slices of mushroom. Sprinkle the avocado chunks on top of each pile. You can also top with salsa and/or tofu sour cream. Serve immediately and Enjoy!
All Photos taken by Chris Miller
© Kristy Turner and Keepin’ It Kind, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material (content and images) without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kristy Turner and Keepin’ It Kind with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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What about chanterelles?!
I do love portobellos, and this recipe looks divine (as do all of your recipes)… I just had to stick up for my chanterelles! Expensive little buggers though!
Thanks, Randy! Chanterelles are pretty great, but nothing compares with biting into a roasted portobello. Just sayin’.
Pass me a mess o’ napkins, Kristy! Love tacos, love portobellos!
Comin’ right up!
I have disliked mushrooms almost my whole life but I am now pushing myself to try them in different things… baby steps! These tacos do look really good though, maybe someday soon I will be brave enough to try them!
I totally feel you on the whole trying new things bit. Broccoli and grapefruit have been the two big ones for me this year. I’m getting there.
Thanks for stopping by, Melissa!
This is totally my kind of meal – Portobellas are definitely my fave of the fungi crowd, if I am lucky I can find them on Sale, these tacos look incredibly flavorful and hearty. I am thinking a perfect Saturday night meal by the fire!
I like your thinking, Heather! Saturday night tacos?!?! Heck yes!
Okay- so I couldn’t wait until Saturday to make these, just made them for dinner tonight and they were SO GOOD! The smell alone from the herbs & other flavorings smelled so good right when it hit the pan- instead of roasting the bellas to save time I just pan sauteed them – they still were really really good and in place of collard greens I used up some baby spinach I had on had- THANK YOU for the dinner inspiration tonight
xo
This comment made me SO HAPPY! I am just grinning from ear to ear to know that you liked the tacos! Yay!
these sound delicious! i’m with you, i LOVE portobello mushrooms! oysters have a special place in my heart, but pale in comparison to the versatility of portobellos. and these tacos..i need these in my belly.
Thank you, Cailtin! I think you need these in your belly too!
You don’t have to tell me twice to make these! Portobello tacos are my favourite! I love how you paired them with fresh corn! What a great meal for the end of summer
Thank you, Gabby!
hubbs is going to love these with all those delicious herbs! yep he is the only one in the house who loves shrooms. i need a shroom intervention to like them.. maybe i will take a bite out of his tacos and see:)
I would call these tacos a mushroom intervention- take a bite!
Yum! These tacos sound wonderful! You don’t have to worry about me arguing with you regarding the joys of portobellos. I don’t like confrontation either.
The cool thing about mushrooms is how much each variety brings its own textures, flavors, and strengths. I don’t make portobello tacos often, but they were one of my favorite things at Flore. The next time I make eye contact with them at the grocery store, oh, it’s on.
Thanks Cadry! Portobello tacos are one of my new favorite things- I can’t believe I haven’t tried Flore’s! Next time…
Good luck at the grocery store- it’s awfully hard to avoid the portobello’s sultry stare.
No argument here, portabello rocks! This recipe reminds me that Summer is not yet over. Yum.
Yay for the summer not being over just yet!
Have a great weekend, Richgail!
oh my gosh i love your writing style! you totally had me laughing! i’m right ther with ya — LOVE the portobellos:) and these tacos WILL be on my radar this weekend! yUM!
Haha! Thank you! What a compliment! I hope you enjoy the tacos and have a fantastic weekend, Caralyn!
Oh my WOW! All of my favourite foods, combined! How did you know, Kristy??? These look AMAZING and will definitely be in my belly come the end of this weekend! I’m drooling already!
I just have a sixth sense about these things, I guess.
I hope you and your belly enjoy these tacos! Have a great weekend, Bex!
Thank you so much for posting this yuummmyyy recipe up at gluten free fridays! I can’t wait to make some:)
Thank you, Meghan! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Portobello mushrooms are indeed amazing. What a delicious dish, it looks so satisfying!
Glorious tacos! I can just imagine the juiciness of those babies dripping down my arm, and then me having to lick it off because I couldn’t bear to waste any of the flavor to the confines of a napkin.
You are so much like me! I would much rather lick my fingers clean during a good meal (manners be damned!) than waste it on a napkin!
p.s. I think your donate today link is going to the wrong place.
Thank you, Somer- I went and fixed all of them. I swear, something is buggy in my system, and I have no clue how to keep it from switching links! :-/
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays recipe party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest!
YAY! Thanks for helping us build a wonderful Gluten Free Community! Its great to connect! See you next Friday! Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
Thank you for hosting, Cindy! I love what you’re doing on your site and I’m happy to be part of it!
I’ve been all about the tacos lately! You bet I’ll be making these!
Thanks, Melissa! I don’t know what it is about tacos, but I can’t get enough!