Organic Mushroom Recipes: From Kit to Plate

Your grow kit has just given you a flush of fresh oyster or shiitake mushrooms, and now you're wondering what to actually do with them. The good news is that homegrown mushrooms are more flavourful than most supermarket ones, and they're easy to cook well once you know a few basics. Here's how to get from kit to plate.

Harvesting Your Mushrooms

Pick oyster mushrooms just before the caps flatten out, when the edges are still slightly curled under. Shiitake are ready when the cap has opened but before it flattens completely and the gills darken. Twist and pull gently at the base rather than cutting, so you get the whole mushroom and the substrate isn't disturbed too much for the next flush.

Basic Prep: Cleaning and Storing

Fresh oyster and shiitake mushrooms don't need washing the way shop-bought ones sometimes do, since you know exactly what they were grown on. Brush off any visible substrate with a dry pastry brush or a damp cloth rather than rinsing them, since mushrooms soak up water and go soggy fast. Store them unwashed in a paper bag in the fridge, and use them within four or five days for the best texture.

Simple Ways to Cook Them

A hot pan is your best friend here. Saute oyster mushrooms in a little butter or oil over medium-high heat until they're golden and any moisture has cooked off, then season at the end so the salt doesn't draw out water too early. Shiitake work well thinly sliced and pan-fried, or left whole and roasted. Both hold up in soups, stir-fries, pasta, and risotto, and both take on flavour well from garlic, soy sauce, or fresh herbs.

Recipes to Try

Once you're comfortable with the basics, put your harvest to work in a full recipe. Try our Wood Ear Mushroom Salad, Braised Mushroom with Bok Choy, Dried Porcini Mushroom Risotto, or Matsutake Suimono for inspiration, or browse the full recipes blog for more ideas.

If you haven't started growing yet, our guide on how mushroom grow kits work is a good place to begin, and once you're harvesting regularly, this recipe list will be waiting for you.