Smoky Roasted Mushrooms

I am addicted to roasted mushrooms.  Every time I go out to eat and order a steak, I order a big side of roasted mushrooms...cooked in butter and dusted with parsley. Mushrooms are often grouped with vegetables and while they have many of the nutritional attributes of produce, they also have a lot of nutritional values normally associated with meat.

Mushrooms are very low in calories. Heck, a cupful of mushrooms is only 21 calories. They are hearty and filling...a perfect low-energy-density food. They are a great source of B vitamins and probably the most mineral intense food you will find in the produce aisle. Check out the minerals found in mushrooms:

• Selenium is a mineral that works as an antioxidant to protect body cells from damage and is an essential mineral for the immune system.
• Ergothioneine is a natural antioxidant that protects the body's cells.
• Copper helps to make red blood cells and contributes to healthy nerves and bones.
• Potassium is an essential mineral which helps control blood pressure. It also contributes to sustaining the nervous and muscular systems in our bodies.

Obviously, mushrooms are very good for you. They taste great. And they are so stinking easy to prepare at home....just 5 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes in the oven. No slicing....just roast them whole. And they go with everything. Especially with a nice grilled steak! 

For this recipe, any mushroom will do. My personal preference is to use baby bellas or white button mushrooms...or a mix of both. And it has to be smoked paprika. Regular paprika will not give you the smoky taste critical to this recipe.

Ingredients

2 pounds whole mushrooms

4 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt to taste

Fresh ground black pepper to taste

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425º.
2. Toss mushrooms in olive oil and salt and pepper until fully coated.
3. Spread on a baking sheet and roast in oven for 30 minutes.
4. Remove mushrooms from oven and place them in a mixing bowl. Add paprika, 1 tablespoon of parsley and butter to bowl. Toss thoroughly to mix.
5. Remove mushrooms from bowl with a spoon and serve. Dust mushrooms with remaining parsley.

Wine pairing: Petite Sirah

Selenium is a mineral that works as an antioxidant to protect body cells from damage that might lead to heart disease, some cancers and other diseases of aging2. It also has been found to be important for the immune system and fertility in men3. Many foods of animal origin and grains are good sources of selenium, but mushrooms are among the richest sources of selenium in the produce aisle and provide 8-22 mcg per serving4. This is good news for vegetarians, whose sources of selenium are limited. - See more at: http://mushroominfo.com/benefits/#sthash.Jh2sun1Z.dpuf

Selenium is a mineral that works as an antioxidant to protect body cells from damage that might lead to heart disease, some cancers and other diseases of aging2. It also has been found to be important for the immune system and fertility in men3. Many foods of animal origin and grains are good sources of selenium, but mushrooms are among the richest sources of selenium in the produce aisle and provide 8-22 mcg per serving4. This is good news for vegetarians, whose sources of selenium are limited. - See more at: http://mushroominfo.com/benefits/#sthash.Jh2sun1Z.dpuf

Selenium is a mineral that works as an antioxidant to protect body cells from damage that might lead to heart disease, some cancers and other diseases of aging2. It also has been found to be important for the immune system and fertility in men3. Many foods of animal origin and grains are good sources of selenium, but mushrooms are among the richest sources of selenium in the produce aisle and provide 8-22 mcg per serving4. This is good news for vegetarians, whose sources of selenium are limited. - See more at: http://mushroominfo.com/benefits/#sthash.Jh2sun1Z.dpuf

Selenium is a mineral that works as an antioxidant to protect body cells from damage that might lead to heart disease, some cancers and other diseases of aging2. It also has been found to be important for the immune system and fertility in men3. Many foods of animal origin and grains are good sources of selenium, but mushrooms are among the richest sources of selenium in the produce aisle and provide 8-22 mcg per serving4. This is good news for vegetarians, whose sources of selenium are limited. - See more at: http://mushroominfo.com/benefits/#sthash.Jh2sun1Z.dpuf