Though state economies are starting to reopen, many families across the U.S. are planning on spending more time home this summer and beyond. With vacations canceled, families are planning “staycations” instead. When you are home this summer, why not pick up cooking as a new hobby? Cooking together has several benefits:
- It’s better for your family’s health. Families that cook at home tend to consume less fat, sodium, and unhealthy calories.
- It brings your family together. Cooking takes your family offline and off their phones and gives you an outlet to create something together.
- It’s good for your mental health. As an exercise in mindfulness, patience, and expression, cooking can relieve stress and boost mood.
Ready to cook, but not sure where to start? Try your hand at cooking with mushrooms. These edible fungi are beloved by meat-based eaters and plant-based eaters alike. Renowned for their meaty texture and umami flavor, mushrooms also pack a hearty nutritional punch.
Mushrooms are:
- Chock full of fiber. This humble fungus can add heft to your meals that keep you fuller longer.
- They’re full of other micronutrients like copper, selenium, niacin, and potassium. Cooking releases these nutrients, so toss them under some heat for the best effect.
- Low in calories. At just 18.5 calories per serving, white button mushrooms contain the lowest calories of all mushroom varieties.
For inspiration, here are some of our favorite ways to reap the benefits (and flavor) of mushrooms. Never doubt what to make with mushrooms again, because we have rounded up recipe ideas and flavor profiles to appeal to every kind of eater—meat eater, vegetarian, health-conscious, and indulgent.
What to Cook With Mushrooms
Mushrooms stand out on their own or when added to some of your favorite dishes. Here are some of our favorite ways to prepare them.
Enjoy Mushrooms on (or in) Your Burger
If you’re like a lot of families, an outdoor cookout is likely on your list of summer activities. Mushrooms are a simple, effective, and delicious way to elevate your classic outdoor fare. Sautee mushrooms and onions in a little bit of olive oil and add next to your favorite burger toppings. Other ways burgers and mushrooms are fast friends:
- A grilled portobello mushroom cap makes for the perfect topper. Carb-conscious eaters can even swap portobellos for a bun! Plant-based eaters may want to eat a grilled portobello cap instead of meat.
- Mushrooms can be a budget-friendly accompaniment to your burger. Pulse in a food processor and add to your meat to add moisture, flavor, and to help your meat go farther.
As you craft your perfect burger, don’t forget the cheese! Mushrooms and swiss make for an ideal pairing, but don’t forget about other savory combos like Gouda and Gruyere or Shiitake and Swiss.
Add Mushrooms to a Soup
The next rainy day, spend a few hours whipping up a delicious soup that fills your kitchen (and belly) with classic flavor. Forget those store-bought, sodium-laden cream-of-mushroom soups—authentic mushroom soup is indulgent, savory, and perfect with a slice of crusty bread on the side. We recommend making extra to freeze and use as a base for your favorite casseroles.
Not a cream-of-mushroom soup fan? Don’t worry—there are so many more options.
- Whip up a vegetarian soup with a savory vegetable stock base. Add your favorite veggies as desired—some of our favorites include caramelized onion, zucchini, and broccoli. Mushrooms are a welcome addition of meaty texture and umami flavor.
- Add into a lentil soup or vegetarian chili for an extra boost of nutrients.
- Elevate your next tomato soup night by adding mushrooms and fire-roasted tomatoes as a base. Serve with a grown-up grilled cheese such as fresh mozzarella and pesto or brie with truffle sauce.
- Create a one-pot meal by whipping up a white bean soup with mushrooms and kale.
- Prep a satisfying, calorie-conscious meal by making a soup made with low-calorie beef stock, barley, mushrooms, and onion.
- Try our Creamy Portabella Mushroom Soup recipe.
Add Mushrooms to Your Breakfast Menu
When you think of mushroom recipes, breakfast rarely springs to mind. However, the world’s favorite fungus can be the perfect accompaniment to your morning. Try:
- Adding mushrooms to your morning omelet, sautéed with a little onion, and mixed with a savory, shredded cheese. It’s a surefire way to keep you satisfied all morning.
- Creating a breakfast casserole with mushrooms and bacon. The combination of smokiness and umami flavor is hard to pass up. Breakfast casseroles are perfect for a crowd and hard to mess up—add your favorite combination of eggs, breakfast meats, and vegetables and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re expecting a large crowd in the morning, we also like preparing them in the crockpot overnight. (Who doesn’t like waking up to the smell of breakfast cooking?)
- Preparing a savory crepe. Think outside the standard fruit and cream fare and create something exceptional using an earthy base like buckwheat. Wild mushrooms and fresh Gruyere elevate your breakfast to gourmet.
- Building a plant-based breakfast by tossing sautéed mushrooms, onions, and peppers with a potato and tofu scramble. Together, the meal is an excellent source of protein, fiber, and potassium, giving you everything you need to jump start your day.
- Try our hearty and family favorite Garlic Butter Mushroom Egg Sandwich recipe.
Make the Perfect Stuffed Mushroom
Finally, don’t neglect the most classic of all mushroom recipes: the stuffed mushroom. Perfect as a vegetarian main course or an hors d’oeuvre, these perfectly portable treasures are one of the best things you can make with mushrooms. Get inspired by these suggestions, then make your own:
- Please the plant lovers in your life by stuffing them with the classic flavor combo of spinach and artichoke.
- Mushroom and meat are fast friends! Try stuffing your favorite mushroom caps with sausage or bacon.
- Cheese goes good with everything, right? Try our Sausage and Cheddar Stuffed Mushroom Recipe here.
How to Cook Mushrooms
The best way to enjoy mushrooms is not to overthink it. As a perfect accompaniment to meat, plant dishes, breakfasts, soups, and salads, mushrooms are one of the most versatile foods. Experiment with your favorite flavors and work as a team to make your dishes shine. Happy eating!
