In this article, as mentioned, you will learn how to cook shiitake mushrooms in just 10 minutes. Also, you will discover some basic information about their nutritional content and benefits.
Shiitake mushrooms are one of the most popular edible mushrooms that people love. These mushrooms are not only irresistibly tasty but are also very healthy.
Shiitake mushrooms are quite a delicacy for every mushroom lover, especially when they’re prepared correctly.
That is why we have put together this article so that you can have your share of properly and perfectly cooked shiitake mushrooms.
A Little Knowledge About Shiitake Mushrooms
Mushrooms in general, if not poisonous, are extremely healthy for you. They are rich in nutrients and when cooked well can make a surprisingly tasty meal.
Some, of course, can be eaten raw and are healthier being eaten that way. Others, on the other hand, are much better when cooked. Such is the case with shiitake mushrooms.
The shiitake mushroom is native to East Asia and is cultivated in many of these warm and moist climate Asian countries.
In fact, this mushroom is part of some Asian traditional medicines. They can be typically found in groups around decaying wood or trees such as oak, chestnut, or maple, and they are tan to dark brown in color, growing up to 2-4 inches in length.
Nutritional Value
Shiitake mushrooms are mostly 90% water. The rest of its make up are carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
When you cook shiitake mushrooms, their original nutrient contents increase significantly, especially if the water content drops down to around 10%.
So, when you cook with shiitake mushrooms, it helps to dry them as much as possible. Other nutritional values that this wonderful mushroom offer is vitamin B, vitamin D2, and some dietary minerals.
With these already existent precious nutrients, you can just imagine how great these would make as additional ingredients in meals.
Health Benefits
Some of the common health benefits that many mushrooms including shiitake have are to help fight off cancer cells.
They also have a great effect on boosting the immune system and fighting off potential bacterial or viral infections. Additionally, they are good foods to have for a healthy heart.
Because shiitake mushrooms are fantastic health foods, they are not only useful in cooking but are also good supplements.
However, the most common usage of this mushroom is as an ingredient to include in dishes or meals.
How to Cook Shiitake Mushrooms With Just 3 Ingredients
How to cook shiitake mushrooms can be done in a number of ways.
Sautéing shiitake mushrooms might also be on your mind because these mushrooms naturally have a rich meaty flavor.
It is very common for people to sauté or fry their mushrooms to give them a new or added flavor.
This little recipe contains only three ingredients to cook shiitake with. The ingredients you’ll need are:
- 1 cup of shiitake mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
- 2 tablespoon of soy sauce
Preparing shiitake mushrooms in this recipe just takes 5 minutes and the cooking time is also 5 minutes. This totals the time to only 10 minutes of preparing and cooking, exactly as mentioned in the title.
Step #1: Clean the shiitake mushrooms
The first thing that you want to do with the mushrooms is to clean them by washing them under the tap or with clean water. Then, you should dry them with a paper towel.
Take note that they don’t need to be completely dry to cook, but the drier they are, the more nutritional they will be.
Step #2: Cut the shiitake mushrooms
After you’ve dried them to your desire, the next thing to do is to cut off the shiitake mushroom stems. Unfortunately, the stems are not as tasty as the cap, but you can decide to cook them if you like, though.
Just don’t be surprised if they’re still a little tough even after cooking them. If you don’t want to discard the stems, then you could always place them in the fridge for now. You can use them for vegetable stock next time.
Once you’ve cut the stems, your next step is to cut the cap into small bits. How to cut shiitake mushrooms, whether in rectangles, strips, or squares, is totally up to you.
Step #3: Add the sesame oil and soy sauce
The final step is to create the shiitake mushroom sauce by adding the sesame oil and soy sauce. The sesame oil will give the mushroom more of a nutty flavor. And the soy sauce will give more of a familiar Asian taste.
After all, shiitake mushrooms generally grow in Asian countries.
Conclusion
This very simple and very easy to cook method of only using these three ingredients will give your shiitake mushrooms a nice meaty, chewy, and juicy texture, one that your taste buds will certainly enjoy.
By following this article on how to cook shiitake mushrooms in 10 minutes, you will definitely be able to whip up a convenient and quick meal anytime, and an extremely healthy one at that.
Discover many more delicious and healthy shiitake mushroom recipes here:
