Blanched Shiitake Mushrooms: Enjoying Their Chewy Texture
How to Prepare and Store Shiitake Mushrooms, Plus a Delicious Blanched Recipe!
I found some plump shiitake mushrooms and decided to make them into a blanched dish. This recipe allows you to fully savor the aromatic flavor and wonderfully chewy texture of shiitake mushrooms.
Ingredients- 10 shiitake mushrooms
- 1 tsp salt
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare your fresh shiitake mushrooms. Trim off the very tip of the cap and cut off the bottom of the stem.
Step 2
Don’t discard the trimmed stem pieces! You can use them. Lay a kitchen towel on a tray, tear the stems into small pieces, and dry them in the sun for 3-4 days. Once dried, you can rehydrate them with water and use them in stir-fries or stews for a chewy texture and deep flavor. You can also thinly slice the mushroom caps, dry them, portion them, and store them in your kimchi refrigerator or freezer for long-term enjoyment.
Step 3
Add 1 teaspoon of salt to a pot of rapidly boiling water. Briefly blanch the prepared shiitake mushrooms for about 1 minute. This helps prevent them from becoming too soft and adds a subtle seasoning. Be careful not to over-blanch, as it can make the texture mushy.
Step 4
Immediately transfer the blanched shiitake mushrooms into cold water to cool them down quickly. This step is crucial for retaining their delightful chewy texture.
Step 5
Gently remove the shiitake mushrooms from the cold water and pat them dry thoroughly with a kitchen towel. Ensuring they are well-drained will help bring out their natural, earthy flavor.
Step 6
Cut the shiitake mushrooms into bite-sized pieces. While you can enjoy them whole, I found that cutting them into three pieces made them easier to eat. Feel free to adjust the size to your preference.
Step 7
Arrange the blanched shiitake mushrooms attractively on a serving plate. Dip them in a tangy and sweet ‘chojang’ (spicy-sweet soy sauce) for an irresistible combination of chewy texture and rich aroma. They are so delicious, they’ll disappear in no time!
