40 Magnificent Mushroom Recipes

by Myscha Theriault on 9 August 2012 3 comments
Photo: Phil and Pam

Whether you are looking for a meat substitute to support your plant-based diet or are a simply a fan of fungi, a strong repertoire of mushroom recipes will serve you well. Mushrooms are also an affordable, whole-food addition to any vegan grocery list. Use this recipe roundup to start enjoying them with gusto. (See also: 25 Quick and Easy Dinners)

1. Mushroom Marsala

As much as I’ve always enjoyed chicken Marsala, we’ve been cutting down on our meat intake lately due to health reasons. So I’ve begun preparing mushroom Marsala whenever I have a craving for the recipe’s flavor. It provides the same taste, minus the meat.

2. Sandwich Spread

This particular recipe is technically a paté, but the article uses it as a vegetarian mushroom sandwich spread, which I find interesting. I’m always on the lookout for meatless sandwich ideas, and this is the first time I’ve seen a spread using mushrooms instead of guacamole or vegan mayonnaise.

3. Paté

Speaking of paté, this mushroom paté includes an entire cup of toasted ground almonds for extra protein, making it the perfect pre-dinner snack for your next gathering.

4. Risotto

My favorite thing about any flavor of risotto is how much style it brings to the dinner table for an extremely affordable price. This vegan mushroom risotto is a perfect example of that. With the absence of meat and dairy, both the calories and cost are under control.

5. Ravioli

When people first start exploring a reduced-meat diet, finding satisfying meals is a common concern. Enter mushroom ravioli. It’s hearty, “meaty” tasting, and full of flavor.

6. Portobello Cap Entrees

Rather than preparing stuffed chicken breasts or pork chops, why not lighten things up by serving baked stuffed portobello caps? They are large enough to take up a similar amount of space on the plate, can be adapted to a number of different types of cuisines, and are markedly lower in calories than many stuffed meat entrees.

7. Portobello Burgers

It doesn’t get much simpler than this. Simply grill a few giant portobello caps, slap them in some hearty buns, and dress as desired with lettuce, gourmet mustard, tomato slices, and other tasty treats.

8. Stuffed Cap Appetizer

Smaller mushroom caps are well suited to stuffing for appetizers as opposed to the main meal. There are a large number of stuffed cap recipes on the web, but this stuffed mushroom cap recipe from Taste of Home is a great place to start.

9. Mushroom Pesto

Basil isn’t the only gourmet goodie that can be used to prepare pesto. Mushrooms are also fair game, as this version of mushroom pesto from Group Recipes demonstrates. Use it to prepare pasta or dress up a basic bruschetta.

10. Marinated Mushrooms

A simple treat that works well tucked on an appetizer plate or in a noodle salad, marinated mushrooms don’t have to be purchased from the store. This marinated mushroom recipe from Show Me the Curry shows you how to prepare your own.

11. Mushroom Pizza

Because they have such a meaty flavor when cooked, mushrooms make an excellent pizza topping, especially for new vegetarians. Try putting some on top of your favorite pizza sauce along with bell peppers, black olives, and other toppings.

12. Sauteed Salad Topper

As anyone who eats salad on a regular basis can tell you, the add-ins can make all the difference. Sauteed mushrooms are one of yummiest. You can also cook several mushrooms on the grill at once using a kabob stick. Either way, you’ll have a meaty addition to your dinner that’s extremely low in calories.

13. Mushroom and Beef Brisket

If you’re looking for affordable crock pot recipes, then consider this onion and mushroom brisket from Taste of Home. It pairs well with baked potatoes and carrots, and it can be left to cook on its own while you’re at work.

14. Mushroom and Barley Stew

To be honest, I basically eyeball this one whenever I make it. I use a tomato broth base with horseradish and Worcestershire sauce sprinkled in, barley, diced carrots, and sliced mushrooms (added towards the end so they don’t get overdone). I put the whole thing in the slow cooker and freshen up the horseradish and Worcestershire at the end. It’s one of our favorite vegetarian crock pot recipes and is based directly on the recipe I always threw together to make beef stew. I simply swap out the beef for the sliced mushrooms and put them in for less time.

15. Side Dish Accent

Thinly sliced mushrooms make an excellent accent for simple side dishes like asparagus spears or French beans. It only takes two or three to make a visual statement, and of course you get the extra flavor as a bonus.

16. Toasted Sub

If toasted meatless sandwiches are something you enjoy for dinner, mushroom subs might be something worth experimenting with. We make ours with baby bellas, sun-dried tomatoes, sliced onions, and spinach leaves on twelve-inch hoagies. A bit of horseradish-seasoned Vegenaise really puts them over the top.

17. Mushroom Tikka Masala

Are you a fan of ethnic food? Try this mushroom tikka masala. It features seasonings such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, and ginger, resulting in a savory mushroom dish you can serve with flatbread and a side of cold yogurt.

18. Thai Mushroom Soup With Coconut Milk

Thai soups are especially flavorful, and this mushroom soup is no exception. If you’re more of a carnivore at heart, try adding poultry or shrimp to round out the recipe a bit. Either way, you’ll have big flavor with a small cost.

19. Cream of Mushroom Soup

Of course, if you prefer a mellow flavor, this creamy mushroom soup from Skinny Taste might be more to your liking. Whip up some homemade bread mixes to extend the meal and follow with a simple dessert like gingerbread pudding or a chocolate snack cake.

20. Veggie Lasagna

Meatless lasagna tastes less so with the addition of a few mushrooms. This veggie lasagna recipe is a fine launching point.

21. Stir Fry

I’m particularly fond of mushroom and broccoli stir fry with Gardein beef tips, but you can certainly use other meat substitutes or even steak strips to try your own at home. All you need is a pot of rice to complete the menu.

22. Mushroom and Red Wine Butter

I was particularly excited to find this porcini and red wine butter from Bon Appetit magazine. It can be prepared ahead and sliced into individual servings for your guest to enjoy with beef or lamb.

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23. Vegetarian Pot Stickers

Appetizers represent some of the more popular ways to enjoy ethnic foods, and pot stickers in particular have a huge fan base. These mushroom pot stickers from Foodie Arsenal leave out the meat and keep things light.

24. Latkes

Latkes don’t have to be prepared only with white potatoes. These sweet potato latkes from Singer’s Kitchen incorporate mushrooms.

25. Strata

A meal-worthy variation of bread pudding, strata is an elegant dish to put on the dinner table. This strata recipe from the New York Times uses mushrooms instead of meat.

26. Mushroom Pie

Do you like to serve savory pies with green salad when you need an elegant dinner option? Try this mushroom pie from Simply Recipes. It would pair well with a white sangria and biscotti for dessert.

27. Pierogi

If you are one of those people who loves pierogi, then these mushroom mushroom pierogi should fit neatly into your recipe collection. They're particularly suitable for a party snack or dinner side.

28. Mushroom Gravy

Whether you simply want a meatless sauce to serve with your mashed potatoes or need something to add the finishing touch to an alternative Thanksgiving menu, mushroom gravy is a great recipe. At our house, we serve it over veggie burgers, stuffed squash, and even baked potatoes.

29. Vegetarian Pot Pie

Most vegetarian pot pie recipes I’ve seen use frozen mixed vegetables as the main ingredient, but this pot pie recipe uses lentils and mushrooms to mix things up a bit. The result is a meatier texture in the finished product.

30. Potato-Mushroom Torta

This mushroom and potato torta (PDF) uses rosemary and a round shape to keep things stylish.

31. Quiche

If you enjoy saving eggs for special dishes, then why not attempt this over-the-top mushroom quiche from the Smitten Kitchen?

32. Meatless Stuffing

Who says stuffing has to be prepared with poultry stock? This vegetarian stuffing is made with mushrooms and savory seasoning to create a flavorful addition to your holiday table.

33. Mushroom Phyllo Bundles

Feeling like something fancy for your next dinner party? These mushroom-stuffed phyllo bundles from The Pioneer Woman are elegant, tasty, and conveniently meatless.

34. Ragout

One of the things that surprised me most when we first started reducing our meat consumption was just how filling a mushroom sauce can be. This ragout demonstrates exactly that, and it can be served with pasta as well as polenta.

35. Burger Topping

Whether yours are made with beef, turkey, or veggies, having a few tasty toppings will put your burger over the top. A particularly flavorful one is cooked mushrooms. If you happen to have some sliced Swiss on hand, even better.

36. Grilled Veggie Kabobs

A fun item to serve at backyard barbecues, grilled veggie kabobs with mushrooms can be served with rice, alongside cooked meats, or with some foil-cooked potatoes. Try some cold lemonade for your hostess beverage to lighten things up.

37. Chinese-Style Soup

Serve something warm and light with this Chinese- style spinach and mushroom soup. You can use it for a light lunch or a first course at dinner.

38. Wild Mushroom Crostini

Do you enjoy toasted bread rounds with interesting spreads and toppings? If so, then this wild mushroom crostini recipe might be for you. Consider serving it with spritzers for a budget-friendly happy hour gathering.

39. Mushroom Omelet

Those who enjoy having breakfast for dinner might appreciate a mushroom omelet. They are affordable to prepare, are quick to cook, and can be enjoyed with spicy vegetable juice if you are having company.

40. Stroganoff

A classic mushroom recipe that many of us grew up with is stroganoff. It’s a great way to stretch out your beef purchases, and it tastes great with both potatoes and pasta.

Do you have a favorite fungi dish? Feel free to share a link to the recipe in the comment section below.

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Meg Favreau's picture

I really dig this tofu lettuce wraps recipe that uses mushrooms: http://www.meals.com/Recipes/RecipeDetails.aspx?RecipeID=134879

It says to use oyster mushrooms, but I usually use plain old white button mushrooms, and it still comes out great.

Julie Rains's picture

I love mushrooms with beef (steak, burgers, roast) also; plus sauteed with steamed green beans, hot and soy sauce, and cheddar cheese (sounds weird but it's really good). My latest involvement with mushrooms is similar to your quiche and omelet but is with a frittata: saute mushrooms and spinach in a cast iron pan, then mix in eggs with some milk, cheese, salt and pepper; cook for a bit, then finish in the oven. I imagine you could try almost any types of veggies but the mushooms adds texture. I am partial to portabellas.

Guest's picture

I like to add mushrooms to kale and fruit smoothies. Adds a nice texture without altering the taste.