Fried Oyster Mushrooms

Jan 12, 2020

Fried Oyster Mushrooms make a surprisingly tasty side dish or snack. Flavored with butter, salt and black pepper, these are ADDICTIVE! Use them in sandwiches, pasta, rice or eat as they are pairing with cold beer.

This post was originally published in 2011 and has been updated with additional information and new pictures.

Fried osyter mushrooms with garlic and green onions served in a white bowl

Have you ever tasted fried oyster mushrooms? You will be addicted once you try. They are tender with a hearty and meaty flavor, so a great appetizer option for meat lovers or for those who are not into pan-roasted asparagus with mozzarella or buffalo wings. They disappear so fast and one bowl is never enough.

You dont need any frying batter because the mushrooms arent deep-fried in this recipe, which makes it much easier. Yummy, simple and easy. What else would you need for a perfect snack?

Many people find mushrooms a bit tasteless because of their spongy texture. You know they are not juicy and dont have an outstanding flavor when raw. Oyster mushrooms are definitely not that kind. They are not juicy just like regular mushrooms, but the flavor is irresistible! Oyster mushroom has several other names such as Indian oyster, phoenix muhroom, lung oyster and its Latin name is pleurotus pulmonarius.

What Are Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are common edible mushrooms. Unlike the name suggests, these mushrooms are found on land. Their shape looks like an oyster, thats why they are called oyster mushrooms. They can be white, green, pink, blue or yellow. They are easy to grow, so you can find them almost everywhere in the world. You need to check some particular trees like oak, maple, elm also known as hardwoods. They have a great meaty flavor and go well in sandwiches, stews, pastas and soups. Also, they make a wonderful alternative to irresistible nachos on a game day or movie night. The best time for oyster mushrooms is anytime from spring to fall.

I discovered oyster mushrooms a few years ago at our local bazaar. They were like flowers with their layers, so easily got my attention. I was tempted by these cute mushrooms. The seller gave me the recipe too! Melt a little butter, fry the mushrooms and sprinkle a pinch of salt. Enjoy! he said. Sounds easy, doesnt it? I followed his instructions for my first dish with oyster mushrooms, and we loved it! Its smell was so tempting even when cooking.

I have tried several versions since then. It really doesnt need any additional flavors, but I love to make changes on recipes, so this time I used a clove of garlic when frying and to give it some color, I added green onions.

Fried oyster mushrooms with garlic and green onions served in a white bowl

How to Make Fried Oyster Mushrooms

The recipe has three super easy steps:

First, melt butter in a skillet. Cut the oyster mushrooms in bite size and place them in the skillet in a single layer.
Second, add in garlic cloves with their skin on and chopped green onions.
Third, turn the mushrooms over when their bottom is golden and season with salt and black pepper. Shake the skillet often and reduce the heat when it is needed until golden. Transfer them in a bowl and repeat the same steps for the remaining mushrooms.

Is This Oyster Mushroom Recipe Vegan?

No, it isnt. But you can easily adjust this recipe to make it vegan. I love the combination of butter and mushroom flavors, so I make it with butter. However, olive oil works fine too. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and fry the mushrooms in batches. Add extra olive oil when needed.

Or go make our Sauteed Oyster Mushroom Recipe. Completely vegan and as delicious as the fried version.

Can I Use King Oyster Mushroom For This Recipe?

Yes, you can. King oyster mushrooms are the largest species of oyster mushrooms, so you will probably need to fry them longer. Just check whether they are tender enough before removing them all from heat. You dont need to cut the stems of these mushrooms, just trimming off the very end of their stem is enough. The best thing about king oyster mushrooms is that they dont lose their shape when cooked, so they have a nice and tempting look.

Oyster Mushroom Benefits

Oyster mushrooms are one of those low-calorie foods with high nutrients. They are known as natural antioxidants, so good for body cells. Plus, these mushrooms have cholesterol lowering effect. Grilling them is a great idea if you want to avoid frying for health issues. They are as tasty when grilled.

Fried Oyster Mushrooms with herbs and black pepper on a white plate

Here is another version of the recipe. We just fried mushrooms in butter, sprinkled salt and topped them with shaved cheese when they were still hot.We love all versions of oyster mushrooms, so its up to you to create something new or have them plain.

Oyster mushrooms with cheese on a white plate

FAQs About Oyster Mushrooms

What part of oyster mushrooms do you eat? After cleaning the mushrooms with a damp kitchen towel, cut the stems off. As those stems have a rubbery texture, its not recommended to eat those parts.
Should I wash them? A damp kitchen towel is enough to clean the mushrooms. If you wash them under water or soak them in water, they lose their flavor and you end up with a bland dish.
Can you freeze these mushrooms? Yes, you can. Its better to freeze them cooked. Cook them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and then transfer them into a large bowl of cold water. Put in freezer bags to keep them in the freezer. You can use these frozen mushrooms in soups, scrambled eggs or rice pilaf.
Can they be dehydrated? Yes, they can be dehydrated. Use a dehydrator for this and store them in jars when they are completely dry. When you want to use them, cook them in boiling water for a few minutes so that the mushrooms get tender. Almost all the flavor is in the broth now. Use it in soups or stews along with the mushrooms. You will see the flavor from dried mushrooms is much better than the fresh.

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