Lion’s mane mushrooms are shaggy white mushrooms commonly found throughout the northern United States and Canada. Most people find them in oak, elm, and beech trees, as well as dead and decayed trees.
While unusual in their appearance, they can be a delicious staple ingredient in any home. In fact, lion’s mane mushrooms are prized for their potential health benefits. They have long been used in Chinese and Japanese medicine. If you’re eager to use lion’s mane mushrooms in your home cooking, you might like to begin with some of the following preparation and cooking techniques.
Dehydrating
After learning as much as possible about lion’s mane dosage, benefits, and nutritional value, you might be ready to start including this delicious mushroom in everyday meals. Lion’s mane mushrooms are more plentiful during summer and fall. As a result, dehydrating them can ensure you can consume them year-round.
Rinse them in water, cut off imperfections, and slice them into quarter-inch-thick pieces. Place them in a dehydrator or oven to start the drying process. You can dehydrate them at 135 degrees for approximately six hours in a dehydrator or up to four hours in an oven at the lowest temperature. Once dry, cool them before storing them in canning jars or air-tight storage bags for use throughout the year.
Sauteing
Just as you want to save time on chores, exercise, and other everyday activities, you can save time when cooking by sauteing your lion’s mane mushrooms. Sauteeing is one of the fastest cooking methods for these mushrooms and takes minimal effort.
Clean and cut your mushrooms before putting them in a skillet with olive oil on medium-high heat. Once golden brown, you can flip them and add other flavors like garlic powder, salt and pepper, and soy sauce.
Roasting
Easy recipes are any busy family’s favorite. The less time you have to spend cooking, the more time you can spend with your loved ones. Roasted lion’s mane mushrooms fit into this category. Lion’s mane mushrooms can make a delicious side dish for any meal. Cut off the bottoms, remove imperfections, and slice them to your desired thickness.
You can then add them to an oven tray with oil and sprinkle on any herbs and spices you like. Fresh thyme, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes can enhance the subtle flavors of these mushrooms. Once they are soft and golden, you can serve them on their own or with other household staples like rice or potatoes.
Barbecuing
Many people head out foraging for lion’s mane mushrooms in summer. As summer is barbecue season, it makes sense to barbecue what you manage to find tucked away under trees. Prepare your skewers and cut up your lion’s mane mushrooms into suitable sizes for skewering. You can also pair them with other vegetables like peppers, onions, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes.With its delicious charred finish, barbecued lion’s mane can be served with a tasty sweet or creamy sauce.
Cooking with lion’s mane mushrooms can seem daunting if you’ve never done it before. However, with so many compatible cooking techniques, you’re bound to find one you love.
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