Reishi Mushrooms, Dried

It’s not often you find a mushroom this unique. One that stands out amongst a room of savory shrooms and says, “Hey, I’m special. I demand more attention and you are going to give it to me.” And, so, we shall. Not because we have to, but because it deserves it. The Blazei Brazilian cap mushroom is not one to be disregarded. In fact, it’s one that shockingly hasn’t been more widely adopted by chefs and restaurants. The Blazei is a trend-in-waiting, the undiscovered star, and a hip new ingredient waiting to happen. This is due to its almond-like flavor. The smell of these dehydrated mushrooms is all must and neglected attics. The flavor is slightly salty and similar to that of a raw almond both at the start and the finish. The Blazei Brazilian cap mushroom is an ideal addition to lighter soups, salads, or perhaps to serve with wild duck or pheasant.

Mushroom hunters search high and low for true Morels, and a lucky few have secret spots where they know a bounty will grow every year. Try asking any hunter where their spot is and you’ll be greeted with silence. No mushroom hunter will ever give up dried morel mushrooms. It’s understandable. Dried morel mushrooms have a delicate flavor that only lingers around for a short while. It’s gone the moment you swallow. Chewing is another matter. The flavor is mighty when chewing. It’s a mushroom that’s truly worth the hunt. However, some home gardeners get lucky. It’s not unheard of to buy woodchips for a garden and then after a rain find little armies of Morels springing up. These dried morel mushrooms are great for our sautéed morel mushroom recipe. You can add a bit of salt and cracked pepper for a classic preparation or toss with pasta and serve in a cream sauce with generous shavings of Parmesan.

Only about 20 years ago the Portabella mushroom was barely known to Americans. It was a throwaway food for lower income homes and hippy-dippy vegans that the populous-at-large had no interest in. Then, like the ox tail before it, restaurateurs and chefs rediscovered that this cheap ingredient had a lot of flavor and the potential for ethereally meaty (and vegan-friendly, as it was the 90’s) dishes with a high profit margin were too good to ignore. Now a cheap Portabella is hard to find. Unless, of course, you go dried. The large cap mushroom actually contains more flavor in its dried form, and reconstituted it keeps its meaty texture and flavor. The broth is equally excellent for cooking wild rice or using in soups.

Dating back thousands of years the dried shiitake has been used in medicine and cooking throughout Eastern Asia. The mushroom was often ground up or used in teas and prescribed for respiratory infections, to improve blood circulation, and to prevent aging. The fact that it tasted so otherworldly that it was thought to be a gift from the gods made it a medicine that many were happy to take.

The shiitake is a mushroom that is always preferred dried over fresh. Dried and reconstituted, the mushroom has a far more intense flavor and the broth can be used for deglazing pans and adding to soup stocks. The woody stems are often discarded before drying as they’re usually inedible. The flavor is incredibly savory and umami-centric with hints of beef.