Shiitake mushrooms are a popular ingredient in many Asian dishes due to their rich and buttery flavor. They have a lower water content than other types of mushrooms, so they tend to taste meatier. You can cook shiitake mushrooms in a variety of ways. The most popular method is to sauté them on the stove, but you can also bake them in the oven.
Steps
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Clean the mushrooms. Rinse the mushrooms under running water and then pat them dry with a clean towel or paper towel. [1] X Research source Alternately, you could just rub each mushroom cap with a damp paper towel to remove any grime or dirt. [2] X Expert Source Yoko Isassi
Japanese Food Specialist Expert Interview. 30 August 2021. -
Cut off the stems. The stems of shiitake mushrooms are too tough to eat, so you’ll need to remove them. [3] X Research source Turn the mushroom upside down and use a knife to slice the stem right where it meets the bottom of the cap. [4] X Expert Source Yoko Isassi
Japanese Food Specialist Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.- Save the stems and store them in the freezer to toss into your next stockpot. They’ll add a hearty flavor to your favorite stock recipe.
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Cut the mushroom in half for longer-cooking dishes. For roasts, soups, and stews, the mushrooms will have a longer time to cook and won’t need to be cut into small pieces. Simply slice each mushroom in half across the cap.
- If the halves are still too large for your taste, cut them one more time into quarters. [5]
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Expert Source
Yoko Isassi
Japanese Food Specialist Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
- If the halves are still too large for your taste, cut them one more time into quarters. [5]
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Expert Source
Yoko Isassi
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Slice the mushroom all the way across for sautés. For quick dishes like a stir-fry or a sauté, you’ll want the mushrooms to be cut into smaller pieces. Place the mushroom flat on the cutting board and cut it into even slices all the way across.
- The slices can be as thin or as thick as you like. If you prefer more mushroom taste in one bite, cut them thickly.
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Heat 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of olive oil in a pan. Use a medium skillet and drizzle it with about 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of olive oil. Heat the pan over medium heat. To know when the pan is hot enough, toss a small drop of water into it. If it sizzles, the pan is ready. [6] X Research source
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Add the mushrooms to the pan. Spread the mushrooms across the pan in a thin layer. Stir them gently to coat all the mushrooms in oil. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper if you want any seasoning.
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Cook them for eight to ten minutes, stirring occasionally. Allow the mushrooms to cook until they’re golden brown and tender, which will be about eight to ten minutes. Stir occasionally so that each side of the mushroom is getting cooked evenly. [7] X Research source
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Add 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of water to the pan. Mushrooms lose some of their moisture when cooked, so rehydrate them a little right at the end of cooking by adding 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of water to the pan. Then cook them for two minutes longer. [8] X Research source
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Remove them from the heat and serve. Pair the mushrooms as a side dish with meat or fish, or mix them in with scrambled eggs or fried rice. You could also allow them to cool and then use them as a salad topping. [9] X Research source
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Stack two sheets of aluminum foil on top of each other. Using only one sheet of foil will make your foil packet more susceptible to rips, so tear off two sheets of equal size. They should be large enough that you can place the mushrooms in the middle and still fold all the ends up. [10] X Research source
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Place 2 tablespoons (28 g) of butter on the foil. Separate the butter so that you have two 1-tablespoon (14 g) pieces of butter. Space them a few inches apart on the foil so that it spreads evenly as it begins to melt. [11] X Research source
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Place the mushrooms in the center of the foil. Add in any other ingredients you want to cook with them, such as sliced onions, tomatoes, or a piece of fish. At this point you can also add seasoning, like salt, pepper, or garlic. [12] X Research source
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Fold the edges of the foil up together. Fold two opposite edges up until they meet, then pinch them together and roll the joined edges down. Next, roll up the two open ends by folding them each in a few times. This should create a completely sealed packet. [13] X Research source
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Bake the foil packet for 15 minutes at 350 °F (177 °C). Bake mushrooms alone or with other vegetables for 15 minutes. If you are baking the mushrooms along with meat or fish, you may need to increase the amount of cook time. Open the foil packet carefully and check the meat or fish to be sure it’s cooked all the way through. [14] X Research source
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Remove the foil packet and open it carefully. Allow the packet to cool slightly before you attempt to open it. The packet will contain hot steam, so be sure to keep your fingers out of the way as you unroll the folds. [15] X Research source
- Season to taste with salt, pepper, and a dash of soy sauce.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionDo cut mushrooms absorb vitamin D?Yoko Isassi is a Japanese Food Specialist and the Founder of Foodstory in Los Angeles, California. Since 2011, she has taught others how to cook Japanese food and educated others about Japanese food culture. Yoko holds an MA from Columbia University.Yes! Shiitake mushrooms gain vitamin D if you leave it under the sun even for a short amount of time. So, I usually leave them on a plate, top side down, near a window for an hour or so while doing some prep work in my kitchen.
Tips
References
- ↑ http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/cooking-tips/article/fresh-shiitake-mushrooms
- ↑ Yoko Isassi. Japanese Food Specialist. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
- ↑ http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/cooking-tips/article/fresh-shiitake-mushrooms
- ↑ Yoko Isassi. Japanese Food Specialist. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
- ↑ Yoko Isassi. Japanese Food Specialist. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
- ↑ http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/sauteed-shiitake-mushrooms
- ↑ http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/sauteed-shiitake-mushrooms
- ↑ http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/sauteed-shiitake-mushrooms
- ↑ https://www.organicauthority.com/buzz-news/5-ways-to-cook-with-shiitake-mushrooms
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-phelps/oven-baked-mushrooms_b_1888456.html
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-phelps/oven-baked-mushrooms_b_1888456.html
- ↑ http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/miso-salmon-with-mushrooms/
- ↑ http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/miso-salmon-with-mushrooms/
- ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-phelps/oven-baked-mushrooms_b_1888456.html
- ↑ http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/miso-salmon-with-mushrooms/
About This Article
To sauté shiitake mushrooms, run the mushrooms under water and pat them dry to clean them. Then, remove the stems and slice the caps to the size you want. Next, heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and add the mushrooms. Spread them in a thin layer across the pan, add seasonings like salt and pepper, and stir the mushrooms so they’re coated in oil. Cook the mushrooms for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown, and add a couple tablespoons of water to rehydrate them. Finally, cook everything for an additional 2 minutes, and serve. To learn how to bake shiitake mushrooms, keep scrolling!
Reader Success Stories
- "Delicious mushrooms. Followed your timing, perfect. Added a little garlic too and tossed in some fresh spinach. Perfect!" ..." more