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Mushroom & Cheddar Stuffed Onions

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/mushroom_stuffed_onions.html

From EatingWell:  September/October 2012

In this recipe for stuffed onions, mild onion layers are filled with a tasty mushroom and Cheddar cheese blend spiked with sage and a splash of dry sherry. Serve as a vegetarian main dish for 4 or as a vegetable side dish for 8.

4 servings, 2 onions each | Active Time: 1 hour | Total Time: 1 1/4 hours

Ingredients

• 1 large sweet onion (about 1 pound)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, very finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1/4 cup dry sherry or dry white wine
• 4 teaspoons chopped fresh sage, divided
• 3/4 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar
• 3/4 cup coarse fresh breadcrumbs, preferably whole-wheat (see Tip)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, preferably vegan
• 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat an 8-inch-square baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Trim the ends off the onion and cut in half lengthwise; peel. Cook the onion halves in the boiling water for 2 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove the 4 largest outer layers from each half. Return the remaining pieces to the pot and boil for 5 minutes more to cook through. Set aside. Using tongs, return the 8 onion layers to the boiling water and cook until soft and pliable, 1 to 4 minutes, pulling each layer out as it’s done. Set aside on a plate.
3. Heat butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic; cook, stirring, until the shallots are soft, 4 to 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Add sherry (or wine); cook, stirring, until almost all the liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms form a soft mass, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in 2 teaspoons sage; cook 30 seconds more. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl; stir in cheese, breadcrumbs, parsley, Worcestershire and Tabasco. Finely chop the reserved onion core; add to the bowl.
4. To stuff an onion layer, hold it with the curved side cupped in your hand. Spoon 4 to 5 tablespoons of stuffing into the center and gently form it into a football-shaped packet. Lay the packet seam-side down in the baking dish and repeat with the remaining layers. Brush the packets with oil and sprinkle with the remaining 2 teaspoons sage and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cover the dish with foil.
5. Bake until the onions are bubbling, 15 to 25 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

Nutrition

Per serving : 265 Calories; 13 g Fat; 7 g Sat; 5 g Mono; 30 mg Cholesterol; 25 g Carbohydrates; 10 g Protein; 3 g Fiber; 393 mg Sodium; 489 mg Potassium

1 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 1/2 vegetable, 1 high-fat meat, 1 fat

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 4; refrigerate for up to 1 day. Let stand at room temperature while oven preheats.

• Tip: To make your own fresh breadcrumbs, trim crusts from whole-wheat bread. Tear bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. To make fine breadcrumbs, process until very fine. To make dry breadcrumbs, spread coarse or fine breadcrumbs on a baking sheet and bake at 250°F until dry, about 10 to 15 minutes. One slice of bread makes about 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs or about 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs. For store-bought coarse dry breadcrumbs we like Ian’s brand, labeled “Panko breadcrumbs.” Find them at well-stocked supermarkets.