Chewy and Tender Pan-Fried Shiitake Mushrooms
Perfect Side Dish! Umami-Rich Pan-Fried Fresh Shiitake Mushroom Recipe
Here’s a recipe for a fresh shiitake mushroom side dish that’s delightfully chewy yet tender. Shiitake mushrooms are rich in guanylate and glutamate, compounds that impart a deep umami flavor, making them excellent for broths. Even with minimal seasoning, they make a delicious side dish on their own. Stir-fried with a simple soy sauce-based seasoning, they’re a hit with kids, and their high vitamin D content, beneficial for bone health, makes them a fantastic ingredient for growing children. We’ll show you step-by-step how to stir-fry them while minimizing moisture loss to preserve their rich flavor.
Ingredients- 200g fresh shiitake mushrooms
- 3 Tbsp cooking oil
- 1/3 stalk green onion
- 0.5 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp oligo syrup (or corn syrup)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- A pinch of sesame seeds
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, wash the shiitake mushrooms thoroughly. Gently rinse them under running water, paying attention to the gills inside the caps. Good quality shiitake mushrooms will have white, finely ridged gills on the inside of the cap, and the cap will be tightly closed rather than fully open.
Step 2
Finely chop a small amount of green onion. This will be used to create an aromatic green onion oil.
Step 3
Trim off the tough stems of the shiitake mushrooms. These stems are great for making broth, but you can omit this step if you prefer.
Step 4
Slice the prepared shiitake mushrooms into pieces about 3mm thick. Slicing them too thinly might cause them to break apart during cooking, so aim for a moderate thickness.
Step 5
Heat a pan over medium-low heat and add 2-3 tablespoons of cooking oil. Add the chopped green onions and sauté them until fragrant, creating a flavorful green onion oil. This step significantly enhances the mushroom’s aroma.
Step 6
Once the green onions are lightly golden and fragrant, add the sliced shiitake mushrooms to the pan.
Step 7
Add half a tablespoon of minced garlic and mix it in with the mushrooms.
Step 8
Gently stir-fry the mushrooms and garlic. Initially, it might seem dry as no water is added, but this is the key! Avoid adding water. High heat will draw out the mushrooms’ natural moisture, cooking them tenderly and preserving their rich umami flavor.
Step 9
When the mushrooms have softened slightly, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, and 1 tablespoon of oligo syrup. Keep the heat high and quickly stir-fry just until the seasonings coat the mushrooms evenly. Avoid overcooking, as this will evaporate the moisture.
Step 10
Finally, add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil and a pinch of sesame seeds, then give it a quick toss. Your incredibly flavorful pan-fried shiitake mushrooms are ready! Their chewy yet tender texture makes them a fantastic side dish that’s almost as satisfying as meat. Shiitake mushrooms are also great for boosting immunity, so enjoy this fresh side dish made with fresh shiitake mushrooms!
