Portobello mushrooms are so meaty that even carnivores will be satisfied with this lusty vegetarian dish. Instead of pounding the caps, we weigh them down in the skillet to flatten them while they cook.

Makes 4 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 1 hour

TOTAL TIME: 1 hour

EASE OF PREPARATION: Moderate

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/3 cup 1% milk
1/2 cup plain dry breadcrumbs
4 portobello mushroom caps, 3-4 inches in diameter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound spinach, tough stems removed
1 15-ounce can white beans, rinsed
3/4 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup grated Manchego, Gruyere or Parmesan cheese

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to very low, season with 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 15 minutes Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, place milk in a small bowl and place breadcrumbs on a large plate. Dip each mushroom cap in milk, then dredge in the breadcrumbs.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms, gill-side down. Place a heavy, heatproof plate or pie pan on top of the mushrooms and cook until golden brown, pressing down on the plate periodically to flatten them, about 6 minutes. Carefully remove the plate using an oven mitt or tongs, add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and turn the mushrooms over. Replace the plate and cook, pressing the plate once or twice, until the mushrooms are golden brown and cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes more. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.
4. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 20 to 30 seconds. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in beans, broth and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Cut each mushroom into thin slices and serve over the spinach. Top with the reserved onions and cheese.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 358 calories; 17 g fat (3 g sat, 11 g mono); 5 mg cholesterol; 44 g carbohydrate; 15 g protein; 11 g fiber; 582 mg sodium; 1382 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (220% daily value), Vitamin C (70% dv), Folate (66% dv), Potassium (39% dv), Iron (30% dv), Calcium (25% dv).

2 Carbohydrate Servings

Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 vegetable, 1 very lean meat, 3 fat

We love this dish. It was a little hard to fry the portobellos without the breading falling off -- using egg might be better, or maybe baking in the oven would be a better option. But the combination of flavors is amazing and the presentation is great -- we will definitely use this dish to entertain.

, CT

This dish was excellent! Really filling and great clean flavors. I agree with the other poster in that the mushrooms were a little hard to fry with the breading. Also, the mushrooms were a bit mushy on the "gill" side even after frying longer than stated. It didn't really matter once you put it together, though. Great flavors and I can't wait to have this for lunch tomorrow:)!

Kate, Blacksburg, VA

This is a wonderful dish! Slicing the mushroom caps before coating in breadcrumbs adds even more flavor.

Ashley, New Orleans, LA

This was really good, but I will caution you to watch the salt. I put way to much in and had to rinse everythig but the mushrooms. Also the milk doesn't really hold the breadcrumbs very well adding more when you flip the mushrooms helped. After that though it was very tasty and filling.

Samantha, NH