All-Purpose Mushroom Meat Mixture
My All-Purpose Mushroom Meat Mixture Recipe is one of the most delicious ways to not only enjoy mushrooms but also turn ordinary dinners into superfood packed indulgence! This seasoned meat mixture is extremely versatile, perfect to be used as meatballs, filling for Stuffed Peppers, Salisbury steak, Meatloaf, etc.. and it’s gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb and Keto!
Professionally, I struggle with the idea of “work” vs “reality.” What I mean by that is that when I started this blog in back in 2012 it was to serve as a way to share my creative and delicious recipes that are also (BONUS) healthy too!
But as time has gone by, and I’ve experienced modest success, there’s a HUGE push to write more content that’s appealing to SEO, food trends and what will bring the most traffic to this site.
Traffic = Money
If this blog does not make money, I cannot continue to produce high quality content for readers to access for FREE.
Of course, there are lots of hobby blogs and I was one for a my first few years. However, as a site grows, so does it’s expenses. Both in the actual operation of this site itself but also all those other things that are required, like business expenses, computers, cameras and an ever growing long list of expensive stuff!
While I know this isn’t a recipe that’s going to break the internet, I’m excited to share it with you because it’s honest-to-goodness deliciousness that YOU NEED to make. It’s the type of recipe that you can use over and over in a multitude of ways!
What is a Mushroom Meat Mixture?
I’ve been making versions of this All-Purpose Mushroom Meat Mixture Recipe for many, many years. It all started with a with my Egg & Grain Free Healthy Meatloaf recipe that I shared back in 2013. Instead of using bread crumbs, I used finely chopped mushrooms, not only was the texture amazing, so was the flavor!
Over the years, I realized that I was using the same basic mushroom meat mixture recipe over and over in a variety of dishes. Every time I made something with my mushroom meat mixture, I was reminded of how versatile the recipe could be.
So, gradually I tweaked this All-Purpose Mushroom Meat Mixture Recipe until it was perfect and created a recipe that is truly amazing.
Plus, you get that superfood health boost from adding mushrooms to dishes where they weren’t previously.
Oh but before you complain that you or someone in your family doesn’t like mushrooms….. Even if you aren’t a huge mushroom fan, the mushroom flavor is not obvious at all.
I’ve served this mushroom meat mixture in recipes to loved ones who sincerely do not like mushrooms. No one noticed any mushroom flavor and agreed that the dishes were delicious WITH the mushrooms!
In fact, my BFF Kathy, who is the pickiest eater that I know and she would NEVER EVER willingly eat a mushroom in any form, continued eating the Mushroom Meatballs I made with this mixture even after I told her that they were filled with mushrooms!
That’s when I knew it was time to share this recipe with all of you!
What types of mushrooms can I use in this recipe?
I initially created this All-Purpose Mushroom Meat Mixture Recipe with white button mushrooms, however, over time I’ve made it with a wide variety of both store bought and wild foraged mushrooms, all were 100% delicious!
Some suggestions for mushrooms that can use in this recipe are:
- White Button Mushrooms
- Maitake Mushrooms
- Cremini Mushrooms
- Portabella Mushrooms
- Baby Bella Mushrooms
- Shitake Mushrooms
- Oyster/King Oyster Mushrooms
- Chanterelle Mushrooms
- Morel Mushrooms
- Porchini/Bolete Mushrooms
- Chicken of the Woods Mushrooms
You can also mix and match a combination of mushrooms, too!
To be honest, the only mushroom that I wouldn’t suggest using on it’s own is a black trumpet mushroom or other extremely thin/delicate mushroom that simply wouldn’t provide the ‘bulk’ tenderness or texture that the other varieties of mushrooms would offer!
Can you use Dried Mushrooms instead of Fresh Mushrooms?
Yes! Using dried mushrooms is a great idea and they would work well in this All-Purpose Mushroom Meat Mixture Recipe. You will want to rehydrate them in warm water or broth, prior to measuring them.
How to use All–Purpose Mushroom Meat Mixture?
Here’s where things get interesting. Now that you’ve read this far into the post, I’m sure you are wondering how to use this mushroom meat mixture!
Not only is this gluten free mushroom meat mixture delicious on it’s own, I created it to be used in any recipe that uses a seasoned ground meat mixture! Here are a few ideas:
- Cabbage Rolls
- Stuffed Peppers
- Meatballs
- Meatloaf
- Salisbury Steak
- Burger Patties
- Meat Pies/Calzones
- Lasagna, manicotti or stuffed shells
- Stroganoff
- Shepards Pie
- Swedish Meatballs with Gravy
The sky is truly the limit!
You will notice that this recipe makes a large batch. Feel free to use the option to scale it to fit what works best for you. However, I encourage you to make the whole batch and easily meal prep a few dishes ahead of time.
This fall, when we foraged several Maitake Mushrooms (our most favorite mushroom) I made up a few batches of this gluten free mushroom recipe as a way to preserve the mushrooms and spread them out for the next several months.
This mushroom meat mixture (raw) can be divided into portions and stored into the freezer, to be thawed out later and made into meals. We love having lots of one pound packages of this meat mixture in the freezer to use for flavor packed meals.
I made a whole batch into meatballs. Some were used in my Maitake Mushroom Swedish Meatballs, some we enjoyed simmered in tomato sauce and topped with lots of mozzarella cheese and the rest of the plain, cooked meatballs I packed into individual portions for the freezer.
And finally we used up the last of the green peppers from our garden, stuffing them with the mushroom mixture and baking them with tomato sauce. They are patiently waiting in the freezer to be enjoyed on a cold winter day!
5 Reasons this All-Purpose Mushroom Meat Mixture is Healthy
- Mushrooms are a superfood!
- We ditched the excess carbs that would be in bread crumbs making it keto friendly with just 3g net carbs per serving!
- This recipe is made is all real food, nothing processed!
- It’s Grain and Gluten-Free, making it less inflammatory!
- More Protein than traditional meat mixtures!
I hope you try this recipe out and once you make up a batch of my All-Purpose Mushroom Meat Mixture, here are a few recipe that I suggest trying with it:
- Swedish Maitake Mushroom Meatballs {Keto, Grain & Gluten-free}
- Mushroom Stuffed Green Peppers {Low-Carb, Grain & Gluten-free}
- Salisbury steak with Mushroom Onion Gravy {Keto, Grain & Gluten-free}
The recipe above are coming soon, so check back if the links aren’t added yet!
Yours in Health,
Multi-Purpose Mushroom Meat Mixture
Equipment
- Large Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 4 cups mushrooms finely chopped
- 2 cups Onion finely chopped
- 1/2 cup celery finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon Butter (or ghee)
- 8 cloves Garlic pressed or minced
- 2 pounds Ground Beef
- 2 pounds Ground Pork
- 4 large Egg(s)
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup dried parsley or 1 cup fresh
- 4 teaspoons Sea Salt
- 2 teaspoons Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Using a food processor, pulse to finely chop the mushrooms, garlic, onion and celery. You want there to be some texture, not a smooth paste.
- In a large skillet, over medium heat saute mushrooms, onion, celery and garlic in ghee for roughly 5 mintues or until the liquid has been evaporated. Season with a light sprinkle of sea salt.
- Allow the cooked vegetable mixture to cool before combining it with the remaining ingredients.
- Mix well. Can be used fresh or frozen for later.
