Meal Occasion: BBQ

Portobello Mushroom Pizza

  • 1/3 cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil, plus extra to drizzle
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 12 Portabella Mushrooms
  • 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 120g goat’s cheese
  • 1 cup small basil leaves
  • Salt and pepper, to season
  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C Combine the oil with the garlic, salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture over the mushrooms on an oven tray lined with lightly greased foil.
  2. Roast mushrooms for 5 minutes, then top with the tomatoes and return to the oven for 5 minutes.
  3. Turn the grill onto high. Crumble over the goats’ cheese and place under the grill for 5 minutes or until the tomatoes and goats’ cheese is lightly golden.
  4. Remove from the oven. Scatter with the basil leaves and drizzle with oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Mushroom & Haloumi Salad

  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 large lemon, juiced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 3 tsp dried Greek oregano
  • 1 small red chilli, finely chopped
  • 400g haloumi, drained, sliced (see tip)
  • 375g cup mushrooms, thickly sliced
  • 2/3 cup semi-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 100g baby spinach leaves
  • Extra virgin olive oil & crusty bread barbecued, to serve
  1. Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, chilli and salt and pepper in a bowl. Whisk until well combined. Use a little of the marinade to brush over both sides of the haloumi.
  2. Add the mushrooms to the remaining marinade and stir to coat all the mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate both the mushrooms and haloumi for 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat a greased barbecue plate on medium-high. Barbecue the mushrooms for 5 minutes, turning occasionally until just tender. Remove to a large bowl.
  4. Barbecue the haloumi for 1-2 minutes each side or until golden and warmed through. Add to the warm mushrooms.
  5. Add the tomatoes and spinach to the mushrooms and cheese, toss gently to combine.
  6. Arrange on serving plates, drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and serve with barbecued bread.

Mushroom Haloumi Burger by Leah Itsines

  • 1 Large Portobello or White Flat Mushroom
  • 1 Ciabatta roll (or burger bun of your choice!)
  • ½ brown onion, sliced thinly
  • 2 lettuce leaves, chopped roughly
  • 2 tomato slices, sliced thinly
  • ¼ teaspoon of chilli flakes
  • ½ teaspoon of chopped parsley
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • Sprinkle of Salt & pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon of whole egg mayonnaise
  • 1 Tablespoon of Basil Pesto
  • 60g Haloumi, sliced thinly
  1. Cut the stem of the mushroom and brush any excess soil with a damp cloth.
  2. Into a small bowl, add olive oil, parsley, chilli flakes and a small pinch of salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly.
  3. Using a basting brush, brush olive oil mixture all over the mushroom, make sure it’s all covered!
  4. On a small non-stick pan, heat over a medium heat. Cook mushroom for 4-6 minutes on each side, covering it with a lid to steam.
  5. Whilst this is cooking, on another small non-stick pan, splash a small amount of olive oil and heat on high. Add onions into the pan with a pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes (or until cooked to your liking!)
  6. Take onion out of the pan and add haloumi. Cook until lightly golden brown on each side.
  7. Toast the bread under the grill for 2-3 minutes until lightly toasted.
  8. In a small bowl, add pesto and mayonnaise into a bowl and mix.
  9. It’s time to STACK! On the bottom of the burger bun, smear mayonnaise mixture edge to edge. Add mushroom, onions, haloumi, tomato and lettuce leaves.

Eat as soon as its ready!

BBQ Mushroom Skewers with Rosemary Gremolata

  • 2 large bunches rosemary
  • 500g Button or Cup Mushrooms, cleaned, stems removed
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lemon, zest finely grated
  • 10g butter
  • Salt and pepper, to season
  1. Strip the leaves from sharpest end of the rosemary sprigs, leaving a few at the top, making enough for 12 skewers. Alternatively, you can use short, soaked bamboo skewers. Thread 3 mushrooms onto each skewer.
  2. Finely chop the garlic and 1 tbsp of the rosemary leaves together on a board. Heat 2 tsp oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Lightly toast the garlic and rosemary mixture for 1 minute or until lightly golden. Remove and combine with the lemon zest in a bowl.
  3. Increase the heat to medium-high. Melt the butter and remaining oil in the pan. Cook the mushrooms skewers for 4 minutes each side or until golden and cooked. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter and scatter over the gremolata to serve.

*You will need thick, sturdy rosemary sprigs to be used for skewers in this recipe. Soaked bamboo skewers are the best alternative. If using rosemary sprigs as skewers, use a bamboo skewer to make the first incision to make it easier to insert the rosemary sprigs.

BBQ Marinated Mushrooms

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin Olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • 4 (150g each) large flat mushrooms or portobello mushrooms

Lemon wedges, to serve

  1. Preheat a barbeque chargrill on a medium-high heat. Combine oil, garlic, thyme and rosemary in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Brush mushrooms with oil mixture.
  2. Barbeque mushrooms to 6-8 minutes, turning halfway during cooking, or until lightly charred.

Serve immediately with as a side or with salad!

Barbecue Mushrooms with Eggplant & Basil

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • 8 small flat mushrooms (portobella or white flat)
  • 1 medium eggplant, cut into 1cm-thick slices
  • 2 vine ripe tomatoes, sliced
  • 4 bocconcini*, sliced
  • 1/3 cup basil leaves
  • Toasted Turkish bread, to serve or our favourite a fresh crunchy ciabatta loaf!

*bocconcini are fresh mozzarella cheese balls available from supermarkets and delicatessens.

  1. Preheat a greased barbecue plate on medium-high. Combine oil, garlic and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Brush both sides of mushrooms and eggplant with oil. Barbecue eggplant for 3 minutes on each side and mushrooms for 2 minutes on each side or until tender.
  2. To assemble; place mushrooms onto serving plates. Top evenly with vine ripened tomatoes, eggplant, bocconcini and basil leaves.
  3. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with toasted Turkish or crunchy ciabatta bread.