19 Magical Mushroom Varieties You Ought to Know The best way to Prepare dinner With

Is there something cooler within the culinary world than the mushroom? For starters, they’re blissfully bizarre: Some can have 23,000 sexes. Some glow-in-the-dark. Some can kill you. However extra importantly for us cooks, so many mushrooms are simply rattling scrumptious. 

“The enjoyable factor about mushrooms and fungi is that they are at all times type of upending our assumptions about issues,” says Maya Han, tradition consultant for the New York Mycological Society and marketing consultant for the New York Botanical Gardens. And she or he’s proper: Fungi are inherently non-binary, not becoming into the neat, clear orders of the plant or animal kingdom, which is why biologists have positioned them in a class all their very own. “The truth that they’re the third kingdom makes them type of inherently queer,” Han says. 

Mushrooms are queer certainly—particularly on the subject of narrowing down which of them are greatest to eat, and learn how to put together them. So, to demystify these fungi, I spoke to Han, in addition to forager and co-author of Wild Mushrooms, A Cookbook and Foraging Information, Kristen Blizzard, and Joseph Rizzo, a mushroom cultivator and proprietor of Blue Oyster Cultivation.  

What Are Mushrooms? 

Whereas mushrooms are discovered alongside greens and fruits on the grocery retailer, they aren’t vegetation—they lack chlorophyll and are unable to make their very own meals, as a substitute consuming useless and decaying natural matter. Additionally they aren’t animals, as they eat their vitamins by absorption as a substitute of ingestion and develop from spores. For these causes, mushrooms belong to the fungi kingdom, together with yeasts, molds, mildews, and rusts. 

Mushrooms are literally the fruiting physique of sure fungi, explains Han. “They’re type of analogous to the fruit on a tree,” she says, including that additionally they bear spores, making them the reproductive a part of a fungus. 

Most edible mushrooms are wanted for his or her style; they comprise glutamate, an amino acid additionally present in cheese, meat, and fish, which provides mushrooms their savory, umami taste. Many even have a meaty texture as a result of presence of chitin of their organic make-up, a substance discovered within the shells of shrimp and crab. Thanks to those parts, mushrooms are generally discovered in lots of cuisines—sautéed in a French duxelle, shaved over a pizza, simmered in a Japanese miso ramen, or braised in a Thai curry. 

The place Do Mushrooms Come From?

In america, mushrooms usually fall into two classes: cultivated varieties and foraged varieties. Some, just like the oyster mushroom and shiitake, can both be foraged or cultivated, relying on the place they’re discovered. The commonest mushrooms in grocery shops, just like the white button, cremini, and portobello, are cultivated, not foraged. 

A majority of frequent cultivated mushrooms within the US are grown in California and Pennsylvania. Rizzo explains that cultivated mushrooms are grown on both compost or sawdust, relying on the range. White button mushrooms, together with portobello and cremini, are normally grown in sterile environments on compost. At Rizzo’s farm, he focuses on wood-eating varieties like shiitake, lion’s mane, and oyster mushrooms, and grows them on sawdust that is been steam sterilized to create a hygienic setting. The sawdust is put right into a breathable bag, the place a tradition of mushroom spores are launched. These spores colonize the wooden, after which mushrooms develop inside it. 

Foraged mushrooms—like morels, chanterelles, and maitakes—are present in forested areas, as they like explicit timber, and thrive in damp, darkish situations. These mushrooms can even differ barely in look, texture, and taste relying on the place they’re grown. “We use the phrase ‘terroir’ on a regular basis in relation to mushrooms,” says Blizzard. “And for me, this concept of terroir isn’t just the forest and the soil, however there’s additionally the recall of the expertise of selecting them.”

Whether or not cultivated or foraged, culinary mushrooms can be found in a number of distinctive shapes: cap and stem mushrooms, for instance, can have a spherical, flat, or conical “cap” and a stem that varies in thickness. Shelf mushrooms are giant and have a tendency to develop in clusters, whereas trumpet mushrooms are formed like small horns or open flowers, and some mushrooms even appear to be puffballs.

19 Mushroom Varieties to Know

There are 14,000 recognized species of mushrooms, with extra being found on a semi-regular foundation, in keeping with Han. “It is very troublesome to exit on a birding stroll and uncover a brand new species of chook,” she says. “However with mushrooms, you are able to do that.” Under is an inventory of edible mushrooms generally obtainable and utilized in cooking—although it’s under no circumstances exhaustive.

Portobello

Measurement: Giant, about 4 to 6 inches in diameter
Look: Cap and stem mushroom with a brown exterior, a big, flat, rounded cap, and darkish brown gills beneath 
Texture: Agency and meaty 
Taste: Wealthy, savory, and earthy 

Due to its giant measurement, deep taste, and meaty texture, the portobello is just like the steak of the mushroom world, says Han. Its agency texture permits for simple grilling, making it an excellent substitute for burgers, in addition to an awesome selection to stuff. The portobello, white button, and cremini are all truly the identical mushroom—Agaricus bisporus—which might be simply harvested at totally different occasions of their life to attain their taste, texture, and measurement. The portobello is essentially the most mature, and loses moisture because it ages, giving it essentially the most concentrated taste and agency texture.

White Button

Measurement: Small to medium 
Look: Cap and stem mushroom with white, very rounded cap
Texture: Spongy with a slight firmness within the cap; stem is usually extra fibrous than the cap
Taste: Delicate, however intensifies when cooked 

The white button mushroom is the preferred within the US, accounting for the majority of mushrooms consumed. It’s additionally the youngest of the Agaricus bisporus mushrooms obtainable, and is white attributable to a genetic mutation that was found within the early Nineteen Twenties. If the portobello is the steak of mushrooms, then Han considers the white button to be the “tofu” due to its delicate taste and flexibility. Past its delicate taste, the white button can also be one of many least costly mushrooms obtainable, making it extra possible so as to add to mushroom-heavy dishes like chicken marsala, high mushroom pizza, or slice uncooked en masse for a Ruby Tuesday salad bar.  

Cremini

Measurement: Small to medium 
Look: Cap and stem mushroom that’s gentle tan to wealthy brown in coloration, with a well-rounded cap 
Texture: Barely firmer than white buttons, however equally spongy 
Taste: Extra umami and savoriness than white buttons 

Considerably of a center floor between the white button and portobello by way of age and genetic make-up, the cremini (additionally spelled crimini) mushroom has a barely firmer texture and a deeper, extra savory taste than the white button. Whereas creminis can be utilized almost interchangeably with white buttons, their deeper taste makes them a greater complement to beef and wild sport dishes. 

Maitake (Hen of the Woods)

Measurement: Very giant; can attain one foot throughout and weigh about 5 to 10 kilos on common
Look: Clustered shelf mushroom in a rippling frond form that resembles a bunch of feathers; coloration can differ from cream to grey or darkish grey, relying on age 
Texture: Tender and succulent
Taste: Wealthy and woodsy with a nutty aroma

Additionally referred to as hen of the woods, attributable to its feather-like form, the maitake is discovered within the Japanese and Midwestern US in early fall. They develop underneath oak timber, and mother-loads are discovered across the largest timber. Due to their giant measurement, these mushrooms could be roasted complete, nearly like a big cauliflower, says Han, or they are often damaged down into smaller items and sautéed; they crisp up when fried as properly. Their wealthy taste makes them fashionable in Japanese and Italian dishes, particularly vegan ramens and cream-based pastas.

Shiitake

Measurement: Medium 
Look: Cap and stem mushroom with an umbrella-shaped cap that curls underneath itself; cap varies from tan to brown, with a white underside and stem 
Texture: Dense and meaty 
Taste: Smoky and umami-packed; intensifies when dried 

Native to East Asia, shiitake mushrooms are generally present in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese language dishes, reminiscent of ramens or stir-fries. These mushrooms aren’t discovered wild within the US, however cultivators, like Rizzo, have been capable of produce them commercially on sawdust blocks, and they’re additionally simply cultivated on logs by yard mushroom growers. 

Identified for his or her deep, savory taste, shiitakes are sometimes used for an umami enhance in lots of dishes, particularly soups and shares. They’re additionally generally discovered dried, which may intensify their taste. To rehydrate them, allow them to soak for about 20 minutes in boiling water, then save the mushroom inventory to be used as a flavoring agent.  

Chanterelles

Measurement: Small to giant, relying on the place it’s discovered 
Look: Cap and stem mushroom with a flower-like form; usually golden in coloration however typically purple or white, relying on the place it’s discovered
Texture: Delicate and crisp  
Taste: Distinctive fruity, apricot aroma and delicate earthy taste

Discovered within the forests of Europe, Asia, and North America, this connoisseur mushroom modifications barely in measurement, coloration, and taste depth relying on the place it’s grown. Within the Pacific Northwest, for instance, chanterelles usually develop underneath conifers, and do not come into season till later within the fall. After they do emerge, they’ve a vivid golden coloration and a touch of apricot taste, whereas chanterelles grown in drier climates, like components of Colorado or Arizona, could have a extra concentrated apricot taste. Chanterelles from the Pacific Northwest are essentially the most generally offered selection within the States, even popping up at locations like Costco after they’re in season. As a result of these can solely be foraged within the wild throughout a restricted season, chanterelles are typically pricier than extra frequent mushrooms like portobellos and white buttons.

The fragile taste of this mushroom is gorgeous in dishes with cream or eggs, says Blizzard. “My favourite factor to eat [chanterelles] with, I’ve to say, is eggs,” she says. “They’re superior in an omelet or something with eggs and cheese, however particularly quiche.” 

Enoki

Measurement: Small 
Look: Grown in tightly packed bouquets; wispy, small, and vivid white with a tiny cap and lengthy stem
Texture: Skinny stems tackle an nearly noodle-like texture when cooked, just like rice vermicelli 
Taste: Clear and barely candy 

Cultivated commercially in East Asia, the ghost white enoki we see at Asian markets and grocery shops within the US seems nothing like how it could seem in its pure habitat, notes Rizzo. “Within the wild, it is type of extra sturdy, thicker, very type of a colourful brown-yellow sort of mushroom,” he says. When cultivated, the mushrooms are denied gentle and oxygen to offer them their distinctive white coloration and legginess. Regardless of being so skinny, although, they maintain up properly in lots of Asian soups, and are a typical ingredient in Chinese language hot pot attributable to their delicate, barely candy taste, which pairs properly with ginger, soy sauce, and garlic. 

Lion’s Mane

Measurement: Medium to giant 
Look: Fuzzy, white, and bulbous; nearly resemble snowballs  
Texture: Shaggy exterior that appears a bit like crab 
Taste: Candy and harking back to seafood 

Maybe one of many oddest-looking edible mushrooms, lion’s mane is usually used as a seafood substitute in every little thing from “fish” tacos to “crab” desserts attributable to its stringy, pull-apart texture and candy, shellfish-like taste. “It’s undoubtedly not the earthy, type of heavy, wealthy, portobello mushroom fungal sort taste,” says Rizzo. Whereas the mushroom could be discovered within the States within the late summer time and early fall, it’s thought of an “superior” foraging mushroom, so most varieties you’ll see at specialty shops are cultivated, both utilizing logs or breathable luggage. 

Morels

Measurement: Small 
Look: An elongated cap with a particular honeycomb sample; ranges in coloration from brown to black and is hole on the within—an necessary distinction between them and poisonous false morels
Texture: Skinny and tender 
Taste: Meaty, nutty, and umami-packed 

Within the US, morels seem in spring, typically as early as after the final snow, and are one of many extra sought-after connoisseur mushrooms within the nation. (They usually have a price ticket to match, too.) Morels are a mycorrhizal fungus, which means they’ve a symbiotic relationship with timber. For that cause, these mushrooms can’t be cultivated and should be foraged wild, regardless of having harmful, poisonous lookalikes, just like the false morel. Actually, even true morels ought to at all times be totally cooked, as they will also be poisonous when uncooked—even doubtlessly fatal. When ready correctly, they’re an unparalleled delicacy. “They’re only a scrumptious mushroom,” says Blizzard, noting that they’re usually present in gravies with butter, creamy pastas, atop a steak, full of cheese and fried, or just sautéed. 

Oyster

Measurement: Medium to giant
Look: Clusters of shelf mushrooms that develop like a mattress of oysters in grey, yellow, pink, and blue hues 
Texture: Dense and velvety 
Taste: Meaty and barely briny, with a little bit of anise on the nostril when foraged wild

Oyster mushrooms have gotten more and more fashionable throughout the US, particularly since they will simply be cultivated. They cook dinner rapidly, making them a no brainer in stir-fries and different pan-seared dishes. The mushrooms are additionally simply substituted in dishes that decision for white button or cremini mushrooms, particularly in the event you’re searching for an choice with a bit extra taste. “They don’t seem to be solely attractive to have a look at, but additionally scrumptious,” says Han. “I make a wonderful vegan carnitas—shredding them like pork, marinating, and roasting them.” Blizzard usually consists of them in curry, including them after her aromatics and solely simmering the dish for about 5 to 10 minutes, since oyster mushrooms can get slimy in dishes with added liquid. 

Porcini

Measurement: Medium to giant 
Look: Brief and squat cap and stem mushroom with a white stem and rounded cap that ranges from gentle tan to a darkish reddish brown
Texture: Slippery exterior when contemporary, however agency and meaty 
Taste: Daring and nutty 

Porcini thrive in forests globally, however are significantly a staple in European cuisines, particularly Austrian, Italian, Polish, and Spanish, in addition to in Russia. Showing in late summer time and fall within the US, these wild mushrooms are sometimes discovered round pine timber in giant numbers. Probably the most sought-after varieties are younger, as they are often eaten uncooked or cooked and (in contrast to many different foraged mushrooms) can maintain as much as freezing at dwelling, too, because of their agency texture. Porcini soften as they age, however drying them is a perfect approach to prolong their culinary life. Strive them in pastas and risottos, paired with potatoes in latkes or dumplings, or in gravy. 

Truffles

Measurement: Small to medium
Look: Irregular spherical form with a bumpy exterior; gentle tan to black 
Texture: Arduous, like a uncooked potato 
Taste: Intensely fragrant, musky, nutty, and earthy 

Very first thing’s first: Truffles aren’t technically mushrooms, although they’re related. Each truffles and mushrooms are within the fungi kingdom and function the fruiting physique for fungi. Nonetheless, truffles belong completely to the Tuber genus, whereas mushrooms fall underneath a number of genera. Truffles additionally develop underground, counting on animals to assist unfold their spores, whereas mushrooms disperse their spores on their very own. As a result of truffles are discovered solely within the wild, in symbiosis with hazelnut and oak timber, and require a truffle canine or pig to assist supply them, they’re an costly delicacy. 

Truffles are sometimes used uncooked, both thinly sliced or grated over a dish, or infused into oils, butters, and lotions.

Lobster

Measurement: Medium to giant 
Look: Irregular, nearly flower-like form with a vivid yellow-orange coloration 
Texture: Thick, dense, and really agency 
Taste: Nutty and earthy with a touch of shellfish 

Not like many different frequent edible varieties, lobster mushrooms are literally a parasite—forming solely after an Ascomycetes fungi assaults and eats one other fungi. “They turn out to be that vivid yellow-orange, and in addition their taste modifications,” says Han. Lobster mushrooms seem primarily in North America’s temperate forests, and their agency texture and delicate shellfish taste make them an awesome seafood substitute in American dishes. “When you have any shellfish or fish inventory or seasoning, you possibly can add that,” says Han, as this can improve the mushroom’s shellfish taste, like in a creamy lobster mushroom bisque. “What’s additionally actually enjoyable is making vegan lobster rolls with the lobster mushroom,” she says. “It is very convincing.”

Wooden Ear

Measurement: Medium
Look: Ear-shaped shelf that’s darkish brown to black 
Texture: Agency and gelatinous when uncooked, crispy and chewy when cooked 
Taste: Delicate and impartial 

Wooden ear mushrooms are mostly present in Chinese language and East Asian cuisines due to their texture. Not like different mushrooms, wooden ears retain their texture in most dishes and tackle the flavour of no matter they’re cooked with. They’re generally present in hot and sour soup, moo shu pork, and dumplings, in addition to Korean japchae. Throughout the US, wooden ears are usually offered dehydrated and located at Asian grocery shops and markets (typically labeled “black fungus”).

King Trumpet

Measurement: Giant 
Look: Thick white stems with a light-weight brown, flat cap 
Texture: Agency and meaty 
Taste: Delicate, nutty 

Typically referred to as king oysters, king trumpets truly belong to the oyster mushroom household, and are the biggest selection obtainable inside it. Whereas some mushrooms have fibrous stems which might be usually discarded when cooking, the stems of king trumpets are easy to use. When sliced and seared with butter, they will considerably mimic the feel of scallops. They’re usually used thinly sliced in Korean dishes, like kimchi jjigae, bibimbap, or glazed with gochujang for a vegan essential course. King trumpets are native to East Asia and the Mediterranean, however will also be cultivated elsewhere by hobbyists and small producers utilizing sawdust. 

Rooster of the Woods

Measurement: Giant 
Look: Shelf, feather-like clusters in vivid orange and yellow 
Texture: Agency and meaty 
Taste: Just like hen breast 

Rising in late summer time to early fall, hen of the woods mushrooms develop in temperate and subtropical climates spanning Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. They’re usually discovered on useless or dying wooden and timber, and might even assault residing timber as a parasite. Within the kitchen, they’ve turn out to be extremely popular as a stand-in for meat, particularly hen. Nonetheless, Blizzard notes that older varieties could be powerful, and due to this fact profit from being marinated earlier than cooking. She particularly loves the best way they soak up sauces and broths. “They do have this sponging impact the place, in the event you introduce them to, say, cream and lemon and butter, they soak all that stuff into them,” she says. “And it makes this actually scrumptious texture that type of is agency however melts in your mouth and is stuffed with all that taste that you just simply put in.” 

Black Trumpet

Measurement: Small to medium 
Look: A trumpet form with jet black pores and skin 
Texture: Delicate, however barely leathery 
Taste: Deep and earthy with a delicate smokiness 

Regardless of having the nickname “Trumpet of Loss of life” due to their jet black coloration, these mushrooms should not solely edible, however a favourite for cooks and residential cooks because of their intense and distinctive taste, which is corresponding to a truffle. (Black trumpets have even been referred to as the “poor man’s truffle,” as their taste can mimic that of the truffle, however at a fraction of the price.) “If it’s your first time tasting, I’d take a chew of them uncooked, after which sauce them in butter or olive oil to get their pure taste, earlier than including in lotions or herbs,” says Han. Within the US, the black trumpet is discovered predominantly in Northern California and Southern Oregon, popping up in January and February, making them one of many few edible mushrooms in season within the winter. They pair properly with different winter components, too: acorn and butternut squash, beets, and even citrus are nice accompaniments, to not point out cozy dishes like risotto. 

Beech (Shimeji)

Measurement: Small
Look: Bouquet-like cluster of white or brown small-capped mushrooms with skinny stems 
Texture: Agency, crisp, and barely chewy 
Taste: Bitter when uncooked however cashew-like when cooked 

Usually grown indoors, beech mushrooms—additionally offered within the US by their Japanese identify, shimeji—are usually discovered at specialty grocery shops and farmers markets, and are most distinguished in Japanese delicacies. They’re usually included in miso soup, for instance, in addition to udon soups. You’ll additionally encounter beech mushrooms in Thai soups and curries, and in Vietnamese pho chay (vegetarian pho). Usually confused with enoki, as they’re typically white and have an analogous form, beech mushrooms usually have a firmer texture that holds up when cooking. 

Straw

Measurement: Small 
Look: Squat and brief with an elongated brown cap
Texture: Clean, agency, and chewy 
Taste: Delicate, earthy 

You’ll most frequently see straw mushrooms canned at Asian grocery shops, as they’re agency sufficient to resist the canning course of, have a comparatively uniform measurement and form, and retain their delicate taste properly. Straw mushrooms could be cultivated with rice straw, and are extensively grown all through Asia—China being a significant producer, in addition to Vietnam, Thailand, and India. They’re most at dwelling in these cuisines, and could be added to stir-fries, soups, laabs, and curries. Canned varieties which might be marked as “unpeeled” have a barely stronger taste, whereas dehydrated straw mushrooms are inclined to style even stronger. 

The best way to Store for Mushrooms

As client curiosity in mushrooms continues to develop, many grocery shops are starting to inventory a wide range of mushrooms past simply white buttons. Han additionally suggests looking for out Asian grocery shops for a fair larger number of contemporary mushrooms, in addition to canned and dried choices. Farmers markets are greatest for native choices, particularly foraged varieties. 

When shopping for contemporary mushrooms, Han suggests selecting the freshest ones, with agency flesh. “If it is beginning to look slightly shriveled or dried out, do not get it,” she says. Additionally keep away from mushrooms with darkish spots or discoloration, as this may be one of many first indicators of decay. 

If potential, it’s additionally greatest to scent mushrooms earlier than buying them.  “[They] ought to have type of a contemporary, earthy—for lack of a greater time period—mushroom-y scent,” she says. “Keep away from something that smells off or putrid or bizarre.” 

The best way to Retailer and Clear Mushrooms

Whereas mushrooms want damp environments to develop, as soon as picked, it’s greatest to maintain them as dry as potential. Han suggests not cleansing mushrooms till you’re going to make use of them. Whereas Kenji discovered that it’s OK to clean mushrooms by washing them, the specialists I consulted advocate brushing filth off relatively than absolutely rinsing or submerging the mushrooms, as an excessive amount of water can dilute the flavour of some extra delicate varieties.

The dirtiest a part of the mushroom will doubtless be the top of its stem or base, which connects to the fungi’s mycelium, or root-like construction that types underground. “There is likely to be slightly little bit of filth on the underside, however usually, cultivated mushrooms are raised in sterile environments,” says Han. She makes use of a mushroom brush, very like a small pastry brush, to wash hers. If she’s foraged mushrooms and thinks they might use a rinse, she offers them a spin in a salad spinner afterwards to make sure they’re absolutely dry.

It’s additionally greatest to keep away from retaining mushrooms in any sort of plastic—a completely sealed plastic bag or plastic-wrapped container will acquire moisture, which can velocity up the mushrooms’ decay. As a substitute, retailer them in a paper bag within the fridge to increase their shelf life. When you solely have plastic luggage or storage containers round, hold them open to verify the mushrooms are correctly ventilated. 

The best way to Prepare dinner With Mushrooms

Uncooked vs. Cooked 

Whereas all of the mushrooms on this record are edible, some require a number of precautionary measures earlier than consuming. Many sorts shouldn’t be eaten uncooked. Uncooked morels, for instance, could be poisonous, whereas uncooked hen of the woods can typically trigger gastric misery. “Mushrooms have one thing referred to as chitin in them that does not break down very properly in your system until they’re cooked,” explains Blizzard. Chitin is a substance usually discovered within the exterior skeletons of bugs, in addition to within the shells of shrimp, crab, lobster, and lots of forms of mushrooms—even the most typical varieties. It may be troublesome to digest, however simpler on the physique when cooked. When sautéeing, make it possible for the mushrooms launch all their liquid, then soften and take in any oil, fats, or aromatics. When simmering, they need to be softened and tackle a deeper coloration earlier than consuming.  

Stir-Fries and Sautées 

One of many easiest methods to arrange most mushrooms is in a pan with a impartial oil or butter. When utilizing mushrooms in a sauté or stir-fry, they’re going to usually launch liquid earlier than they’re ready to absorb a sauce, particularly wild mushrooms like chanterelles. “​​After we’re cooking them, we’ll allow them to hand over their moisture after we’re sautéeing them,” says Blizzard. “After which sooner or later, they kind of suck that moisture again in and the pan turns into dry.” A dry pan usually means the mushrooms are finished. That is very true when making duxelles, a easy conventional French preparation of mushrooms and shallots that’s used to fill a tarte, stuff a chicken, or encompass a beef Wellington.

Soups and Stews 

Whether or not it’s scorching pot, ramen, or a creamy mushroom bisque, many forms of mushrooms are at dwelling in heat, comforting dishes. Umami-packed mushrooms can improve broths and shares—particularly when dried—and firmer mushrooms like lobster or hen of the woods can stand up to being simmered slowly with out getting too mushy. In keeping with Blizzard, one other trick for softening powerful mushrooms, like older hen of the woods, is to marinate them in a single day in buttermilk, or a little bit of milk and lemon juice.

Gravies and Sauces

Mushrooms’ earthy, savory taste is a welcome addition in pasta sauces, risottos, and gravy. Most mushrooms work properly with creamy pastas, but when making a red sauce, search for mushrooms with bolder, deeper taste, like shiitake or portobellos. When you’re utilizing truffles, slightly goes a great distance—simply including a number of shavings on high or incorporating a teaspoon of gratings within the completed dish will do the trick. 

As a Meat Substitute

The firmest, meatiest mushrooms will maintain up greatest to grilling and frying, or as a stand-in for meat, like in a portobello mushroom burger or a shiitake mushroom po-boy. On condition that hen of the woods has a very agency texture with a taste that’s truly harking back to hen, it’s an excellent stand-in for a hen breast or thigh. Moreover, lion’s mane, oyster, lobster, and king trumpet mushrooms all have a briny or shellfish-like taste that makes them an awesome stand-in in fake fish tacos, “lobster” bisque, and even seared “scallops.” A blended medley of chopped mushrooms will also be fashioned right into a holiday roast or pâté.