What Are the Different Ways in Which You Can Cook Mushrooms?

Mushrooms are a versatile option for people who are looking to add a little more taste to their cooking. In addition to the fact that they have an extremely fulfilling taste that is seldom seen in other organic foods, mushrooms are also extremely healthy as well. One of the best things about mushrooms is the fact that they are one of the few truly healthy foods that do not compromise on taste. The perception that healthy food is always going to give a tough time to your taste buds is one that has been curated by the media. In reality, healthy food will not only make you feel much better over time if you are making the switch from fatty burgers but also introduce you to a whole new world of taste that you have never explored before in your life.

For people who are novices when it comes to cooking, we have some recipes that are not only extremely simple to make but also look a bit ‘sophisticated’ so your friends are impressed by your newfound ability to turn into a Michelin star restaurant cook whenever you want.

Where To Find Mushrooms?

There are two ways that you can go about this. Either you can grow your own mushrooms or start foraging on your own.

If you are the type that likes to pay attention to the details, growing your own mushrooms is going to be an activity that is going to be extremely fulfilling as well as a learning experience for you. The main issue that you or anyone else who is interested in growing mushrooms is that it is a skill that takes some time to perfect. You are not born with all the necessary skills required to perfectly grow your own little family of mushrooms. It takes a while to slowly build up an understanding of the requirements and conditions needed to truly maximize the output of your mushroom spores.

The other alternative is simply to get a mushroom grow kit. Mushroom growing kits have introduced a new way of growing mushrooms right from the comfort of your own home without any of the hassle that is typically associated with growing them. Blue oyster mushroom grow kits along with lion’s mane mushroom grow kits are considered to be the most popular in this ensemble. This is mainly due to the fact that lion’s mane mushrooms are widely considered to be the best mushroom when it comes to cooking. They have significant health advantages as well. At the top of that list is the fact that lion’s mane mushrooms aid in increasing your concentration as well. They are also effective against neurodegenerative diseases as well, giving them a unique selling point.

If you are going to forage for mushrooms, your best chances are going to be in wooded areas near you. One of the things that you need to be careful about is the fact that poisonous mushrooms can be found in the wild. Some of these mushrooms can cause reactions so serious in the body that they can result in the death of the person who consumes them. The fact that these poisonous mushrooms can look exactly like other innocuous species only makes them even more dangerous. In order to decrease the chances of your consuming the wrong mushroom, a very comprehensive guide should be on your hands. Saving a PDF of one of the many foragers’ guides is a great idea that will save you a lot of space in your backpack. The most ideal time in which you have the best probability of growing mushrooms is right after it has rained. Mushrooms love a lot of moisture in order to grow and after a period of rain, you can see them having sprouted all over the place.

Mushroom Sauce

One of the most interesting things that you can make with your mushrooms is to simply convert them into a sauce. You are going to need butter, mushrooms that have been sliced and cut up, beef stock, onions, and some fresh herbs. Take a pan and add about 3 spoons of butter to it. Keep the heat to a medium level. You will have to keep an eye out for two things. If the butter starts to turn brown, turn off the heat. If the butter has stopped producing those foams, the other ingredients are ready to be added. Add your cut-up mushrooms and diced onions to the pan. Keep frying the mushrooms until the color starts to change considerably. The best spot in my own experience is when the mushrooms are golden in their color. This is the point where the mushrooms have been cooked to a level where there is enough taste but not too much. Cooking them beyond a certain point will result in them looking a little burnt and tasting like that as well. Start turning up the heat slowly and add the beef stock.

Once the mushrooms have reached the desired color, you can stop the heat. This is the point where you can all sorts of different herbs in order to augment the taste of the sauce. Some good options include thyme or even basil if you are feeling adventurous. The classic variety of the taste of mushrooms comes into this sauce as well. You can add it to chicken or other types of meat-based dishes as the strong taste can only be complimented by a strong dish on the other end.

Mushroom Soup

People have a weird relationship with soup. It is your one best friend when your mother has thankfully decided that you are too sick to go to school. It wells up in your belly and its characteristic warmth makes it a great option for a cold day. Mushroom soup is a great spin on the classic recipe that only makes it more interesting. The ingredients that you are going to need are a quarter cup of onion, some butter, cut up mushrooms, flour, chicken broth, and salt and pepper. The process is a bit similar to the recipe for the sauce. You have to take about 3 spoons of butter in a pan and start heating it. Follow the same instructions as before. Add the onions. Make sure to keep cooking until you can see a visible change in the color of the onions. You will be able to see the mushrooms as well as spot a brownish tint in them. Start adding the mushrooms by that point as well. The color that you need to reach (golden) should be there about 2 minutes after you have added the mushrooms. You have to add the flour and the chicken broth simultaneously. Both of these ingredients will play a crucial role in thickening the liquid to the point where it starts to resemble a soup. It should take about 3 minutes to cook. Once you can feel a visible change in the thickness of the soup, turn off the heat. At this point, you can start salt and pepper on the dish. The amount of salt and pepper should be completely based on your choice as well since this is a factor that depends almost entirely on your own personal taste.

Fried Mushrooms

This is probably the simplest recipe that you can follow for cooking mushrooms is to just fry them. Just chop some mushrooms and add them to a saucepan that is already close to boiling in oil. I personally prefer desi ghee if you can get your hands on it since it has a much richer taste than cooking oil. After a few minutes of heat, your fried mushrooms should be ready. You can go crazy in terms of the seasoning as well, so I won’t leave any specific instructions for that.

These are some of the most basic but different ways in which you can unlock the vast taste bud paradise that mushrooms. Savory in their taste and great for your health in more ways than one, mushrooms are making a comeback in recent years as the desire for organic food starts to grow slowly. There has been a very positive change in attitude when it comes to organic food as more and more people are slowly trying to get themselves out of the trap of oily foods that can fatten you up and clog your arteries. Previously, organic food like mushrooms was considered to be quite expensive. The advent of easily available mushroom grow kits have really brought down the cost quite a bit and has provided a much healthier alternative to junk food that is easy on the pocket as well/