Shiitake mushrooms

Good morning,

Today I’d love to write some words about shiitake mushrooms which I found so aromatic and delightful! Moreover I’ve  made some research to found that not only those mushrooms were one of the first mushrooms cultivated by people but that shiitake mushrooms have plenty of good things for you!

Moreover I add yummy recipie of shiitake mushrooms and ginger noodle – I’ve tried it once in Cracow and can’t get enough of it!

If you want to see more pictures, please visit my blog in Polish language (google translator on site), so you can learn more about shiitake mushrooms – grzyby shiitake.

Shiitake mushrooms ( Lentinula edodes )

Are widely cultivated in Japan and China and they are known for their health inpact. In traditional Chineese medicine shiitake mushrooms were believed to be good for blood and circulation system.  Shiitake are also so good for digsestion. Moreover some research show that shiitake can, in some circumstanses slow down the tumor developement.

[This part of article was prepared based on really great book {McGee on Food and Cooking: An Encyclopedia of Kitchen Science, History and Culture}

What is important for gourments shiitake, especially fresh ones, are full of umami taste – the GMP  (guanosine monophosporate ) was first found in those mushrooms and this is why they have so nice taste!

You can buy them both fresh and dried, but you can also plant it on your own! Here you can see a short movie to see how shiitake look in their natural state:

All right then, enough of shiitake science! Now there is a time for really nice and plain recipie. You can vary igredients for your personal taste – it is quite sipicy.

Shiitake and ginger noodle recipie:

(for two people)

• 15 dried shiitake mushrooms, put in hot water for about 2 hours, till tender
• 100 g chineese noodles (you can use your favourite noodles, soba works great too!)
• fresh ginger, grated – about 3-5 cm
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed and finely chopped
• soild pinch of chilli flakes
• 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (love it, but it is not vegetarian! you can replace it with soy sauce)
• 2-3 Tb sesame oil (if you like)
• 2-3 Tb olive oil + oil for frying
• lemon juice (2 tbsp or to taste)
• red peppercorns (optional)
• optional to garnish: parsley, sesame seeds etc.

Finely chop shiitake mushrooms. Prepare noodles according to instrucions on package – it should be tender. You can use cold water to stop cooking process.

On a frying pan heat oil when it is hot add garlic, chilli, ginger and fry until fragnant. Be careful and stir all the time because gralic turns out bitter very easily! Add shiitake mushrooms and fry for a moment until fragnant. Add noodles, sesame oil and cook until very hot. Season to taste with worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, lemon juice.

Serve immediately till hot!

Enjoy your shiitake meal!