April showers bring May mushrooms! Let us talk about these
little superfoods! Not only can they bring flare to your dishes,
but these little guys can fight cancer, combat Alzheimer’s,
help against diabetes, and heart disease! Mushrooms have
been around for over 900 million years, long before trees
these beauties covered the earth.
Besides the basic white button mushrooms (which are good
for you) what else is there? The number one healthy
mushroom is the Reishi mushroom. Known in Asia as the
mushroom of immortality. It is the main mushroom in
mushroom coffee. It is a liver detox aid and stress reducer.
Also used to reduce anxiety and depression.
Lion’s mane is another known mushroom. It promotes brain
and nerve health. A great mushroom for memory and fighting
memory loss.
Turkey Tail mushrooms promote gut health and gut flora.
Almost like a probiotic improving digestive health.
Chaga is an anti-aging mushroom. Great for inflammation and
found in Chaga tea.
Shiitake is a popular mushroom in the cooking world. It is high
in fiber like an oyster mushroom and an immune booster.
Cordyceps are energy and libido boosting mushrooms. This
one is used by body builders and athletes for energy.
About 3 months ago I discovered a mushroom coffee that I
like the taste of. RYZE is the name of the one I enjoyed, but
there are many out there. This brand had 6 amazing
mushrooms and coffee! The caffeine amount was less than
half a regular cup of coffee, but the added coffee made the
earthiness of the mushrooms taste…well, normal. I did bring
the mushroom coffee to work (I add cream to mine) and
shared it. The result was several odd expressions, a few
“ewes” and a couple of likes! Yes, it is a healthy, but acquired
taste.
Even though I have studied mushrooms for years, I am still
afraid to pick mushrooms in the wild. So, do as I do and grab
them from the store. Next question, what stores carry some
of these more exotic mushrooms. Whole Foods in
Morristown, Verdi in Budd Lake and The Ledgewood Market
in Ledgewood tend to have a variety. You can sauté the any
mix of mushrooms in a little olive oil with garlic and put on
top of a burger, eat alone, mix with other veggies, take in a
supplement or drink in a coffee.
If you want to go simple, stick with a portobello mushroom
(try a great recipes below). All mushrooms are full of vitamin
D, zinc, fiber, protein, and antioxidants. Your body will thank
you!
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
• 4 large portobello mushrooms stems and gills removed,
wiped clean
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1/2 teaspoon
dried
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, plus additional to
taste
• Olive oil
Instructions
• In a shallow baking dish, whisk together the balsamic
vinegar, olive oil, soy sauce, rosemary, garlic powder,
black pepper, and cayenne. Taste and adjust seasonings if
you like. Add the mushrooms and turn to coat. Let sit for
5 minutes on one side, then flip and let sit 5 additional
minutes. While the mushrooms marinate, prep the grill
and anything you’d like to serve with them. You can let
them sit for up to 30 minutes, so feel free to take your
time—the longer they sit, the more intense the flavor will
be.
• Heat a grill or a large skillet over medium heat (about 350
to 400 degrees F). Brush the grill with oil to prevent
sticking. Remove the mushrooms from the bowl, shaking
off any excess marinade and reserving the marinade for
basting. Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes, or until
caramelized and deep golden brown. Brush the
remaining marinade over the mushrooms several times
as they cook.
