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Shiitake mushrooms were recently considered an exotic product, but today they are increasingly used to prepare various dishes. Their popularity is due to their pronounced pleasant taste and high nutritional value. It is important to know how to cook shiitake correctly so that they do not lose their beneficial properties and taste.
Shiitake contains amino acids, vitamins and macroelements
How to cook shiitake
As is the case with many other products, proper boiling allows you to preserve maximum flavor and also avoid loss of beneficial properties. These mushrooms have long been known in Asian cuisine, including due to their beneficial effects on the human body:
- help improve immunity, which helps cope with various viral and infectious diseases;
- contain a substance that helps lower blood sugar levels and normalize blood pressure;
- prevent an increase in cholesterol levels, and, therefore, prevent possible damage to the walls of blood vessels;
- the composition includes a large number of amino acids, vitamins, micro- and macroelements necessary for the normal functioning of all body systems.
It should be borne in mind that there are some contraindications for use:
- pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- children under 14 years of age;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- bronchial asthma;
- individual intolerance.
There are several important points to pay attention to when choosing:
- mushrooms should have a dense texture and uniform color - a cap that is too soft or dark spots on the surface may indicate that the mushrooms have been lying around for a long time;
- The presence of mucus on the surface is unacceptable - this is a sign of a spoiled product.
Before cooking shiitakes, you need to properly prepare them:
- Fresh specimens need to be washed or better cleaned with a damp sponge, and then be sure to dry to preserve their dense structure.
- Frozen mushrooms should be thawed before cooking.
- Dried shiitakes require pre-soaking as this makes the flavor more intense and rich.
- The stems of these mushrooms are usually not used because of their density, but if they are soft, you can cook them with them.
- The hats are not cleaned, as they give the dishes their characteristic aroma.
- Depending on the method of use, they can be boiled whole or cut into slices or pieces.
An important point when boiling is to use a small amount of water - for 1 kg of mushrooms you need no more than 1 liter of liquid. Shiitake is a very porous mushroom, so cooking it in too much water can make it too soft and doughy.
Shiitake can be used to prepare various salads, sauces and soups
Shiitake fruits are high in protein, which is why they are often used in vegetarian dishes. In addition, they are distinguished by a rich meat taste, which allows almost no additional seasonings and spices to be added.
You can prepare various salads, soups and sauces from them. They serve as an excellent side dish for meat or fish dishes. The extract obtained from these mushrooms is often added to drinks and dessert dishes.
How long to cook shiitake mushrooms
How long to cook shiitake mushrooms largely depends on the state of the original product - we can talk about fresh mushrooms, frozen or dried ones. Accordingly, preparation for heat treatment and boiling itself will take different times.
How long to cook fresh shiitake
Washed and prepared shiitakes are placed in a saucepan or stewpan with boiling salted water. They should be cooked for no more than 3-5 minutes. Next, the water must be drained, cooled slightly, and then used according to the chosen recipe.
How long to cook dried shiitake
Shiitake is most often stored in dried form. This allows you to preserve their beneficial properties, and also makes their taste and aroma more pronounced.
It is best to soak shiitake mushrooms overnight before cooking.
Before you start cooking, dried shiitakes must be cleaned of possible debris and contaminants, washed thoroughly, and then soaked in 2 liters of clean water. The time spent in water should not be less than 3 hours, but if possible, it is better to leave them to soak overnight.
If the mushrooms are washed properly, you can cook them directly in the water in which they were soaked. The cooking time for such mushrooms is 7-10 minutes after the water boils.
How long to cook frozen shiitake
Another way to store shiitake is freezing. It is in this form that they can most often be found in stores.
Shiitake cannot be defrosted quickly in hot water or in the microwave.
Before cooking frozen shiitakes, the product must first be prepared. Such specimens must first be completely defrosted. The most correct and gentle way to defrost is to place the mushrooms in the refrigerator, where they will gradually thaw. Rapid defrosting at room temperature, and even more so when using a microwave or hot water, can greatly harm the taste and appearance of the product.
After they are completely thawed, you need to squeeze them out a little or dry them on a paper towel. Then place the mushrooms in a saucepan with boiling water and cook for 5-7 minutes.
Shiitake mushroom calories
Shiitake is usually classified as a low-calorie food. It is only 34 kcal per 100 g. It should be borne in mind that if shiitake is combined with other products in a dish, then the calorie content of the entire dish will depend on all the components in its composition.
Conclusion
Shiitake should not be cooked for long: fresh mushrooms need 3-4 minutes, dried and frozen - about 10 minutes, in a small amount of water. If you overdo it, they will taste like rubber. At the same time, the taste of the dish largely depends on the correct choice of mushrooms, as well as preparation for boiling.
