Shiitake mushrooms
A meaty, deeply savory mushroom used fresh or dried across Asian cooking. Dried shiitakes need rehydrating in hot water first — save the soaking liquid, it's a concentrated mushroom stock.
Used for
- stir-fries
- soups
- ramen
- fried rice
In the kitchen
- rehydrate dried in hot water
- remove tough stems
- sear
- sauté
Picking it at the store
- Fresh caps should be firm and dry, not slimy, with the underside gills tucked tight
- Discard the woody stems on fresh shiitakes — they stay tough no matter how long you cook them
Related terms
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