Oyster mushrooms are a great way to enjoy the umami seafood taste. This is a great, healthy choice for vegetarians and vegans. Oyster mushrooms are delicious raw or lightly cooked. These delicious mushrooms are very popular, so it’s not surprising that they are so popular!
No worries if oyster mushrooms are not available in your area. Oyster mushrooms can be substituted for shiitake mushrooms. You can also substitute oyster mushrooms with porcini mushrooms and portabella mushrooms.
These options can really improve your mushroom game.
1. Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushrooms are a great alternative to oyster mushrooms. They come in a variety of colors, from light brown to dark brown. The cap is a wide, imperfect umbrella shape that doesn’t look edible at first glance.
Don’t be intimidated at its appearance. This mushroom has a great, wholesome taste and can be cut to resemble a steak. Shiitake can be substituted for oyster mushrooms in many of your favorite recipes.
2. Matsutake Mushrooms
Matsutake mushrooms are very popular in Asia, Europe, North America, and Asia. They are most often found in Asian cuisine, especially Japanese and Korean. Matsutake mushrooms are highly sought after for their distinctive, spicy aroma and taste.
These mushrooms are becoming more expensive, which is not surprising considering their unique flavor and health benefits. Although they can be eaten raw, they are best when fried or in soups or stews.
3. Portabella Mushrooms
Most people prefer mushrooms with a meaty flavor. This is especially true for vegetarians and vegans who are trying to avoid meat. However, mushrooms can save the dish. Portabella mushrooms can be substituted for oyster mushrooms to get the same meaty flavor.
This is one the largest commercially produced mushrooms. It has a thick texture with a meaty taste. Portabella mushrooms are not pungent, unlike other mushrooms. They can be cooked in any way you like, but it is important to remove the fibrous stem before they are cooked.
4. Porcini Mushrooms
Porcini mushrooms can be substituted for meaty mushrooms if you don’t mind their pungent smell. This mushroom is very popular in Tuscany, Italy and can be used in many different dishes.
These mushrooms can be purchased fresh or dried. They can be used in any type of mushroom dish, regardless of whether they are fresh or dried.. Porcini mushrooms don’t shrink in cooking, even in soups and stews. While other mushrooms shrink when cooked, porcini mushrooms retain their original size and taste even more meaty.
5. Enoki Mushrooms
Enoki mushrooms can be mistaken for oyster mushrooms, as they have multiple caps. They are white with long, thin stems that bear a little umbrella cap. All of them grow together in a big bouquet of mushrooms.
These mushrooms can also be used for cooking. They can be added to soups or stews. However, it is important to not overcook them as this will ruin their taste. They can also be used as a side dish, in sandwiches, salads, and on top of other foods. You can also find them in cans and jars at your local grocery or specialty shop if they aren’t readily available.
6. Chanterelle Mushrooms
Chanterelles are a common sight when you go foraging for wild mushrooms. Because of their meaty texture and nutty flavor, chanterelle mushrooms are a staple in French cooking. Because of their unique characteristics and rarity, chanterelles are not as expensive as other wild mushrooms.
Chanterelle mushrooms are yellow to bright orange in color with a vase-shaped cap. If you are not an expert in foraging wild mushrooms, chanterelles can be dangerous. Avoid harvesting or eating them if you are unsure. You can also buy dried chanterelles at the grocery store, which can be used in the same way.
7. Morel Mushrooms
Last but not least, morel mushrooms are another wild mushroom found in the middle woods. Although it doesn’t look very appealing, you will be amazed at how meaty and nuanced its taste is.
As with chanterelles, you should be cautious when foraging on your property. Morel mushrooms can be poisonous and you should avoid them. They are delicious, but they are also very expensive due to the way they are harvested and are only available seasonally. If you have the opportunity to purchase them, take advantage of it and enjoy their savory, nutty taste.
The Key Takeaway
Oyster mushrooms might seem irreplaceable. The above alternatives can save the day when all else fails. All these substitutes will give you the same meaty, nutty taste, but they won’t have the same seafood flavor as oyster mushrooms.
You can use seafood seasonings like oyster sauce, soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce if you want your dish to taste like seafood.
You might not notice any difference in the substitutions that you make, so long as you use the same recipe and look at the type of mushroom you are using.
Don’t worry if you aren’t an experienced mushroom forager. Just stick with the ones you can find in the grocery store. You can only experience fresh edible mushrooms like chanterelles or morels if you go foraging with an expert. This will ensure that you don’t ingest poisonous doppelgangers.
Many cases have been reported of non-expert foragers becoming poisoned from eating inedible wild mushroom. It doesn’t matter how much you want to eat wild mushrooms, it is better to eat only those that have been certified edible.
In the comments, let us know which oyster mushrooms substitutes you prefer.
