These stuffed mushrooms are just perfect as a nice and simple dinner, but they also make a great appetizer. This is exactly the kind of comfort food I like, and on top of that they are filled with healthy stuff! This recipe is also gluten free. At home we love the vegetarian version as much as the one with bacon, you get to choose which one you’d like the most!

Makes 3-4 servings

• 1 pack of large, whole white mushrooms (about 7-8, depending on the size)
• ⅔ cup (70gr) shredded Swiss (or Italian) cheese + a little more to sprinkle
• 2  tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• 2 to 3 tbsp plain yogurt
• 3 tbsp cream cheese (plain or garlic & herbs)
• 1 or 2 garlic cloves
• 1 medium sized zucchini (or two small ones), grated
• 2 tbsp pine nuts
• 6 thin bacon (or dried Italian ham) slices – Optional for a vegetarian version
• Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning
• Marinara sauce (a few tbsp)

Clean mushrooms, and carefully remove stems and most of the brown inside part without piercing caps. Set stems aside. Make sure the caps are stable when placed upside down on a plate, otherwise cut a thin slice at the bottom to make them steady. In a large nonstick skillet, cook bacon slices on medium-high heat until crisp like chips, then crumble and set aside. In a food processor, pulse together Swiss cheese, parmesan, yogurt, cream cheese, garlic, mushroom stems, some salt, pepper and Italian seasoning into a thick mixture. Combine this mixture with grated zucchini, crumbled bacon, and pine nuts. Generously fill mushroom caps with stuffing. If you have some stuffing left, combine it with a few tbsp of marinara sauce, and pour sauce in a baking dish, making a layer of about ½”. Place stuffed mushroom caps on top of the sauce, and sprinkle some shredded cheese over the mushrooms. Bake in preheated oven (200°C/390°F) for about 15′-20′, depending on the size of the mushrooms.

I like to serve these stuffed mushrooms as a dinner with rice or orzo for example. But they can also be served as an appetizer, if simply baked (without sauce) on a baking sheet.