Blue cheese and slow-cooked onions turn a grilled portobello into an indulgent portobello burger. Ruby port, a sweet fortified wine, gives extra depth of flavor to the caramelized onions.
Blue Cheese Portobello Burgers
Serves 4
Active time: 1 hour
Total time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 large portobello mushrooms, stems removed
3 cups thinly sliced red onion
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup ruby port
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1/2 cup crumbled reduced-fat blue cheese (2 ounces)
4 whole-wheat hamburger buns
1 cup baby arugula
4 thick slices tomato
Directions:
Whisk 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar and garlic in a bowl. Brush the mixture all over mushrooms and let stand for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add water and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is browned and very soft, about 15 minutes. Add port. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mostly evaporated, about 3 minutes more. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Remove from the heat and cover.
Preheat grill to medium.
Sprinkle the mushrooms with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Grill, gill-side down, for 5 minutes. Turn over and top each with 2 tablespoons cheese. Grill until the mushrooms are tender, 4 to 5 minutes more.
Toast buns. Divide the onions among the mushrooms. Serve (cheese-side up) on buns with arugula and tomato.
Recipe nutrition per serving: 359 calories; 16 grams fat (4 grams saturated and 9 grams monounsaturated); 8 milligrams cholesterol; 42 grams carbohydrate; 3 grams added sugars; 12 grams protein; 7 grams fiber; 676 milligrams sodium; and 816 milligrams potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Potassium and vitamin C, 24 percent daily value; folate, 19 percent DV; and magnesium, 18 percent DV.
Exchanges: 1 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 high-fat meat and 2 fat.
EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Find it online at www.eatingwell.com.