Edible Paradise

A classic vegetarian lasagna filling—ricotta, spinach and Parmesan cheese—is used to fill meaty, roasted portobello mushroom caps. Use the large portobello caps; if only find smaller ones are available, buy one or two extra and divide the filling among all the caps. Serve with a fresh green salad and a whole-wheat dinner roll or spaghetti tossed with marinara sauce.

INGREDIENTS:

4 large portobello mushroom caps
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup finely chopped fresh spinach
1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
2 tablespoons finely chopped kalamata olives
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3/4 cup prepared marinara sauce

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

Place mushroom caps, gill-side up, on the prepared pan. Sprinkle with salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Roast until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, mash ricotta, spinach, 1/4 cup Parmesan, olives, Italian seasoning and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl.

Place marinara sauce in a small bowl, cover and microwave on High until hot, 30 seconds to 1 1/2 minutes.

When the mushrooms are tender, carefully pour out any liquid accumulated in the caps. Return the caps to the pan gill-side up.

Spread 1 tablespoon marinara into each cap; cover the remaining sauce to keep warm.

Mound a generous 1/3 cup ricotta filling into each cap and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan. Bake until hot, about 10 minutes. Serve with the remaining marinara sauce.

YIELD: 4 servings

SOURCE: Recipe from EatingWell: March/April 2009