You may have heard rumblings about the health benefits of fungi, but when it comes to actually eating more mushrooms, it can be hard to know where to start.
Sure, it’s easy to turn a sweet potato into fries or nachos (or even cookies!), but a container of shiitakes inspires little more than...a basic stir fry. And it doesn’t help that there are about 1.5 million types of fungi in the world to learn to cook.
These creative mushroom recipes will help you get started when it comes to figuring out how to add more fungi to your diet. It’s a good idea because mushrooms are nutrient-dense. Depending on the ‘shrooms, they might even help boost your immune system or provide anti-inflammatory benefits. (Mushrooms also make for a hearty meat substitute, so many of the recipes happen to be vegetarian or vegan—and mushrooms are the only natural plant source of vitamin D!)
RELATED: 7 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Eat Daily
Get past that “Portobello burger” hump by experimenting with these easy mushroom recipes from our own database and our friends around the web.
17 Mushroom Recipes to Eat More Fungi
1. Broccoli Rabe Farro Stuffed Mushrooms
There is a whole lot of goodness stuffed into each of these already nutrient-rich mushroom caps, and they’re the perfect finger food for entertaining guests.
2. Caramelized Shiitake Mushroom Risotto
Minimalist Baker’s take on creamy mushroom risotto makes for an absolutely dreamy dinner on a cold night.
3. Chicken Mushroom Burgers
Why not go for a little less meat in your burger while also adding nutrients? These can also be made without a grill, in case you’re a city apartment dweller.
4. Slow Cooked Mushroom Tacos with Spicy Slaw
Now this is a vegan taco night that will appeal to basically any eater, via Rachel Mansfield.
5. Sauteed Shiitake with Ginger and Watercress
Here’s a little upgrade to that basic stir-fry, with antioxidant-packed ingredients like ginger.
6. Lentil and Mushroom Meatballs
Serve these vegetarian meatballs with marinara or pesto, on pasta or on a salad, advises Cookie and Kate.
7. Green Salad with Shiitake Bacon
It sounds a little weird, but Crunchy Radish founder Miranda Hammer, Nutritious Life Certified, shows that when sliced and baked until crisp, the umami flavor and color of the mushrooms will fool most bacon lovers.
8. Balsamic Roasted Garlic Mushrooms
The Thriving Vegan’s simple side dish is all about tossing mushrooms with oil, vinegar, and herbs.
9. Crispy Quinoa Bowl with Mushrooms
This is the nutrient- and flavor-packed quinoa bowl every healthy eater dreams of, courtesy of the amazing Nutritious Life CertifiedMolly’s Best.
10. Mushroom and Farro Soup
Farro is an ancient grain that is high in protein and fiber, making this soup hearty enough to be a main dish, and the mushrooms add vitamin B, zinc, and selenium.
11. Greek Salad with Mushroom Walnut Souvlaki
Okay, this is really cool: Hot for Food Blog shows you how to make vegan souvlaki with mushrooms, nuts, spices, and flax. Then add it to the top of a veggie-filled Greek salad.
12. Vegan Pumpkin Chili with Mushroom
Oh, hello fall. When the leaves are turning all kinds of red, yellow, and orange, follow Nourished by Nutrition’s lead by pairing mushrooms with pumpkin.
13. Portobello Mushroom Burger
Love and Lemons has the trick to making easy vegan burgers for your cookout, with just five ingredients.
14. Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Mushrooms
Shoot the Cook makes lettuce wraps with chicken, mushrooms, and a super yummy avocado vinaigrette.
15. Roasted Mushroom Salad
The simplest combo of wild mushrooms and fresh herbs, by Cucina di Mammina for Food 52, results in a super side dish.
16. Mushroom and Garlic Saute
Julia’s Album has the easiest saute approach to add flavor. Use these ‘shrooms on top of grass-fed steak or in salad or quinoa bowl.
17. Adaptogen Coconut Cacao Bliss Balls
And for dessert...make Local Milk’s reishi powder-spiked bliss balls that are just as delicious as they are gorgeous.