Fried Stuffed Mushrooms

Back in April I decided to take a short two week break from food photography and food blogging. Before I knew it, two weeks turned into months. My sincere apologies. I have missed you LPB!

Ok, let's fry something, shall we? This recipe is inspired the jumbo shroom appetizers I gorged on during many happy hours at Hoolihans. These go great with their liter sized long island iced teas :)

Fried Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe

Filling
8 oz onion and chive flavored cream cheese
1/4 ts. garlic powder
1/4 ts. cayenne pepper
1/2 ts. salt
1/4 ts. pepper
1 ts. Tabasco sauce, optional
 20 large button mushrooms

Coating
1, 8oz package Panko bread crumbs
3 beaten eggs
1 cup flour

Oil for deep frying

Start with clean mushrooms.

Separate the stem from the mushroom cap by gently wiggling the stem back and forth. It should pop out. Do this for all the mushrooms, then set aside.

Mix the cream cheese, garlic powder, cayenne, Tabasco, salt, and pepper until thoroughly combined.

Take a heaping teaspoon full of the cream cheese filling and stuff  it inside the cap. Continue stuffing all the mushrooms.

Take 3 bowls. Fill the first bowl with the flour, fill the second bowl with the beaten egg and the third bowl with the Panko bread crumbs.

Dredge the mushroom cap in flour and shake off the excess.

Next, dip the mushroom in the beaten egg, making sure the entire mushroom is coated.

Last, coat it with the bread crumbs. (Note, if you like a thick, crunchy coating like I do, then re-dip the mushrooms back into the egg and then the bread crumbs for a second time).

Finish coating all the mushrooms and then let it sit for 10 minutes to set the coating. After 10 minutes, put the mushrooms in the freezer for 30 minutes. I like to think this helps set the cream cheese so it doesn't ooze out in the hot oil.

Heat your oil on medium heat.

Fry until golden brown.

Best when served hot with lemons.