# Shiitake recipes / Need help fast **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 7, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shiitake-recipes-need-help-fast/509213 "2009-09-07T22:51:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shiitake-recipes-need-help-fast/509213/1 "2009-09-07T22:51:09Z")
About a year ago a very large branch fell off an oak tree in the woods near my house. I was persuaded to “seed” this with shiitake mushroom spawn. Nothing happened for the longest time. As recently as three days ago I checked the log and saw nothing. I’d about given up hope. Today I checked again - and I’m buried in them. I collected around 3 pounds of the best-looking shiitakes you’ve ever seen. I just had a mess for dinner (with homemade spaghetti sauce). I have ordered a food dehydrator to preserve these long-term. I’ll be giving some away. But I badly need recipes. How about shiitake soup? ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shiitake-recipes-need-help-fast/509213/2 "2009-09-07T23:42:02Z")
Well, you can sub them in any mushroom recipe, but this is one of my all time favorite recipes: [Pan-Seared Tuna with Ginger-Shiitake Cream Sauce](http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pan-Seared-Tuna-with-Ginger-Shiitake-Cream-Sauce-100670) (the sauce is also very good with chicken if you don’t have good tuna.) ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shiitake-recipes-need-help-fast/509213/3 "2009-09-07T23:59:29Z")
I don’t have a specific recipe, but you can also think salmon + soy sauce + freshly grated ginger + green onions, and broil or bake it. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shiitake-recipes-need-help-fast/509213/4 "2009-09-08T00:34:32Z")
You can’t go wrong with a mushroom risotto. [This recipe](http://www.members.shaw.ca/alwaysinthekitchen/wildmushroomrisotto.html) is close to what I usually do, although I prefer to use asiago. Usually, I use portobello and shiitake in about equal measure, but that’s just for economy. A 100% shiitake risotto would still be very nice. Also, your basic cream of mushroom soup is even better with shiitake. (If you like the taste of mushrooms, that is.) I am envious of your shiitake log. (I’ve only managed to get them to fruit on sawdust & rice bran, indoors.) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shiitake-recipes-need-help-fast/509213/5 "2009-09-08T01:51:08Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > How about shiitake soup? One of the traditional ways of making Japanese _dashi_ is with dried shiitake mushrooms. [Here is a dashi recipe with shiitake](http://www.edenfoods.com/recipes/view.php?recipes_id=323) [And another](http://macrobiotic.about.com/od/brothsoups/r/ShiitakeDashi.htm) [And another](http://food.rlove.org/2009/03/shiitake-dashi.html) [And another](http://www.ramenlicious.com/recipes/shiitake-dashi.html) And there’s lots more out there on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shiitake-recipes-need-help-fast/509213/6 "2009-09-08T02:29:44Z")
Oh, yeah - if you’re going to _dry_ them – Consider making mushroom gravy. Take about ten dried shiitake, and soak them in about 2.5 cups of boiling water. (ie, boil the water, pour it over the mushrooms in a container, cover it, and soak for half an hour or more.) Drain the mushrooms and reserve the soaking liquid. Remove the stems, and then dice the mushrooms. Dice a little onion and sauté it (med-high) in some oil until it starts to brown. Add a little thyme or _herbs de provence_ and the shiitake, and saute for five more minutes. Purée the mushroom mixture and set it aside. (You may need to add a little of the reserved soaking liquid to make it easier to puree.) Make a roux with three tablespoons each of flour and butter. Stir in the purée, all at once, and then gradually add the reserved soaking liquid. (I like to add a little fresh minced serrano pepper after a little of the soaking liquid has been added - YMMV.) Let it thicken for maybe five minutes. This is a nice gravy over creamy mashed potatoes. (And it looks like a lot more work than it actually is, written out like that.) ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shiitake-recipes-need-help-fast/509213/7 "2009-09-08T12:43:48Z")
Thanks to all - excellent suggestions.