Whether Continental or Oriental, Chinese, Italian or Asian, food always has been an essential ingredient in our daily lives and has blessed us with various nutrients that provide energy for activity, growth, and all the body functions such as breathing and digesting food, etc. Irrespective of the cuisines at hand, traditional food has always occupied an irreplaceable significance in our savored menu. Going by the popular adage, “Fashion in Europe, living in America, but food in Asia”, one can brag about the importance of traditional food in the Asian culture. Ranging from wide varieties of colorful, aromatic veggies to exotic mushroom and herb dishes, Indians, Chinese, and Japanese have been the notable foodies of the era. Mushrooms have had a unique part to play in enhancing the glory and beauty of the ever so mouth-watering dishes.
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Enoki Mushrooms – a member of the large family
Mushrooms are the fleshy fungi, generally produced on wood, ground yet edible, and hence form a major part of the mouth-watering menu. Mushrooms come in wide varieties ranging from White Button mushrooms to Portobello mushrooms to Oyster mushrooms, and last but not least, the best among the rest, the Enoki mushrooms. These mushrooms are also referred to as velvet shank and form one of the edible species in the family of Physalacriaceae. Unlike other popular mushrooms in Asia, like Oyster mushrooms or Shittake mushrooms, the Enoki mushrooms outstand owing to their fruity taste and crunchy texture. First discovered in Japanese cuisine with the name of Enokitake, the Enoki mushrooms are believed to cause certain infections and illnesses and prove to be fatal if not cooked properly.
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Ways to prepare the Enoki Mushrooms
Known for their fruity taste, versatility, and unique appearance, Enoki Mushrooms form a delicious part of the Asian cuisines. Due to their not-so-meaty taste, these mushrooms are good for health and can serve as an important ingredient in soups, light snacks, noodles, fries, and even their own. Some of the very appetizing and dainty Enoki mushroom recipes for the fitness freak, health-conscious yet delish addicts are listed below:-
Enoki Mushroom Miso Soup
The ingredients to be used are Kelp, Brown miso paste, hot sriracha sauce, cabbage, among various others.
- Rinse and clean the Enoki mushrooms with cold water and dry them when you are ready to cook.
- Put on the pan’s lid and mix dried kelps to 5 cups or 1200ml of water at medium heat.
- After about an hour, mix the miso paste, sriracha, garlic, maple syrup, oil, and salt according to taste, without removing the wide powder, which adds flavour to the savour.
- Simmer the mushrooms and add 2 cups of cabbage and other veggies and green onions. After it is properly cooked, serve hot.
Enoki Mushroom as a main dish
The ingredients required for this Enoki Mushroom recipe are mushrooms, green onion, garlic clove, soy sauce, sugar, etc.
- After cleaning and rinsing about 400 grams of mushroom in cold water and cutting the wood bottom end, the mushroom is ready to cook.
- Take 4 cups or 950 ml of water in a pan and once it comes to boiling state, put the Enoki mushrooms leaving them in hot water for a minute or so.
- Drain all the water and dry by patting the mushroom and place them in a serving dish.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil and cook the garlic. Burnt garlic adds a whole new aroma and enhances the taste of the dish. Add soy sauce, 0.5 tbsp sugar, chopped green onion to that pan and cook the sauce.
- After the sauce stops boiling and comes down to the normal temperature, pour it into the boiled and half-cooked mushroom and serve it.
Enoki Mushroom as stir fry
While preparing this recipe, the ingredients to be put to use are Fresh Enoki mushrooms, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic cloves, cooking oil, etc.
- Wash and rinse the Enoki mushrooms properly just before cooking and remove their hard ends.
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in a huge pan on medium heat flame. Put the garlic in the pan and cook until they turn golden brown for 30 seconds around.
- Add the mushrooms, 2 tsp of soy sauce, and 1 tsp of sesame oil and let the mushrooms turn soft.
- Serve the mushrooms as it is or add other veggies and sauce according to your taste. The allergic persons should use the substitutes available.
Conclusion
The essence of aesthetic pleasure derived from Cooking and feeding is very deep-rooted in Asian culture. Let it be a joyous occasion, a party, or any traditional event, and food steals the show. But with the rising consciousness and fondness for healthy, organic food, we break the chain of traditional recipes passed to us generation after generation by our forefathers. In such helpless circumstances, these above-mentioned Enoki mushroom recipes come to our rescue. Adding a tinge of healthy and modern flavor to the aromatic and exotic traditional dishes, these Enoki mushroom recipes can be a savior, ensuring that the age-old customs and the latter-day practices go hand in hand, without having to keep either at bay.