Of all the cultivated mushrooms, Shiitake is closest in taste and aroma to its wild ancestors. The larger the mushroom, the tastier it is and the denser its flesh. In Japanese, “shii” means “oak”, that is, shiitake is “mushrooms of the oak tree.” The Chinese learned to cultivate these mushrooms nearly a thousand years ago, and today they are grown all over the world on a mixture of sawdust and rice husks. For a mushroom to fully reveal its flavor, you need to know what shiitake mushrooms go with.

What to eat with shiitake mushrooms? Shiitake mushrooms are usually eaten with vegetables (carrots, onions, potatoes, green beans, zucchini, eggplants, cabbage), meat, fish and poultry. Shiitake mushrooms can be fried with eggs, added to salads or soups. You can also eat eggs, pasta or mashed potatoes with shiitake mushrooms. 

What Do Shiitake Mushrooms Go With? Ultimate Guide

Originally introduced in Japan and China, the edible shiitake mushroom is most commonly consumed boiled, fried, baked, or stewed.

What are shiitake mushrooms good with? Shiitake mushrooms are good with rice, sushi or vegetables flavored with miso, soy sauce, or tomato sauce. In European cuisine, shiitake mushrooms are used in stews, risottos, pan-cooked dishes, and vegetable dishes, sauces or soups. Shiitake can also be eaten raw. 

One of the most famous dishes prepared using shiitake mushrooms is miso soup, representing Japanese cuisine. In Thai cuisine, shiitake dishes are fried and steamed. One of the easiest ways to prepare fresh shiitake mushrooms is to quickly fry the mushrooms in oil with garlic. Serve fried shiitake best with rice, you can stew or fresh vegetables.

Shiitake has a dense, meaty structure and a tart garlic aroma that perfectly complements any dish. Dried shiitake has a richer flavor and a thicker texture. In terms of their composition, Shiitake mushrooms go well with proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, that is, with many products. Mushrooms mainly consist of water and are good with almost everything.

What goes well with shiitake mushrooms? Here is a list of food that goes well with shiitake mushrooms:

• Pork;
• Beef;
• Chicken;
• Cod;
• Eggs;
• Rice;
• Pasta;
• Carrots;
• Onions;
• Potatoes;
• Green beans;
• Zucchini;
• Eggplant;
• Cabbage;
• Pickles;
• Black bread.

How to cook shiitake? A variety of cooking methods make shiitake a versatile product. Broths and soups are made from these mushrooms, they are added to meat, fish and vegetable dishes, salads and grilled.

Fresh shiitake mushrooms can be cooked in many ways:

• Fry shiitake mushrooms with bok choy cabbage and onions, serve with sesame or soy sauce and cilantro.
• Cook shiitake mushroom miso soup or tom yum soup.
• Prepare yakitori with tonkatsu sauce.
• Add toasted shiitake and bean paste to the rice.

Dried shiitake mushrooms can be soaked, boiled and perfectly paired with buckwheat, noodles and sweet and sour sauce. Broths made from dried shiitake are richer and more expressive than from fresh shiitake. Dried mushrooms are also added to the filling for dim sum.

Shiitake mushrooms give dishes their characteristic mushroom flavor and are therefore great for seasoning. They have the umami taste, which, in addition to sweet, salty, bitter and sour, another taste, is also recognized by science. The umami flavor is due to the naturally occurring glutamate in the product and activates special taste buds on the tongue.

What Do Shiitake Mushrooms Go With?

What is the best way to eat shiitake mushrooms? The best way to eat shiitake is to fry them and add them to risotto, pasta or fried eggs. Shiitake mushrooms also go well with mashed potatoes and meat (beef, pork, veal) or poultry. Fried shiitake will reveal the real creamy and meaty flavor and unique aroma. 

Shiitake Mushrooms and Vegetables

It is best to serve shiitake mushrooms with herbs and other processed vegetables (carrots, onions, potatoes, green beans, zucchini, eggplant, cabbage). You should avoid legumes that are heavy for the body, for example, beans or peas. Nutritionists do not advise eating shiitake mushrooms with fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, cabbage at the same time.

Shiitake Mushrooms and Meat/Poultry

Shiitake mushrooms are often cooked with chicken, pork, or beef stewed or fried. This applies to both forest mushrooms and cultivated ones.

Shiitake Mushrooms and Dairy Products

When preparing shiitake mushrooms, different dairy products are often used. Mushrooms can be stewed with cream, served in salads with mayonnaise or sour cream, baked with cheese. Shiitake mushrooms can be used to cook creamy mushroom sauces. One thing to avoid is the use of mushrooms in milk soups.

How to Use Shiitake Mushrooms: Shiitake Mushroom Recipes

Shiitake mushrooms are delicious in any way they are prepared — boiled, fried, baked in the oven, or even raw. Shiitake mushrooms go well with onions when stewed in sunflower oil or with mashed potatoes. Shiitake mushrooms can also be served with cheese and spices, for example, sage, parsley and parmesan. Shiitake can be added to soups or spaghetti and noodles dishes.

Shiitake mushrooms can be used to make hot breakfast sandwiches as they go well with black bread, boiled eggs, mustard and lettuce. Mushrooms must be fried with onions, followed by the addition of cream to thicken the consistency. Mix the grated eggs, onions and mushrooms and put on slices of bread, sprinkle with grated cheese of one of the hard varieties and place in a preheated oven until crisp.

The main principle in the heat treatment of shiitake mushrooms is speed. The quicker the mushroom is boiled or fried, the more useful substances are preserved and the better the taste. Culinary experimentation is not only fun, but it can also be a source of health benefits. A striking example of this is the unusual shiitake mushrooms that came to us from China and many useful qualities. With them, you can prepare delicious meals that will improve your well-being and health.

Shiitake was the first mushroom to be grown artificially. The Chinese invented the technology of growing them on shea trees back in the 10th century. Shiitake mushrooms have high compatibility and allow you to invent new dishes every day.

Shiitake is considered a delicacy and is appreciated for its specific pleasant taste and aroma, which resembles the taste of porcini mushrooms. Shiitake is widely used in cooking, medicine, cosmetology. It is currently one of the most popular mushrooms in Asian cuisines.