Varieties
Lion’s Mane
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Wild MushroomsVariety: Lion’s Mane
Uniquely Regal
Lion’s mane mushrooms are easily identified by their white color and unique shaggy outer texture that resembles, well, a lion’s mane.
A simple yet stunning go-to cooking technique for this variety is to dry sauté in a hot skillet until water releases and edges brown, then add butter and seasonings. Medium to large in size, these strange and wonderful mushrooms are seafood-like in their flavor and texture, similar to crab or lobster.
Common Names:
Lion's Mane, Mountain-Priest Mushroom, Bearded Tooth, Pom Pom Mushrooms
Botanical Names:
Hericium erinaceus
Flavor and texture
Lion’s mane mushrooms offer a mildly sweet flavor and a tender texture that mimics shellfish like scallops, crab, or lobster. For that reason, they are often turned to as an accompaniment or alternative to seafood. Try lion’s mane in a mock Crab Louie salad or as a pan seared “steak” in your next surf and turf.
Usage
Grill
Roast
Saute
Sear
Handling
At the grocery store, select lion’s mane mushrooms that are bright white and firm a shaggy outer surface. The surface of the mushroom should be dry, but not dried out, and appear plump or even ‘fluffy.’ Store mushrooms in original packaging or in a porous paper bag for prolonged shelf life. Some mushrooms may keep for up to a week in the refrigerator. Fresh mushrooms should never be frozen, but frozen sautéed mushrooms will keep for up to one month. To clean lion’s mane, brush off any debris from mushrooms with fingers, a soft mushroom brush, or a damp paper towel, or rinse briefly under running water and pat dry with a paper towel. Do not submerge lion’s mane mushrooms in water as they are very absorbent and water could impact the texture of the mushroom.
