Here’s the way to prepare dinner maitake mushrooms with this simple sautéed recipe that includes garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil! These earthy, peppery hen of the woods mushrooms make a tasty aspect dish or addition to stir-fries and noodle bowls.
I nonetheless bear in mind the primary time I noticed maitake mushrooms at my native grocery retailer: these feathery clusters look extra like a sculpture than meals! After years of experimenting with completely different mushroom varieties from button mushrooms to portobello mushrooms, I knew I needed to strive these.
The outcome? The maitake has an earthy, peppery taste: and I’ve created a recipe that makes probably the most of this taste as a scrumptious aspect dish or addition to pasta or grain bowls! Here’s what I’ve discovered about getting ready these lovely, peppery mushrooms.
What is a maitake mushroom?
The maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) is an edible mushroom that grows on the base of timber; they’re gentle brown and develop in feathery clusters. Also referred to as a hen of the woods mushroom, it’s native to North America, Europe and China. This kind has been consumed for hundreds of years in China and Japan; in reality, maitake means “dancing mushroom” in Japanese.
I’ve discovered these mushrooms at well-stocked grocery shops, well being meals markets, and farmers’ markets. Depending in your location, you would possibly even be fortunate sufficient to forage them your self.
What does a maitake mushroom style like? It has a powerful earthy, peppery taste and is finest served cooked. When you prepare dinner them, remember to offset them with sturdy savory and salty flavors.
Possible well being advantages
Beyond their taste, there could be well being advantages to maitake mushrooms. Some research have proven the maitake mushroom could also be higher than different fungi at stopping or treating most cancers. This selection can also be wealthy in antioxidants, vitamin B and C, and fiber, amongst different vitamins.

How to retailer and clear
Got your maitake mushrooms from the shop or market? Great! Here’s the way to retailer them when you convey them residence, and clear them earlier than cooking:
- Store the mushrooms in a paper bag within the fridge (not produce drawer). You can depart them within the package deal they arrive in. But the easiest way to retailer mushrooms is in a paper bag, which permits them to breathe. Leave them in the principle a part of the fridge to get good airflow, not the produce drawer.
- Clean them with a fast rinse. If you see any grime, give the mushrooms a fast rinse. Just don’t soak them or they’ll turn into soggy.

How to prepare dinner maitake mushrooms
Maitake mushrooms have a sturdy, virtually peppery taste: so it’s essential offset that with a number of savory and salty flavors when cooking them. The sautéed maitake mushroom recipe beneath pairs them soy sauce, sesame oil and garlic in a Japanese-style preparation. Here are the essential steps (or soar to the recipe):
- Use your fingers to tug them into 3-inch slices. No want to make use of a knife right here! Just pull them aside together with your fingers, which maintains the natural shapes.
- Cook on medium excessive warmth for two minutes on 1 aspect, then 1 on the opposite. We like utilizing sesame oil (normal, not toasted).
- Add seasonings and prepare dinner 1 minute. Minced garlic, soy sauce, and a touch of Sriracha.
Ways to serve maitake mushrooms
While maitake mushrooms are nice as a easy aspect dish, I really like incorporating them into bigger meals. Here are my favourite serving recommendations:
- Noodle bowls: Toss them with soba noodles for an prompt dinner that Alex and I each love.
- Stir fry: Add them to any vegetable stir-fry—they pair properly with my cauliflower stir fry or tofu stir fry.
- Pizza toppings: I really like utilizing them on mushroom pizza.
- Ramen: Drop them right into a steaming bowl of mushroom ramen for further earthiness and texture.
- Grain bowls: They make a wonderful protein addition to quinoa or rice bowls, particularly with some steamed greens.
- Pasta dishes: I usually add them to creamy mushroom pasta or toss them with easy garlic butter noodles and Parmesan.
Dietary notes
This mushroom recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Sauteed Maitake Mushrooms
Maitake mushrooms have feathered edges and an earthy, peppery taste! Here’s extra about this selection and a tasty recipe for the way to prepare dinner them.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 8 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Sauteed
- Cuisine: Mushrooms
- Diet: Vegan
- 8 ounces maitake mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil (normal, not toasted)
- 2 medium garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon Sriracha (or ¼ teaspoon rice vinegar)
- For the garnish: chopped chives or sliced inexperienced onions (optionally available)
- Wash the mushrooms and pat them dry. Use your fingers to tug them into 3-inch items. Mince the garlic.
- In a non-stick or forged iron skillet, warmth the sesame oil over medium excessive warmth. Add the mushrooms and sauté for two minutes. Flip the mushrooms and prepare dinner 1 extra minute on the opposite aspect.
- Add the garlic and prepare dinner till softened and aromatic, about 30 seconds. Stir within the soy sauce, Sriracha and salt and prepare dinner 1 extra minute till tender, stirring sometimes. Remove from the warmth. Serve instantly as a aspect garnished with sliced chives or inexperienced onion tops, or with soba noodles.
Other sorts of mushrooms to strive
There are so many different sorts of mushrooms to strive! Sample all of them:
