You might be wondering, “how do I cook with medicinal mushrooms?” Here is our guide to cooking with 5 deliciously edible and medicinal mushrooms including the best way to cook Lion’s Mane mushroom.
If you like cooking with mushrooms, don’t settle for the same run-of-the-mill grocery store mushrooms every time you’re in the kitchen. There are several varieties that will add incredible flavor to your meals and provide a boost of medicinal properties to your dish.
1. Lion’s Mane Mushrooms
Lion’s Mane mushrooms are not as well-known in the kitchen, but they known as medicinal mushrooms due to their cognitive health benefits. Lion’s Mane mushrooms may repair some of the damage done to the brain, meaning they could help those suffering from conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
How to Cook Lion’s Mane mushroom would be suggested to sauté them in a dry pan over medium heat. Since these mushrooms have a high water content, they will release their own liquid into the pan as they cook. Once the moisture has evaporated, you can add butter or another oil to brown the Lion’s Mane to a golden color. In fact, you should also wait and add any spices or seasoning just before the mushroom is ready to eat. Some common recipe ideas can be found across the web including roasting them with shallots or making it into a burger.
2. Portabella Mushrooms
Portabellas are relatively easy to find in any grocery store, and have a variety of possible uses in the kitchen. Their meaty, hearty flavor makes them ideal as a substitute on the grill instead of steaks, or in a burger instead of meat patties. You can also stuff them as you please and then grill them.
Or try this “recipe” for your own “mushroom bacon:” slice them thinly, add some barbeque sauce and liquid smoke, and fry them. They are also hearty enough to cut up and add to a soup, stir-fry, or casserole.
Portabellas have medicinal value as they are overflowing with vitamins and minerals, which help keep your body strong and healthy. That means they also boast cancer-fighting potential too.
3. Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are also somewhat easy to find, as their distinct flavor is often found in traditional Japanese dishes. The complex, rich and savory tastes means you can use shiitake mushrooms to enhance the umami flavor of the broth when making soup, or toss it into a stir-fry for added savory crunch.
As a bonus, shiitake mushrooms are somewhat of a superfood. They’re great for the skin, they help improve blood flow in those suffering from hardening of the arteries, and they’ve been known to lower weight, allowing for guilt-free enjoyment.
4. Morels
Morels are a delight for mushroom hunters, who love to find them in the wild. This treasured mushroom has a flavor unlike anything else. It is meaty, without being too thick; it’s earthy, without being too overpowering. To cook morels, simply sauté them with a little oil, butter, wine, or cream – or a combination of one or more of those ingredients – and you’ll delight in the tastiest of meals.
Morels medicinal property is a high calcium content, which makes them ideal for bone health and preventing osteoporosis. They’re also high in important vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin B12 and Copper.
5. Cordyceps
Cordyceps are the most exotic on the list because of the way they’re cultivated. Cordyceps are found on the backs of bugs, making it difficult to harvest in any kind of measurable quantity. That can make them pricey but they are worth it as a healthy and tasty addition to a soup or stir-fry.
As for their medicinal properties, cordyceps mushrooms are known for their libido-enhancing side effects, as well as their ability to boost athletic performance. In addition, cordyceps may also help fight cancer due to their high antioxidant content.
Final Thoughts
While traditional white button mushrooms are great for cooking or in salads, and easy to find at the store, there is benefit in adding a variety of medicinal mushrooms to your menu.
Increase the flavor of your meals and boost the medicinal properties of what you’re eating by adding one of these five medicinal mushrooms to your ingredient list.
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