Recipe: Portabella Pizza Burger

When the folks at Gardein sent me a bunch of their products to grill with I really didn’t know which to try first. They have so many different products, many of them ideal for BBQ season! When you think of BBQ though you immediately think of burgers. The problem for me is that I’m not a huge fan of burgers in buns. Thankfully I’ve come up with some creative ways to enjoy burgers and today I wanted to share a recipe for what I’m calling a Portabella Pizza Burger. While Gardein did send me their product for free, all opinions are my own. We eat Gardein on a regular basis so this was simply a great opportunity for me to combine blogging and  reduce my grocery bill lol.

Gardein on the Grill

For those not in the know Gardein products are all vegan. As a vegan I appreciate that I don’t have to double check the ingredients on their products (like some other ‘veggie’ brands). Even if you aren’t vegan, the Garden products are great for the  vegan curious. Imagine if you have vegan friends unexpectedly coming to your BBQ? Gardein is there to save the day! They have so many great vegan products that you are sure to find something to suit your needs on Memorial Day. If it’s burgers you are looking for Gardein has a few different types. From beetles burgers, chicken style, black bean and the standard veggie patty. For this recipe I used the beefless burgers.

Portabello or Portabella?

Did you know that both versions are correct? You can use either so I’ve switched it up in this post. I think I like Portabello better. What’s your preference? Anyway for this Portabella Pizza Burger recipe you will need… portabella mushrooms! If you’ve never grilled mushrooms you’re in for a treat, these portabello mushrooms are delicious grilled! To prepare simply wash, take out the stem, and de-gill. What’s de-gilling? The black portion on the underside of the cup are called the mushrooms “gills”. Who knew right? We want to remove those before grilling so take a spoon and just scooped them out. Spray lightly with oil and the mushroom is ready for the grill.

Do you want sides?

Before we get going on the grill prep any other sides you’ll want. I chose a side salad and some corn on the cob. To me a BBQ is not complete with corn on the cob. Seriously it’s an obsession! You could choose coleslaw, mac’n’cheese or other grilling sides. The main ingredients for the Portabella Pizza Burger include:

• Portabella Mushrooms
• Gardein Beefless Burgers
• Marinara
• Cheese (I used Day Cheddar slices)

Portabella Pizza Burger

The trickiest portion of this recipe is ensuring that the mushroom is cooked, but not overcooked. To ensure this we stagger the cooking times of the burger and the mushrooms. I wrapped the corn in foil and placed it on the grill with the Gardein Beefless Burgers. Remember to flip the burgers, and turn over the corn regularly! When the burgers are half cooked (5 minutes) add the mushroom to the grill.

Five minutes later the burger, and the mushrooms should be cooked to perfection. Add a couple of spoonfuls of marina inside the mushroom ‘cup’. Add the burger, then top with cheese. Close the BBQ and cook for another couple of minutes to allow the cheese to melt into gooey goodness. By this time the corn is ready and it’s time to serve.

Bun or Bunless?

I’m not gluten free, wheat free etc, I simply just find the buns “filler”. I much prefer to have double the burger, or extra sides instead of the bun any day of the week. Plus by skipping the bun I save 200+ calories. I eat mine “as is” or lettuce wrapped. However, if you really wanted a “real burger”, bun and all, have at it! It would still work well with a bun. I’d just prefer a baked  potato over bread. Personal preference.

Mock meats not your thing? Choose Gardein Black Bean or Veggie Burgers instead! However you serve it. With sides, salad, bun or lettuce wrapped, it’s delicious, versatile and sure to be a hit at any BBQ this coming Memorial Day!

Questions:

What do you say: Portabello or Portabella?

What your favorite side for BBQ dishes?

Bun or Bunless burgers?