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Dried shiitake mushrooms have a wonderful smoky flavor and a meaty texture. They are one of the most culinarily versatile mushrooms for their economical price. Shiitake mushrooms are the best all around dried mushrooms for a novice coinsure of exotic mushrooms. We only sell high quality whole shiitake mushroom caps.

 

 

**It takes a whole pound of fresh shiitake to make just three ounces of the dried shiitake mushrooms!

Reconstituting: Dried Shiitake mushrooms can be reconstituted by steeping them in warm water/broth for about 30 minutes or by added them to a simmering liquid 10-15 minutes before serving. The flavorful soaking liquid can then be strained for addition to soups and sauces.

Preparation: The texture and flavor of the fleshy shiitake mushroom cap is wonderful, although it's stem is quite fibrous and should be removed before cooking. The stem is commonly discard, but can be finally mincing before use, or simmered to make a flavorful and aromatic mushroom stock.

Sauteed: Lightly saute well soaked but padded dry mushrooms (and possibly shallots) in butter until tender, or for approximately 6 minutes. Serve warm as a side dish to meats such as a nice steak.

Sauce: follow the instructions above and deglaze pan with the shiitake soaking liquid and/or white wine . Reduce liquid, add heavy cream and simmer until desired thickness is reached. Serve over all kinds of beef, venison, and pasta.
 

Dried shiitake mushrooms are a prized in oriental cooking where they can be added to anything from savory soups to spicy stir fries. The Japanese prize this delicious and nutritious mushroom more than any other culture. In Japan, shiitake are the most commonly eaten mushroom and the dried mushrooms are preferred by many in Japanese culture. The dried shiitake's flavor is so intense because one whole pound of fresh mushrooms has it's flavors condensed down to just 3 ounces of high quality dried shiitake mushrooms.

Shiitake are not only a delicious addition to just about any recipe, they are also a healthy one. These mushrooms are not only a source of high quality protein because they contain all essential amino acids, but shiitake also are a good source of minerals and vitamins.  Having high fiber and few calories makes these mushrooms a close to perfect food! All these dietary attributes are part of the reason the shiitake mushrooms has long been a symbol of longevity in China. In fact, a growing body of evidence show that the health benefits of eating shiitake do not end at the mushroom's nutritional benefits. 

Shiitake mushrooms have been attributed with many medical properties by both eastern and western medicine. They range from reducing cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, strengthening the immune system against diseases including viral ones,  fighting tumors, and improving liver function.  Many of the shiitake's health benefits come from chemical compounds these mushrooms produce, these include: lentinan, eritadenine, L-ergothioneine. The idea that shiitake mushrooms might have numerous medical benefits is nothing new to Chinese herbalists who have recommended this mushroom for a wide array of ailments for thousands of years. The shiitake's reputed health benefits can only partially be explained by this mushrooms excellent nutritional content.

The name shiitake, pronounced she-TAH-kay, is the name these mushrooms are most commonly referred to as in the U.S. and Japan. This name is mainly used in the U.S. because shitake mushrooms were introduced to the United States through Japan, but originated in the forests of East Asia. The popularity of shiitake spread throughout Asia long ago, were it is now seen as a symbol of longevity.

Shiitake mushrooms grow on decaying hard wood in warm humid conditions such as those found during the summer in many temperate areas. This has made them popular with amateur and commercial mushroom growers in Japan, the U.S., and around the world. Home shiitake mushroom growers can even buy mail order shiitake logs that have been injected with spores and grow fresh mushrooms for several seasons.

Wild mushroom picking should be done only under the supervision of an expert who is absolutely certain they have an edible mushroom. Some mushrooms are deadly poisonous, and some poisonous mushrooms can easily be misidentified as shiitake.