Have you seen Blue Oyster Mushrooms at the store or farmers market? Have you felt intimidated by them not knowing how to cook with them or use them in recipes? I’ve been there!
I had my first encounter with Oyster Mushrooms Summer 2021. I first tried Blue Oyster Mushrooms simply sautéed in butter with salt. After that, I was hooked and, I continued to pursue all the culinary variations these beautiful fungi can adapt to.
So, if you are wondering, “What can I do with Oyster Mushrooms”, this article is for you. No longer will you feel intimidated by these fantastic fungi.
Let’s review some information about oyster mushrooms, how to clean oyster mushrooms, how to cook with them, and a Blue Oyster Mushroom Recipe.
What are Blue Oyster Mushrooms?
Did you know that oyster mushrooms coined their name because they grow sideways on trees and resemble clusters of oysters? Oyster Mushrooms are fast-fruiting, easy to grow, and rich in nutrients like Vitamin D.
Blue Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus columinus) are a type of oyster mushroom popular among commercial mushroom growers. Oyster mushrooms are found in many colors including pink, yellow, blue, and grey.
Oyster Mushrooms are meaty in flavor and make a great substitution for meat in many dishes. They may also be described as briny and make a great addition to seafood dishes. The texture is velvety and dense.
How to Clean Oyster Mushrooms
Oyster Mushrooms don’t need much cleaning and prep once you bring them home from the store or farmers market.
Brush off debris with your fingers and a damp towel
You can quickly rinse the mushrooms under cool running water and pat dry but, do not submerge in water.Mushrooms can become waterlogged and lose some of their flavor if water is not used sparingly.
How to cook with Oyster Mushrooms
Below are 3 categories of mushroom recipes you can try. First, the super simple and easy recipes, then recipes that take a bit more time, and finally, a few more complex recipes that are worth the time and prep involved.
15.5oznavy beans1 can - or other white bean of choice
4oz green chilis1 can
6cupsvegetable broth
1cancoconut milk
1tspdried oregano
1tspcumin
1/4tspblack pepper
1rosemary sprig
3tbspcoconut flour
Instructions
Chowder
Add the avocado oil to a medium-high heat soup pot. Sautee onions and garlic for 3 to 5 minutes.
Then add celery and mushrooms. Continue to cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients except the coconut flour.
Coconut Flour Slurry
While the soup is simmering, add 2 to 3 tbsp of coconut flour and 1/2 cup of soup broth in a small bowl. Add this coconut flour slurry back to the soup to thicken.
Continue to cook the chowder on low heat for 30 minutes. Before serving, carefully remove the sprig of rosemary.
Toppings
Serve with desired toppings. Some of my favorites include, avocado slices, jalapeno slices, chopped fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, or chives, and Coconut or Greek yogurt.
I love upgrading or “doctoring up” frozen pizza. It is an easy way to get creative in the kitchen without making a mess.
To upgrade a frozen pizza add some extra toppings like cheese, veggies, and herbs. As a bonus, you can use leftovers sitting in your fridge. Upgrading a frozen pizza is an easy weeknight meal and fantastic for individualized tastes.
So, let’s dive a little deeper into this, shall we?
Below, I review 8 ways to Upgrade Your Frozen Pizza.
The Ingredients
The below ingredients are added overtop a frozen pizza. I like to start with a clean slate, like a Banza Cheese Pizza.
Cheese
First, and maybe most importantly, figure out your favorite pizza cheese.
Is your favorite mozzarella, goat cheese, parmesan, feta, or dollops of ricotta cheese? Then add it! Play around with flavors, textures, and combinations.
Veggies
My favorite category is veggies! I love to add at least one vegetable to my frozen pizzas. Some vegetables that taste great on frozen pizza include fresh or cooked spinach, tomatoes, arugula, broccoli, peppers, or mushrooms.
Do you see the peas in the pictures? That’s a pesto pizza! It is inspired by one of my favorite dishes, Pesto Pasta Salad.
Fruit
I love adding a bit of fruit to a pizza. I am a huge fan of sweet and spicy flavors on pizza. The combination of flavors provides a contrast in flavor profiles as well as balance and complexity. Some fruits to try on pizza include pineapple, pears, apples, cherries, or dried fruits.
For more about sweet and spicy flavors, keep on reading!
Meat
I enjoy a salty addition to pizza, like a thick-cut pepperoni. Some other animal protein additions include pepperoni, Canadian bacon, grilled chicken, and sausage.
Eggs (think breakfast pizza)
I love making breakfast pizza and, it’s easy to upgrade a simple frozen cheese pizza to one. I rather enjoy a combination of chicken or pork breakfast sausage with a few cracked eggs.
To make a breakfast pizza, I’ll add the sausage to the frozen pizza. Then, about halfway through baking, drop a few eggs on the pizza and finish cooking. I finish the pizza off after baking, with some fresh parsley.
Speaking of fresh parsley…
Fresh Herbs
One of my favorite things to add to an already-cooked frozen pizza is fresh herbs. Sprinkled right overtop the cooked pie. I like to use herbs like basil, parsley, mint, and cilantro.
Dried Herbs and Spices
Another easy addition that I add to all of my upgraded pizzas is dried herbs and spices. From garlic and onion powder to Oregano to thyme to fresh cracked pepper, some dried herbs and spices add flavor!
Plus, these ingredients have a long shelf life at room temperature and can be a great kitchen staple to have on hand for other recipes.
Sweet and Spicy
Many professional chefs agree that sweet, salty, and maybe a bit of spicy is a winning combination on pizza. Maybe try a little honey, date syrup, or balsamic reduction when that pizza is hot out of the oven! You can even use jam.
Want an easy method to go about adding jam to a pizza? Start with a yummy cheese that you eat with crackers. Then think, what jam goes well with that? For example, try flavors like goat cheese and apricot jam, or brie and blueberry jam.
For more information on how to upgrade a frozen pizza like a professional chef, check out this article by Bon Appetit!
Some other examples of sweet and spicy ingredients include:
Sweet: Honey, jam, pineapple
Spicy: Red pepper flakes, chili crisp, jalapeños
Directions on How to Upgrade Your Frozen Pizza
It’s as easy as 1-2-3
1. Pick your base frozen pizza. I prefer to start with an easy cheese pizza. Perhaps try popping the frozen pizza in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. This step shaves off some time cooking.
2. Then, add your additional toppings. Think about combinations of flavors and what sounds good to you. For example, one of my favorite combinations of flavors includes thick-cut pepperoni, mushrooms, and pineapple.
I like to have some canned or frozen toppings on hand, i.e. marinated artichokes, canned beets, and even frozen peas! Having some canned or frozen foods makes upgrading frozen pizza easier because advanced planning is not required.
3. Last, add more flavor. Before the pizza goes into the oven, I add garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning.
Optional: Add some fresh herbs or greens once the pizza is finished. This addition brightens up the pizza. Some of my favorite fresh toppings include fresh basil and arugula.
Like this recipe?! Here are some others you might enjoy!
