#mushroom-varieties

#mushroom-varieties

Don't be intimidated by fresh mushrooms. They are prized for their flavor and versatility. Look for firm mushrooms that are free of soft spots or mold. Wash them just before using them but be sure to store them unwashed. Never submerge in water to wash them because mushrooms absorb like a sponge and become mushy. Wipe with moist paper towels.

Second-and this may help explain the first point-mushrooms are incredibly versatile. First, there are so many mushroom varieties, including porcinis, morels, chanterelles, crimini (sometimes spelled cremini), and more, but these edible fungi are also equally at home in Italian pasta as they are in a Chinese-inspired soup, a French cream sauce, or a good-old American Thanksgiving side dish with wild rice or mushroom gravy.

But what you're likely underestimating is the power of mushrooms (naturally high in umami, a fever dream of mixed textures, visually dazzling in all their shapes and sizes), which are doing most if not all of the heavy lifting here. Technically this recipe can be done with all button or cremini mushrooms, but I can't say it will look or taste as good as it does with a mix of the more exotic types, such as oyster, maitake, or chanterelle.