August 22, 2023

Balsamic Glazed Portobello Mushroom Burger

A juicy grilled portobello mushroom is shown enclosed in a hamburger bun with layers of romaine lettuce, heirloom tomato, and vinegar marinated onion on a 20 cm Deruta-style plate.

When I say "portobello" do you think of antiquing in London, or do you think of mushrooms? I love both, however, will focus on the fungus today.

I asked Donald to pick up some mushrooms for dinner last week, and while he shopped did a bit of poking around the Mushroom Council website. It was only then that I learned that Portobello mushrooms are the same variety as the white mushrooms we caramelized a few weeks ago! The site further confirmed that Crimini were also the same variety being a bit more mature than white and a bit less mature than Portobellos, giving rise to the moniker "Baby Bella". In all cases the mushroom variety is "Agaricus bisporus" and the names we see in shops are marketing names. Several different spellings are accepted: Portobello, Portabello, Portobella for the big ones and "Cremini" as well as Crimini for the "Baby Bellas". I've chosen to use the spelling favored by the Mushroom Council in my copy and the following illustration, which is a composite I created from the Council's  explanatory imagery.

close up images of portobello, white, and cremini mushrooms
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