Grilled Smoky Portobello Mushroom Sandwich with Red Pepper Purée
Some stories are meant to be shared.
One day in June I was taking the Amtrak train from San Diego to Los Angeles when a disturbance erupted.
A crying and distraught woman entered the business car. We were experiencing a few bumps and she was trying not to fall down. Tears were streaming down her face.
The train was pretty full, but she finally found a seat across and in front of me.
She was in so much emotional pain and wailed loudly every few seconds. She kept hitting her head on the tray table. It was so uncomfortable to witness.
Suddenly, a female train attendant appeared and sat down next to the crying woman.
The train attendant wrapped her arms around her and let the woman cry and moan in her arms. After about 5 to 10 minutes, the crying woman was able to compose herself.
Eventually, a man entered our train car and made a beeline to the crying woman. The attendant stood up and let him sit down.
Later, I ran into the train attendant and I asked her if she knew the crying woman. She said no. That surprised me.
I asked her because I wouldn't have been able to do what she did. Physically console a distraught stranger on the train. It would have scared me and I would worry that something violent could happen.
It also made me feel ashamed that I would let fear get in the way of compassion.
I so admired that train attendant. She saw a stranger in gut wrenching emotional pain and the first thing she did was go over to her and hold her in her arms.
I will never forget that image and next time I hope I have the courage to do that for a stranger in need.
It has been such a busy summer and I am sad it's coming to an end.
I haven't had much time to be creative and have been keeping my plant-based meals fairly simple. Today I made a PLT. Portobello mushroom sandwich with lettuce and tomato.
What makes this portobello mushroom sandwich different is the smoky flavor of the mushroom thanks to liquid smoke.
If you haven't experimented with liquid smoke yet, you should. A little goes a long way and it adds tremendous flavor.
I also garnished the portobello mushroom sandwich with an easy to make red pepper purée. You could also use mustard or vegan mayo.
Hope you enjoy this portobello mushroom sandwich as much as I did. Don't miss any of Ordinary Vegan's free recipes by signing up here.
- 2 large portobello mushrooms, sliced intro strips
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 5½ tablespoons liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 8 slices of bread
- 2 tomatoes, sliced
- 8 lettuce leaves
- big handful of bean sprouts
- salt & pepper to taste
- Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or use a hot grill pan brushed with olive oil.
- Lay mushroom strips in a large shallow bowl. In a small bowl whisk together the liquid smoke, maple syrup and salt and pour over mushrooms. Marinate mushrooms at room temperature for 15-20 minutes making sure they are covered with the marinade.
- Remove from marinade and grill slowly for about 5 minutes on each side or until they are soft and juicy with grill marks.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Divide the mushrooms, lettuce, tomato slices and bean spouts evenly to make 4 sandwiches.
- Spread your favorite condiment on top. I like to puree some roasted red peppers from a jar with a little salt and pepper and lemon juice to spread on top.
