Tired of the same old appetizers for your get-togethers? This recipe for Roasted Portobello and Potato Skewers is guaranteed to delight both veg and non-veg guests. A few simple ingredients and a little prep is all you need for this healthy, creative, and delicious appetizer. "Meaty" strips of hearty portobello are marinated and roasted to give them a rich, sassy kick. Creamy, roasted fingerling potatoes provide the perfect pairing of mild and mellow with the tangy portobello. A luscious cashew sour cream with just enough horseradish adds a gourmet finish to these tasty treats.
While these are served on skewers, you can easily toss the roasted portobello and potatoes together and serve on a platter as a main course. It's that good, that hearty, that satisfying.
As if taste weren't enough, the portly portobello mushroom boasts benefits for your health. Mushrooms are one of the few sources of selenium, a compound necessary for the proper function of the thyroid and male reproductive systems. It’s also an antioxidant that protects the cells from damage from heart disease, certain cancers, and age-related diseases. In fact, researchers from the University of Western Australia in Perth conducted a study of 2,000 Chinese women and came to a startling finding about mushrooms; Women who consumed at least a third of an ounce of fresh mushrooms every day were 64% less likely to develop breast cancer. And finally, research suggests that it contains anti-inflammatory properties that may be useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases as well as for some chronic-inflammatory diseases. All the wonderful health benefits of these vegan steak strips remind us that plant-based foods are an abundant source of nutrition, without the harmful elements found in animal protein and without the cruelty. Grab your 'shrooms and skewers and enjoy!
To marinate the mushroom strips, combine oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, tamari, rosemary and garlic in an airtight plastic bag. Shake to mix. Add mushroom strips and seal bag. Gently shake bag to coat mushroom. Let sit for minimum of an hour on the counter or refrigerate overnight.
To make the sauce, drain and rinse the cashews and place in a blender. Add remaining ingredients and blend on high speed until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary. Add more water, by the tablespoon if necessary to that mixture can get perfectly creamy, with no texture from the nuts. Taste and adjust lemon juice, vinegar or salt. Can be made a day in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator.
To roast the portobello strips, preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Drain mushrooms. Discard marinade. Place mushrooms in a single layer on baking tray and roast for 15 minutes until moisture is bubbling and mushrooms appear to be drying out a bit.
To make the potatoes, partially boil potatoes first, by placing them in a pot of salted water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for about 5 minutes. Potatoes should be soft enough to be pierce with a sharp knife or toothpick, but still be slightly firm. Remove from heat, drain on a clean dishtowel. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place potatoes on tray in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt. Roast in the oven at 400ºF for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring once after about 8 minutes. Potatoes are done when they can be easily cut in half and when the skins are nicely browned.
To assemble the skewers, slide one potato part-way down on a skewer. Take a mushroom slice, fold into an s-shape and pierce with skewer. Set skewers aside and repeat until you run out of ingredients. Arrange skewers on a serving tray serve with sauce. Garnish with chives.
To marinate the mushroom strips, combine oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, tamari, rosemary and garlic in an airtight plastic bag. Shake to mix. Add mushroom strips and seal bag. Gently shake bag to coat mushroom. Let sit for minimum of an hour on the counter or refrigerate overnight.
To make the sauce, drain and rinse the cashews and place in a blender. Add remaining ingredients and blend on high speed until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary. Add more water, by the tablespoon if necessary to that mixture can get perfectly creamy, with no texture from the nuts. Taste and adjust lemon juice, vinegar or salt. Can be made a day in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator.
To roast the portobello strips, preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Drain mushrooms. Discard marinade. Place mushrooms in a single layer on baking tray and roast for 15 minutes until moisture is bubbling and mushrooms appear to be drying out a bit.
To make the potatoes, partially boil potatoes first, by placing them in a pot of salted water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for about 5 minutes. Potatoes should be soft enough to be pierce with a sharp knife or toothpick, but still be slightly firm. Remove from heat, drain on a clean dishtowel. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place potatoes on tray in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with coarse salt. Roast in the oven at 400ºF for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring once after about 8 minutes. Potatoes are done when they can be easily cut in half and when the skins are nicely browned.
To assemble the skewers, slide one potato part-way down on a skewer. Take a mushroom slice, fold into an s-shape and pierce with skewer. Set skewers aside and repeat until you run out of ingredients. Arrange skewers on a serving tray serve with sauce. Garnish with chives.
