There are many mushroom haters in our world, chiefly people who dislike its texture and earthy flavor. I think of these as people who have never really eaten mushrooms cooked the right way. Combined with the right ingredients and cooked until they are tender enough, but still have a bite, mushrooms are tasty and among the easiest vegetables to prep and cook. What also doesn’t help cooks is all those urban legends surrounding the simple act of washing mushrooms. The recommendations range from a brush to a kitchen towel to wipe them off because water is the enemy that will make mushrooms go soggy and heavy on you. But they came out of the earth covered in dirt didn’t they? I don’t just want to brush them off. And the fact is, a quick shower won’t hurt them. The way I do it is, I put the mushrooms in a colander with large holes through which the dirt can pass through, and give them a quick rinse. Right away, I dry them off on a kitchen towel, before prepping them for the recipe. What you don’t want to do is to leave the mushrooms floating in water for any length of time. There are many reasons to love mushrooms. Chief among them is their spongy texture which will soak in any flavor you cook them with. But mushrooms are also incredibly healthy. They are high in antioxidants and anti-carcinogenic – as in they keep cancer cells from forming. Like all veggies, they are rich in fiber and vitamins and promote heart health. And some varieties are rich in iron – always a great benefit for a vegan. Plus, there are so many kinds of mushrooms to love. Crimini, button, shiitake, oyster, portabella, chanterelles, enoki…I don’t think I can keep up, so I’ll stop there. Each has a unique flavor and texture, making mushrooms versatile eats, especially as meat substitutes in the vegan diet. Check to get new recipe updates by email.
There are a ton of mushroom recipes on this blog from the many, many years I’ve been cooking and eating them. I love them in old, comfort food favorites like My Dad’s Not Mutton Mushroom Curry. But for speed and ease, this recipe for stir-fried mushrooms is one of my favorites. I hope it’ll become one of yours.
More yummy mushroom recipes
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