In this article, we will share with you 5 cooking medicinal mushrooms you can easily prepare at home.
These 5 specific mushrooms are not only edible, but they also have medicinal properties and are therefore very good for you.
Some of them might not taste as pleasant as you’d like or expect, but their health benefits truly do make up for their less-than-appealing flavors.
The 5 Cooking Medicinal Mushrooms
Mushroom #1: Shiitake
Shiitake, despite its interesting name, is considered to be one of the true super-foods in the mushroom family.
One of its main benefits is that it can aid in weight management. It might sound incredible as you can eat as much as you like of the shiitake but still not gain any significant weight. That is of course, only if you cook them correctly …
Another major health benefit it offers is that it can improve your blood flow. As a plus, Shiitake also improves the quality of your skin.
This makes it the perfect ingredient for people who struggle with the hardening of the arteries and its surrounding skin layers.
The great thing about Shiitake is that it is meant to be cooked. You can either cook them from fresh or use dried shiitake mushrooms.
So, you can include it in a wide variety of dishes, such as stir-fry or soup, just to name a couple.
Mushroom #2: Lion’s Mane
The Lion’s Mane mushroom is very well known for treating Alzheimer patients.
One of its major roles is to repair certain damages from any cognitive conditions, by restoring cognitive functions.
Thankfully, this medicinal mushroom can also be cooked as well. So, it is a great mushroom to include in your meals if you have a family member with a cognitive disease like Alzheimer’s.
When you do cook lion’s mane, just keep in mind that it contains a lot of water.
You need to make sure to leave it in the pan long enough for the water to evaporate and until you see the golden-brown color as it caramelizes.
Mushroom #3: Morels
Mushroom lovers treasure this unique delicacy.
If sautéed with a bit of oil, butter, wine, or even cream, it will give off an amazing meaty taste.
This would be a great alternative for vegetarians who still crave the taste of meat.
Of course, besides its wonderful taste, morels are rich in calcium. They’re very beneficial to bone health and can prevent osteoporosis.
In addition, they also contain vitamins and minerals that are important to the body, such as Vitamin B12 and copper.
Mushroom #4: Cordyceps
Cordyceps are one of the rarest mushrooms you’ll come across, as they mostly grow on the backs of bugs, typically in Japan.
Because of this, it is very hard to gather them in large amounts, so they are mostly cultivated. Due to their rarity, they can be fairly hefty in price, though surprisingly exotic in features.
For many, however, cordyceps don’t look attractive. But you will be surprised at just how tasteful and beneficial they really are.
The Cordyceps mushroom is also high in antioxidants. They contain precious cancer-fighting properties – an ingredient of hope for many cancer patients.
Lastly, it is a mushroom that is very popular among athletes and sporting fans, as it can help boost physical performance.
Mushroom #5: Portobellos
Portobello is another medicinal mushroom that is a great addition to recipes, especially if you don’t like or want to eat meat for reasons other than its taste.
This is an ingredient that can give off a meaty and hearty taste, as well as bursting with strong flavors.
To cook it, you can throw them onto a grill as you do with steaks.
Or, you can create your own version of healthy bacon mushrooms. Cut them into thin pieces and slather with barbecue sauce and liquid smoke.
The best thing about the Portobello mushroom is that they can go into just about any recipe, whether it be a common stir-fry, soup, or casserole dish.
Just like the other mushrooms mentioned here, Portobellos are full of medicinal properties as well.
This means that it offers great health benefits, such as keeping your body strong. Portobellos can also help to fight cancer.
Conclusion
Cooking medicinal mushrooms is a brilliant idea.
Not many people would include ingredients in their recipes other than what they commonly see in cooking shows.
But, the 5 medicinal mushrooms you can cook with at home will surely add some spark to both your taste buds and well-being.
Want to learn more about medicinal mushrooms? You might find this article of interest: 3 Brain Boosting Mushrooms and Their Health Benefits.
