Stuffed Mushrooms

3/4 cup Italian-style dried bread crumbs

3/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano

2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

2 tablespoons chopped red bell peppers

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

28 large (2 1/2-inch-diameter) white mushrooms, stems set aside 

1-cup tomato sauce

 

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Roughly chop the stems and briefly sauté in olive oil.
3. Stir together the bread crumbs, stems, Pecorino Romano, garlic, parsley and bell peppers; season with salt and pepper to taste, and blend in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
4. Drizzle a heavy large baking sheet with about 1 tablespoon olive oil, to coat. Place a tablespoon of the tomato sauce into the mushroom cavities and then spoon the filling into the cavities and arrange on the baking sheet, cavity side up. Drizzle remaining oil over the filling in each mushroom. Bake until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is heated through and golden on top, about 25 minutes. Serve.