Mushrooms stuffed with beef and couscous

Couscous is an excellent choice for a delicious and healthy dish, and today's recipe will provide you with a savory preparation that will surely impress everyone who tastes it. Start by taking 200 grams of couscous, which you will mix with two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Use a fork to ensure that the oil is evenly distributed so that each grain is lightly coated. After mixing well, pour hot water, enough to cover the couscous, and let it sit for 10 minutes. This process allows the grains to absorb the water and become fluffy. After 10 minutes, mix again with the fork, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

Next, take care of the mushrooms, which will add an umami flavor to the dish. Clean the mushrooms, removing the stems, which you will chop finely. These will later be added to the meat mixture for extra flavor. Chop the onion and garlic very finely, and grate the carrot, thus preparing the vegetables for a delicious sauté.

In a large skillet, heat 2-3 tablespoons of oil and add the onion, garlic, and carrot. Sauté the vegetables over medium heat, stirring constantly, until they become soft and translucent. Then, add the minced meat (you can use beef, pork, or chicken) and cook the mixture, stirring continuously. You will notice how the meat changes color and becomes slightly crumbly, a sign that it is almost ready.

Once the meat has browned, add the chopped mushroom stems and let them cook together for 5 minutes. At this point, add your favorite spices (salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, or thyme) and pour in hot water, enough to cover the mixture in the pan. Reduce the heat and cover the skillet, allowing the mixture to simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes. After this interval, remove the lid and let it cook for another 5 minutes to allow the liquid to evaporate completely.

Once the mixture is ready, add the couscous to the skillet and mix everything very well. Now it’s time to fill each mushroom with the obtained mixture, ensuring that each mushroom is well-loaded. Place the stuffed mushrooms on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, drizzling them with a little olive oil for extra flavor and a golden touch. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and bake the mushrooms for 20 minutes. This time will allow the mushrooms to become tender, and the filling to achieve a perfect texture. In the end, you will have a delicious dish, full of flavors and colors, ready to be enjoyed with loved ones.