How to Cook with Blue Oyster Mushrooms
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.
Quick, Easy, & Simple
- Sauteed in fat seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Sauteed and stuffed into a wrap or added to a grilled cheese sandwich.
Moderately Quick and Easy recipes
- Oyster mushrooms as an ingredient or star ingredient in a soup, chowder, or chili.
- Incorporated into a stir-fry or mixed into pasta such as Creamy Mushroom Pasta.
- Think eggs! Try cooked mushrooms folded into an omelet, served with scrambled eggs, or incorporated into a Mushroom Quiche.
More complex recipes
- Battered and deep-fried (vegan chicken fingers!)
- Chopped up and added as an ingredient in mushroom burgers.
Blue Oyster Mushroom and White Bean Coconut Chowder
Equipment
- 1 soup pot
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 lbs Blue Oyster Mushrooms
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 15.5 oz navy beans 1 can - or other white bean of choice
- 4 oz green chilis 1 can
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 rosemary sprig
- 3 tbsp coconut 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.
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!
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