Hello people of the Hive realm and food lovers.
Since June, we have had the little yearly summer market at my local park. They come once a week in the summer until fall.
It has been disappointing for me this year. The usual mushroom vendors are not coming. They go to another location which takes place when I work.
I had run there, looking for some exotic mushrooms, which I splurge on each year. The other vendors told me when and where they were this year. I had to accept that I would not be having super mushrooms this year.
I wondered if by chance the big farmer's market would have a vendor with special mushrooms. It would require a metro ride to get there. I really despise public transportation, but on a whim I hauled my butt to the metro and suffered the 5 stops to the market.
This is a huge market that you can get lost at. The produce is amazing but as far as I'm concerned, you have to be well off to get all of the items that you want.
After running into a mushroom vending stall, I decided that I would reserve my hard earned cash for the mushrooms that I had longed for. They were all there. My favourites.
The hen
Maitake mushrooms are also known as "hen of the woods". They are very unique in flavor and texture. They are quite dense and don't contain so much water. This is great for a meaty substitute.
Since a hen is a female chicken, I decided to fry these like good old southern fried chicken. I limit my fried food consumption, but now and then I just go for it.
I sliced them very carefully so as not to lose their delicate feathers.
Crispy hen of the woods Maitake mushroom
100g maitake mushroom
1 cup vegan yogourt
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon pepper
Salt to my liking
I mixed the seasonings in the yogourt but sometimes I just add it to the four. It depends on how I feel.
The yogourt being thick made it so it coated and stuck to the mushroom.
After coating with the yogourt, it was coated in flour.
The coating was nice and thick.
The two mushrooms were prepared the same day but cooked on separate days. This was kept in the fridge and cooked the next day.
I used a very small pot for frying. Oil is quite expensive these days and I don't fry often.
They were in until nice and golden. They looked so much like fried chicken it was kind of exciting. I used to love fried chicken as much as the next person.
I always say that if you fry a sock it would taste good.
I decided to have them with pasta. This may seem like a strange combo with fried mushrooms but it was like a bonus on top of the pasta.
I went with a cream sauce.
Cream sauce
1 small carrot
1 stalk celery
1 small onion
3 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon vegan butter
2 cups soy milk
2 tablespoons vegetable stock powder
1/2 cup minced fresh parsly
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil for frying
I started with cooking the carrots, celery, onion and then garlic in a pan with a little oil and then added butter.
After adding flour and mixing thoroughly to prevent clumping, I added some soy milk. I prefer soy milk for cooking because of it's thickness and neutral taste.
I added penne to the sauce. I felt that penne seemed appropriate for this dish.
This was an epic bowl of pasta.
It was a nice nest for my crispy hen.
The lion
Hericium erinaceus fungus is known as lion's mane for it's fluffy hairy appearance. It's soft and toothy. This is like a pet that you can eat.
There is quite a lot of information about it's health benefits. I am pretty sure that gets cancelled out when you cook it. There are supplements that you can get from lion's mane which is supposed to be good for the brain. I think I should get some.
This is probably my all time favourite fungus. Anyone that can stumble upon it in the woods must get super excited. I stumble upon it at the market and that's pretty exciting.
Grilled lion's mane mushroom
250 g lion's mane
Basting sauce
I wanted to experiment with grilling thick pieces in my electric grill by pressing down until it closed.
I wasn't sure if I could get it to closed but it worked.
I had prepared a basting sauce from random items in my fridge.
Basting sauce
30g ketchup
25g sriracha
30g vegetarian mushroom sauce
20g lime juice
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
After mixing it together I slathered it on the pieces on both sides.
I realized I had not greased the grill but it didn't stick because of the moisture in the mushroom. The moisture was pretty much out of the mushroom when it was nice and grilled on both sides.
This was also much like chicken. I haven't had chicken in almost two decades so I wouldn't be a harsh judge of it being like chicken or not.
Yes of course it was also like a mushroom with a very meaty texture.
I put some peanut sauce on it that I had made on another occasion. It was leftover.
Peanut sauce
1/4 cup peanut butter
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon minced ginger
2 cloves garlic
2 small fresh chilies or to your liking
2 tablespoons agave
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Water enough to smooth it out to your liking.
Blend it in a blender until smooth.
I sprinkled with toasted crushed peanuts.
This was accompanied with broccoli and rice and an extra squeeze of lime.
These mushrooms for me are a real treat that I have to have at least twice a year. I am tempted to go back to the big market tomorrow. I think I'll just buy some veggies instead.
Unfortunately there are never any leftovers with these mushroom dishes.
Thank you for stopping by and have a great day.
design by: @KidSistersThe photos are taken with a Nikon D7500 and are of my ownership
Wow! Very interesting mushrooms! They are quite big and meaty. Never seen them here in the market. We have very small mushrooms looking very ordinary. Your ways of cooking mushrooms are quite unique too. We put them in soups or stir fry them.
Glad you went to that big market.
These mushrooms are super expensive so they are something that you don't see everywhere. I just have them a few times a year. I don't go out for dinner so this is my splurge. 25 to 30 dollars for one mushroom dinner haha. It's worth it to have at least once. I treat these like meat because of their density. I will have to work more hours to do it again haha.
It is very interesting to know a mushroom market, in Venezuela we do not have it. You always bring us exotic and tasty meals dear @carolynstahl . I wish you success and thanks for your visits to my publications
It is actually a vegetable market with one vendor selling different mushrooms. Most people here don't know these mushrooms because of how expensive they are but they are becoming more popular. I wish you could try my friend.😊
I would gladly try your mushroom-based food, it must be very nutritious, very special for me who does yoga. successes
It is really amazing above my thinking I have never seen or tasted it, should be very delicious taste, and your tutorial is very excellent, I should like to visit you for tasting those mushrooms. You are lucky to get them in the market. I don't know why I am not getting notifications. a hug 💖🌞
You know, most people here would not buy them or know what they are. They grow in North America but cost too much for most people. Because I don't eat meat, I managed to learn about them. A perfect meat substitute when I can afford it.
I wish you could try. I know you would do wonders with them.😊❤️
if i find them sure i will like to try them thank you 💖😃
I'm not a fan of mushrooms but those looks great, especially the Hen of the woods. I would like to taste it someday.
These would surprise you even if you don't like mushrooms. They are special and I wish you could try them some day. Thanks for your visit. I wish you the best.😊
Hi, chef @carolynstahl
I would love to taste that mushrooms. Looks sooo crispy. It would not be work in the air-fryer method 😅
Smokey effect is just perfect for deep frying. But yeah we need to cheat and be happy to cook with deep frying method 😅
I am certain it would work in an air fryer but I don't have one so I can't prove it. I don't mind enjoying a fried snack on occasion. I make up for it later haha.
Thank you for your visit!
Thanks very much!!!
I'm always hungry when I see the processed mushrooms you make. This is the latest reference in enjoying spectacular pasta with mushroom chicken!
Aww thank you for your kind comment. I appreciate that.😊
Wow! Looks like a very tasty dish. I have not seen this type of mushroom. But we should try the mushrooms in our country. thank for sharing.
@carolynstahl
Actually most people here have never seen these mushrooms also. They are really expensive so most people will not pay for them.
I wish I could be in your country and try everything there.😊
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Thank you plant power!
Wow this mom made my lunch soon I love forest mushrooms
yes mushrooms are the bestl!
The grilled lion's mane is what brought me here because it stir my curiosity like crazy! haha. You never stop surprising us with your amazing recipes!! <3
I really wish you could experience the lion's mane. There is something really cool about them. Nature has so many weird and wonderful things to eat.
Thank you so much!
it really looks like a real chicken. and I've never tried it @carolynstahl
It really resembles chicken and is versatile. I hope you can try sometime.😊
Beautiful! Delicious!
I seemed to dream as I watched these feathered and maned mushrooms turning into delicious food. I would take the subway without hesitation and buy all kinds of mushrooms; I would be penniless 😂
I loved both, panned and fried, and grilled. Heavenly dishes. Thank you so much for sharing you recipes. Loved the sauces; loved it all. I'm hungry!!!
Wow, your mushroom dishes sound amazing! I've never had either of those mushrooms before, but I'm definitely intrigued. The crispy hen of the woods with pasta and the grilled lion's mane with peanut sauce both sound like delicious and unique dishes. I love that you used a cream sauce with the fried mushrooms, and the peanut sauce with the grilled mushrooms sounds like a great combination of flavors.
Thank you so much. Most people I know have never seen or heard of these mushrooms. They are costly. If I had them everyday I would have to get a second job. Button mushrooms are around 3 to 4 dollars and the same amount of these are around 20.😊
You look so good at processing food, I am curious about those mushrooms, they must taste very good
Omg. Not a fan of public transport either, but then we don't really have this here... But I would also jump in the first tuktuk that passes and drive a few villages further up if they would have mushrooms like this. This dish looks delish! Have a beautiful day 💚
I would ride a tuk tuk for no reason haha. I wish we had them here.
Thank you Amy!💚
Haha... I will definitely miss them too if we ever move from here.
You are very kind for giving me such a compliment. I feel the same about your recipes my friend.😊