Balsamic Butter Mushroom Bites

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These party-ready balsamic mushrooms combine the rich, savory flavors of mushrooms with the tangy sweetness of balsamic vinegar. Serve them on skewers, alongside crusty bread or as a side dish for grilled or roasted meat. Brown cremini mushrooms, in combination with the balsamic, offer a rich presentation, but white button mushrooms, while lighter, will work well too.

a recipe photo of the Balsamic Butter Mushroom Bites
Photo:

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Active Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
4

These Balsamic Butter Mushroom Bites are perfectly poppable party appetizers. The gut-healthy balsamic vinegar offers up an acidic tang that is tamed by the velvety smooth honey and butter. As the antioxidant-rich mushrooms cook, the sauce thickens up and hides in the crevices of the mushrooms, providing incredibly complex sweet and sour notes in each tender, earthy bite. Keep reading for expert tips, including why you should cut the mushrooms into evenly sized pieces.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • Cut the mushrooms into evenly sized pieces so they all roast in the same amount of time. If you don’t want to quarter them, you can purchase pre-sliced mushrooms, but cooking times may vary. You can also use a tube of grated garlic to save time in the kitchen.
  • Turn this appetizer into a meal: Make a double batch of sauce and brush it over salmon or chicken on the same sheet pan as the mushrooms, or use the sauce as a marinade for meat or grilled shrimp.
  • If you don’t like mushrooms, try this recipe with your favorite veggie, like asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, edamame, red or yellow potatoes or sweet potatoes. You may need to adjust the roasting time.

Nutrition Notes

  • While mushrooms’ earthy color might not fit the typical “eat the rainbow” motto, what they lack in color they make up for in nutritional value. Since they’re loaded with prebiotic fiber, B vitamins and antioxidants, regularly eating mushrooms may help reduce inflammation and chronic disease. Many types of mushrooms also provide vitamin D, a vitamin that many people fall short of that is necessary for strong and healthy bones, muscles, nervous system and immune system.  
  • Like all types of vinegar, balsamic vinegar is fermented, making it good for your gut by adding beneficial bacteria. There is some evidence that the antioxidants in balsamic vinegar may help reduce blood pressure and support healthy skin.
  • Typically made from cow’s milk and cream, butter’s rich, creamy flavor is hard to replicate. While butter’s primary nutrient is fat, it also contributes some vitamin A—11% of your day’s worth in 1 tablespoon of butter, per the USDA. And the fat in butter will help your body better absorb fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin D, in the mushrooms. Regarding the big picture, as with any other food, you don’t want to make butter your only fat source. Include it in your diet along with other types of fat, like olive oil and avocado oil.
the ingredients to make the Balsamic Butter Mushroom Bites

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

  • tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • teaspoons honey

  • 1 teaspoon grated garlic

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • teaspoon ground pepper

  • 1 pound cremini mushrooms, quartered

  • Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.

  2. Whisk 3 tablespoons vinegar, 2½ tablespoons melted butter, 2 teaspoons mustard, 1½ teaspoons honey, 1 teaspoon garlic, ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl. Add 1 pound quartered mushrooms; toss until evenly coated. Spread in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

    a step in making the Balsamic Butter Mushroom Bites

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

  3. Roast, stirring once halfway through, until the mushrooms are tender and browned and the sauce has thickened enough to coat the mushrooms, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a plate and garnish with parsley, if desired.

    a step in making the Balsamic Butter Mushroom Bites

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the best way to store mushrooms?

    Moisture wreaks havoc on mushrooms, causing them to degrade and become slimy. The best way to prevent that and keep them fresher longer is to wrap unwashed mushrooms in a paper towel, place them in a brown paper bag (don’t close the bag) and put them in your refrigerator crisper drawer until you’re ready to use them. If the mushrooms are whole, they should last 4 to 7 days; if sliced, 1 to 2 days.

  • Can I substitute the cremini mushrooms?

    Absolutely. You can substitute them with oyster mushrooms, which also absorb the flavors of the cooking liquid well.

  • Can I make this recipe ahead?

    These Balsamic Butter Mushroom Bites are best eaten right away, but you can make the sauce ahead, which will save time.

  • What pairs well with balsamic mushrooms?

    In addition to serving balsamic mushrooms with skewers, they’re excellent with our Grilled Flank Steak with Tomato Salad, Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken or Vegan Black Bean Burgers.

EatingWell.com, August 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

110 Calories
7g Fat
10g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size about ½ cup
Calories 110
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 10g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 3g 6%
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 5g 23%
Cholesterol 19mg 6%
Vitamin A 61µg
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 0mg 2%
Folate 29µg
Vitamin K 1µg
Sodium 210mg 9%
Calcium 29mg 2%
Iron 1mg 3%
Magnesium 13mg 3%
Potassium 533mg 11%
Zinc 1mg 12%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a freelance writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm

Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications, such as Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, and has edited cookbooks for Dovetail Press and The Taste Curators.

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