Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms with Fried Garlic Breadcrumb

Outmatch last year's appetizers with Plant-Based Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms. This incredible starter will leave a lasting impression and can be served both hot and cold.

The not-so-secret ingredients are Goud *AF Very Good Cheese and Very Good Pepperoni. They’re the perfect complement to the savoury texture of the mushroom. Just be careful not to spoil your appetite!

PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 30 minutes
YIELD: 20 mushrooms 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbsp plant-based butter
• 1/2 stick Very Good Butcher Pepperoni
• 1 leek, about 2/3 cup, finely chopped
• 2 shallots, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 block Very Good Cheese Co. Goud AF or Pepper Jack
• 1/3 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• salt and pepper
• 20 buttons or crimini mushrooms, stems removed

Fried Garlic Breadcrumbs

• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tbsp bread crumbs
• 1 bunch parsley, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and grease a 8 x 8in pan or large oven-safe skillet.
2. In a medium-sized pan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Once hot add pepperoni and saute for 5 minutes. Add leeks, shallots, and garlic. Saute 5-8 minutes or until the leek is tender. 
3. Add Very Good Cheese to the pan and let it melt. In the meantime, combine plant-based milk with cornstarch and mix well - be sure plant-based is cold. Pour mixture into pan and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring often. Season generously with salt and pepper. Set mixture aside in the refrigerator to chill.
4. In the meantime make Fried Garlic Breadcrumbs. In a small pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes before adding breadcrumbs. Stirring often, fry breadcrumb mixture for 4-6 minutes or until golden, crisp, and fragrant. Season generously with salt and pepper and mix in parsley.
5. Place mushrooms in a pan, and spoon in mixture evenly between all mushrooms. Sprinkle mushrooms evenly with all breadcrumb mixture.
6. Add to the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until mushrooms are cooked and breadcrumbs are a deep golden colour.
7. Serve hot, at room temperature, or cold.