Some mushrooms are more expensive than others, but they can add a lot of depth and flavor to meals. Porcini mushrooms bring a nutty flavor to risotto, while chanterelle mushrooms add color and bite to many pasta dishes.
Mushrooms are a part of the fungi family that is unrelated to animals or plants. There are over 1,000 different types of mushrooms in existence, many of which are safe for consumption while others should be left where they grow. The mushrooms available in the market today are 100% safe to eat as they have been grown in sterile environments.
Portobellos are a really popular type of mushroom because they're pretty big and meaty. They originally come from Italy, but they're used in all sorts of cooking now. They work well in pasta dishes, especially if the sauce is creamy or slightly tomato-based. And they taste great when you grill them too - some people even use them as burger buns!
Shiitake mushrooms are often used in Asian stir-fries or soup, but they can be great in a lot more cuisines. Due to the meaty texture, they also work well in pizzas and various pasta as they tend to release a woodsy, nutty flavor and bring a certain umami taste to the food when cooked. The dried Shiitake Mushrooms can be used as a powder or garnish that is far more intense than when fresh.
White Button mushrooms are some of the most common, and can be easily identified by their fan-like shape. They have a mild flavor that is popular in Chinese and Japanese cooking styles.
Many of us were first introduced to mushrooms through white mushrooms, which are also known as button mushrooms. Unlike their wild counterparts, white mushrooms have a milder flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked. They also make a good addition to salads for some crunch or in soups and on pizza topping.
This type of wild mushroom is especially popular in Europe. They aren't only beautiful with their golden color and trumpet-like shape, but they taste divine cooked simply in butter and garlic. Apricots typically have a similar smell to these mushrooms, just with more of a fleshy texture. When fresh, this fungi is quite firm but once cooked has a velvety consistency .
Old wives' tales claim that black truffles are a type of mushroom. Though they may be expensive due to their seasonality, making them rare, they are often served as a humble garnish, shaved over various pasta dishes, eggs and soups.
Chanterelle mushrooms and Trumpet Royale Mushrooms are similar in shape, but the later is darker with a waving rim. While Chanterelle mushrooms can be found on the West Coast year-round, Trumpet Royales are only in Midwest and Eastern US during colder seasons. When dried, these fungi smell like Black Truffles, but have a rich smokey aroma when eaten fresh.
The King Oyster Mushroom, also known by its more common name, is a special type of mushroom that gets its name from the thickness and size of its stem. These mushrooms are best served grilled or roasted in butter, sliced in half so that they keep their shape and retain a meaty but tender texture.
Mushrooms that are commonly found in clusters, with long thin white stems and shiny small white caps. They have a light flavor, making them popular in Asian soups and ramen dishes.
With small, soft-to-touch caps that slightly overlap one another in clusters, these mushrooms are available at most stores. They give off an earthy smell and taste great when grilled. Now that you know which dishes work best for each type of mushroom, have fun experimenting with different varieties!
