Over the last 20 years that I've been vegetarian, the most common piece of unsolicited advice I've been given from people, when they discover I'm vegetarian, is that I simply need a big juicy steak and that will "fix me" right up. Well, 20 years later (I'm perhaps either a slow learner, or stubborn, or both) I've finally taken their advice, albeit with a vegetarian spin.
As a "meat for vegetarians" I've had fun experimenting with using mushrooms over the years, to reinvent in a variety of classic meat dishes - such as Beef Wellington, which became Mushroom Wellington, and Boeuf Bourguignon, which became Mushroom Bourguignon.
So, when I was recently asked by the Australian Mushroom Growers Association to come up with a mushroom recipe for Mother's Day, I couldn't help but have a little more fun, and continue along the "meat for vegetarians theme". This time we have the classic Steak and Chips which has been turned into Portobello Mushroom Steak and Polenta Chips with Bearnaise Sauce.
Mushrooms are fabulously meaty in texture, so I don't think it's too much of a stretch to turn hefty portobello mushrooms into portobello steaks. The trick here is to cook the mushrooms in a medium hot pan, to get a nice sear on the outside, which adds to the allusion of steak.
Served with a side salad (such as this simple cucumber salad, roasted pumpkin and quinoa salad or this fig and pear salad) it would be a wonderfully hearty mothers day lunch, satisfying vegetarians and carnivores alike.
PS. Power Of Mushrooms is running a competition at the moment where you have the chance to win one of five $500 cash prizes. Click here to enter!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- POLENTA CHIPS:
- 4 cups vegetable stock
- 1 cup instant polenta
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 2 tbs olive oil
- sea salt
- BEARNAISE SAUCE:
- 1 tbs minced shallot
- 2 tbs fresh tarragon leaves, chopped, and their stalks, chopped roughly and bruised
- 2 tbs white wine vinegar
- 2 tbs white wine
- 1 teaspoon peppercorns, crushed or bruised
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 tbs water
- 220 g unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into ½-inch cubes, 2 sticks
- Salt
- Freshly milled white or black pepper
- ¼ to ½ lemon, juiced
- MUSHROOM STEAKS:
- 4 - 6 extra large portobello mushrooms, cleaned and stalks trimmed so that the mushrooms sit flat stalk side down
- 1 tbs olive oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Begin by making the polenta chips. Lightly grease a 20cm (8 inch) square cake tin and set aside. Place the stock in a large saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil. Gradually whisk in the polenta, in a steady stream (don't dump it all in at once), and whisking continuously for 2–3 minutes or until thick. Remove from the heat and stir through the parmesan. Pour into the cake tin carefully smooth the top. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours, or overnight, until set.
- Preheat the oven to 200 celsius (400 Fahrenheit) and line a baking tray with baking paper or parchment. Remove the polenta from the tin and cut into thick chips. Arrange on the prepared tray and lightly brush with half the olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes and turn the chips and lightly brush with remaining olive oil. Return to the oven and bake until crisp and lightly browned, approximately another 15 minutes. Sprinkle the chips with sea salt and toss to coat.
- When the chips go in the oven prepare the bearnaise sauce.
- To make the bearnaise, place the shallot, tarragon stalks, half the tarragon leaves, vinegar, white wine and peppercorns in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce until about 1 tbs in volume. Strain the liquid through a tea strainer, and press the tarragon leaves and stalk to get all of the liquid. Set aside to cool slightly. Place a saucepan of water over a medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Place a heatproof bowl over the top of the pan of simmering water (ensuring the bowl does not touch the water) and add the egg yolks and water, along with the tarragon vinegar. Whisk constantly until the mixture thickens and doubles in size start adding the cubes of butter, one at a time, until all the butter is absorbed. Taste and season with salt and pepper along with lemon juice.
- Just before the chips are ready preheat 2 large frying pans over a medium high heat. Lightly brush the mushrooms with olive oil and sprinkle season with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes each side, until cooked through and lightly charred.
- Divide the mushroom steaks and polenta chips between 4 plates. Add the remaining tarragon to the bearnaise and stir through. Serve with the mushroom steaks and chips.
Notes
Nutrition (estimated per serving)
Disclosure
This post was sponsored by Australian Mushroom Growers Association. As always, all opinions are my own.
Christie says
I have never made bernaise from scratch although I love it! Definitely a special dish for mums everywhere 😉
Jennifer says
It sounds a bit fiddly but really it's not that hard. It's well worth the effort for mums on their special day 😉
Rosa says
Beautifully presented and ever so scrumptious! A wonderful dish.Cheers,Rosa
Amanda (@lambsearshoney) says
I just adore mushrooms, especially those big, meaty Portobellos, so this is an instant winner for me. Now - I just need to get someone to cook it for me.
Gourmet Getaways says
I'm always on the lookout for extraordinary recipes and this one looks amazingly delicious. Thank you for sharing a perfect dish for the holidays!JulieGourmet Getaways
Martine @ Chompchomp says
I initially glanced past this thinking it was just a steak n chips recipe. Glad I checked it out. Vego for the hubby and GF for me. Absolutely love polenta chips
Jennifer says
I love polenta chips too. Especially with herb salt 😉
Fiona @TIFFIN bite sized food adventures says
Great post Jennifer and I like the recipe in particular for polenta chips. Easy to follow. Thanks.
my kitchen stories says
There is nothing more delicious than a mushroom and I think this is a very fun twist on a classic ( and one I would be happy with)
Mel @ The cook's notebook says
Yum! I love mushrooms and they often feature as the main part of the meal. I also love polenta chips but have never had success making them. Will try this . Thanks Jennifer 🙂
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life says
I love it when people try to tell me that I should be eating meat...not!I'd rather have some gorgeous veggies like this! Homemade Bearnaise sauce would be perfect for these wintery evenings we seem to be having here in Brisbane. And polenta chips? Yum! My Mum's favourite too 🙂
Jennifer says
I love polenta chips too. I hope your mum has a great mother's day.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I'm not a vegetarian as you know but I would be 100% happy with this gorgeous plate of food.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love meaty portobellos, what a flavorful dish!
Yliana Villegas says
Wonderful recipe for vegetarian. I liked this because it has few ingredients easy to prepare within a less time. Along with this it has a good taste. Thanks Jennifer for sharing how to make a delicious recipe.