If you’re looking for some delicious mushrooms to expand your culinary palate, you’re in luck because there is a long list to choose from. You can either go for the affordable or exotic varieties depending on your preferences.
The following are the most popular types of edible mushrooms you can find today.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are arguably the most popular types of edible mushrooms you can find anywhere, and it’s for a good reason. They’re renowned for having a distinct meaty and chewy taste that makes them very delicious.
It might interest you to know that shiitake mushrooms also have medicinal properties as well as large amounts of minerals and vitamins such as zinc, vitamin B6, manganese, copper, pantothenic acid, among others.
This makes them among the healthiest varieties of mushrooms grown today. A great thing about shiitake mushrooms is that they’re easy to grow under different weather conditions, and they can be paired with different meals, including strongly flavored meats such as aged beef, venison, and duck.
Oyster Mushrooms
Another popular type of edible mushrooms you should know about is oyster mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms are bigger in size than other edible mushrooms, and they mostly grow on trees. However, some oyster mushrooms you’re likely to find in the local grocery store are cultivated.
These mushrooms come in a variety of colors and are very common in North America, Europe, and Asia. Also, there are several varieties of oyster mushrooms grown in Australia. Oyster mushrooms are majorly incorporated in Chinese cuisines for soups and stir-fries due to their meat-like texture and mild flavor.
Enoki
Enoki mushrooms have a very distinct appearance that resembles a piece of string. It might interest you to know that enoki mushrooms are also very simple to grow and relatively cheaper to purchase compared to other edible mushrooms.
These mushrooms can be eaten raw as part of a homegrown salad, or you can use them to make a hearty soup, omelet, or risotto. Also, enoki mushrooms are used as a replacement for noodles in some of the Italian and Asian dishes.
Also, it’s important to note that enoki mushrooms contain very important nutrients such as thiamin, potassium, pantothenic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and folate.
Morel Mushrooms
Morel mushrooms basically resemble a honeycomb on a stick, and their taste is just as unique. If you’ve tried shiitake mushrooms before, you’ll recognize that the meaty taste is almost similar among both mushrooms.
Also, morel mushrooms have a nutty flavor that makes them pair so well with slow-cooked meals and sauces. However, morel mushrooms can be challenging to grow, which explains why you might not find them in the local supermarket or grocery store so often.
Morel mushrooms are also among the healthiest mushrooms you can have as they contain important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B6, phosphorus, manganese, Vitamin D, copper, and iron.
With a little more time and effort, you can grow most of the edible mushrooms on this list. However, as you dive into the world of edible mushrooms, you’ll find out that there are even more varieties out there to explore and enjoy.
