Mushrooms! Known for their “umami” taste and deep flavor, these delectable fungi make for a perfect healthy addition to anyone's diet! Mushrooms are vegan, keto friendly and a powerhouse of nutrients known to aid in weight management, support heart health and immunity. 

There are thousands of varieties of mushrooms, somewhere around 14,000 currently known, around half of which are edible. Some of the most popular varieties of mushrooms include:

• White button mushroom - the most popular and mildest tasting

• Cremini - darker, firmer and more flavorful, popularly known as “baby bellas”

• Portabella - rich and dense, commonly used in Italian cooking. Their “bun-like” shape and meaty texture makes the perfect to stuff and/or grill

• Maitake (also called hen of the woods) - earthy aroma and gamy flavor

• Shiitake - light woodsy flavor and aroma

• Enoki - possess a crunchy texture and good to eat raw in salads

• Oyster - delicate odor and flavor, used in many Chinese and Japanese dishes such as soups and stir fries

Each variety has a unique shape, flavor, and texture and can be used to add flavor to many dishes such as salads, soups, stews, pies and pizzas.  To find out where you can purchase mushrooms at our markets, refer to our Available in August blog. 

Tips To Buy, Store, and Preserve Mushrooms

When buying mushrooms at our markets, look for the ones that are firm, dry, bright and unbruised. Avoid the ones that look blemished, slimy or withered. To prevent them from going mushy, store them in the fridge in their original packaging or a paper bag and consume within a few days after buying. Mushroom have a tendency to soak up all the water they come in contact with so it’s best to wash and clean them right before use. If you plan to store them for longer, drying works well. In order to do so, pat the mushrooms clean with a paper towel, cut to about 1/8th inch thick pieces, and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to bake at 150° F oven for 1 hour. Once cool, place the mushrooms in airtight containers and store it in a cool, dry place.

Prepare

• Sauté any type of mushroom with onions for a quick and tasty side dish

• Add raw sliced cremini mushrooms or white mushrooms to top any salad

• Make stuffed portabella mushrooms by filling them with your favorite ingredients and baking

• Add sliced mushrooms to omelets, breakfast scrambles and quiches

• Grill portabella mushrooms and use them on sandwiches or in wraps

Buttery Herb Garlic Mushrooms

Recipe from Cafe Delites

Ingredients

4 Tbsp unsalted butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 an onion chopped (optional)

1 pound (500 g) Cremini or button mushrooms

2 tablespoons dry white wine (optional)

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves chopped

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

4 cloves garlic minced

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Put some butter and oil in a large pan or skillet and heat it over medium-high heat. 

Add the onions and saute them until softened (for about 3 minutes).

Next, add the mushrooms and stir them for 4-5 minutes till the edges become crisp and golden.

Pour in the wine and cook for 2 minutes to reduce it slightly.

Add the thyme, 1 Tbsp of parsley and garlic and stir them for 30 seconds until fragrant.

Sprinkle salt and pepper as per taste.

Add the remaining parsley and serve warm