When it comes to mushrooms, the shiitake is where it’s at! This variety is one of the most savory, meaty flavored mushrooms around: and it’s super versatile. Sauté them up as a side dish, or add them to stir fries, noodles, ramen…or even make them into bacon! This mushroom is great holding its own in a risotto, or acting as a supporting character for a mix of fungi on a pizza. Here’s more about it and a tasty recipe for simple sautéed shiitake mushrooms…which are insanely delicious, by the way.
What are shiitake mushrooms?
Shiitake mushrooms are some of the most well-known in the mushroom family here in the US, right behind button, cremini and portobello. Here’s what to know about this type of mushroom:
Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most popular edible mushrooms in the world, native to East Asia. They are slender and light brown, with a tough, inedible stem. This variety, scientific name Lentinus edodes, has been cultivated in Japan and China for centuries. Shiitake means Where to find it? You can find shiitakes at most mainstream grocery stores, and they’re available both fresh and dried. The focus of this article is fresh shiitakes.What do shiitake mushrooms taste like? Shiitake mushrooms taste rich, meaty, and buttery when cooked. While you can eat shiitakes raw, their flavor is much more pronounced and developed when they’re cooked.
Can you eat the stems?
There’s an important question to consider when it comes to preparing fresh shiitake mushrooms. Can you eat the stems? Unfortunately, no: the stems of this type of mushroom are very tough and fibrous. You should pull out the stems from the caps before cooking shiitakes.
How to store and clean raw shiitake mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms grow on trees: rotting wooden logs, in fact! They usually don’t come packaged with too much dirt, but you can give them a quick rinse before using them. Here are the best practices for storing and cleaning shiitake mushrooms:
Store the mushrooms in a paper bag in the refrigerator (not the produce drawer). You can leave them in the package they come in, but the best way to store shiitake mushrooms is in a paper bag. Why? Paper allows them to breathe. Leave them in the main part of the refrigerator to get good airflow, not the produce drawer.Clean them with a quick rinse. Give the mushrooms a quick rinse to get off any dirt. Contrary to what you might think, it’s ok to rinse your mushrooms! Here’s the best way to clean mushrooms.
How to cook shiitake mushrooms to perfection
There are a few ways to cook shiitake mushrooms, but the best way we’ve found is to sauté them. These amazing sautéed shiitakes take about 10 minutes and results in an crazy amount of savory, delicious flavor! Once you’ve tried them this way, you’ll never go back. Here are the main steps (or jump to the recipe below):
Remove the stems before slicing! We’ve said it a few times because we don’t want you to miss this! The stems are very tough and virtually inedible. Cook in a skillet on medium heat for 5 minutes. We like using sesame oil for cooking them (standard, not toasted).Add seasonings and cook 1 minute. We like adding soy sauce, lime juice, Sriracha, and a hint of toasted sesame oil (see below). Give them a taste and you’ll be overwhelmed by the rich and meaty flavor.
More shiitake mushroom recipes
The sauteed shiitake mushrooms recipe below is a fantastic basic way to cook them! You can use them on their own as a side dish, or add them to various dishes. Here are some favorite recipes where you can use shiitake mushrooms:
Stir fry: They’re great in stir fries, like Tofu Stir FryRamen: Try them in Mushroom RamenBacon substitute: Make them into Shiitake BaconSoup: Try them in a Mushroom & Kale Soup or Wild Rice Mushroom SoupPasta: Use it in a mix of mushrooms in this Mushroom Pasta with Goat Cheese or Mushroom Pasta with ParmesanGrains: Add them to Farro with MushroomsPizza: Another place for a mix of mushrooms: pizza! Try it in Mushroom PizzaRisotto: Shiitake mushrooms are perfect in Mushroom Risotto (made with homemade mushroom broth!)Gravy: Add meaty flavor to Vegan Mushroom GravyVeggie meatloaf: Or use them to add texture and meaty flavor to Vegetarian Meatloaf
This shiitake mushrooms recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free (using olive oil).
More types of mushrooms
Love mushrooms? There are so many types of mushrooms to try! Sample them all: 4.4 from 8 reviews
Button Mushrooms are the most common variety, with a mild, neutral flavorCremini Mushrooms (aka baby bella) are ultra versatile for soups, pizza, pasta and morePortobello Mushrooms are a treat stuffed, grilled or dolled up as a burgerOyster Mushrooms have delicate flavor and are great sauteedKing Oyster Mushrooms are large and meaty, fantastic as a meat substituteLions Mane Mushrooms are ultra meaty and great for adding fried to a sandwichEnoki Mushrooms are great for sauteeing or using to top ramen or a hot potMaitake Mushrooms (aka Hen of the Woods) have feathered edges and an earthy, peppery flavorBeech Mushrooms are small, delicate and savory
