From late spring to autumn, mushrooms are a tasty fungi to cook with a diverse range of ingredients. Furthermore, there are a wide range of cooking techniques including baking, broiling, deep-frying, pan roasting, sautéing, steaming, as well as in mushroom soup and stew.
Mushroom have a slight earthy, woodsy, and meaty taste, shape, and texture differences to trigger umami flavor. As a result, not every ingredient pairs well with mushrooms.
What to eat with mushrooms? Mushrooms taste great with cured meats such as bacon, ham, and prosciutto for extra fatty and saltiness to complement the mild and pleasant taste.
In addition, spices and herbs add a hint of deep flavor no matter which vegetables or meats you pair together. Consider garlic, marjoram, parsley, tarragon, and fresh thyme for optimal results.
Consider using good oil, vinegar, and wine to boost flavor in every dish, especially when creating risotto, tarts, soups, and stews.
We all know mushrooms taste great on their own, whether roasted, sautéed, grilled, marinated, or microwaved, but they taste even better when layered with the proper matchups.
Even better, they are pretty versatile and can be paired with anything. No idea what to serve with mushrooms in the next brunch or family gathering? Here are some sumptuous pairings.
What goes well with mushrooms?
With mushrooms, the possibilities are endless. They can be paired with fruits, veggies, cheese, nuts, herbs and spices, proteins, and dairy products.
Eggs and mushrooms are a legendary combo that brings a wholesome meal, from sandwiches to filling dishes and omelets.
Mushrooms can also be paired with nuts, they add an aromatic twist to the fungi with a crunchy appeal.
From sides to main dishes, mushrooms are widely used, here are ingredients that taste well with most mushrooms:
- Nuts: almonds, chestnuts, pine nuts, walnuts
- Fruits: lemon
- Grains: barley, rice, arborio
- Legumes: green beans, lima beans
- Liquors: cognac, sake, sherry
- Dairy: unsalted butter, cream, creme fraiche, milk, sour cream, yogurt
- Condiments: Dijon mustard, soy sauce, sugar
- Oil: canola, grapeseed, peanut, vegetable, olive, sesame, truffle
- Spices: cayenne, cloves, coriander, cumin, garam masala, garlic, ginger, marjoram
- Herbs: cilantro, dill, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, garlic chives
- Cheese: comte, emmental, gruyere, parmesan, swiss
- Chili peppers: dried red, fresh green
- Salt: fleur de sel, kosher, sea
- Stocks: chicken, dashi, mushroom, veal
- Vinegar: balsamic, red wine, sherry
- Wine: dry red, white, vermouth
What can I eat with sautéed mushrooms?
Sautéed mushrooms are often served as a side dish, but there are many ways to enjoy them.
Add sautéed mushroom to your cheese pizza for the ultimate culinary experience. Having some mushrooms over pork chops or grilled steak never goes out of fashion.
For bread lovers, add sautéed mushrooms to garlic bread for that perfect pairing that will get you addicted. Don’t forget to stir in some tortellini or tubular pasta with extra cheese of course.
What vegetables go well with mushrooms?
Whether the mushroom dish is soup, stew, or pasta, adding vegetables are great assets for color, flavor, and texture.
When serving mushrooms, try items from this list of vegetables to improve umami experience:
- asparagus
- red bell peppers
- carrots
- celery
- fennel
- leeks
- onions: green, pearl, red, yellow
- peas
- potatoes
- radicchio
- scallions
- shallots
- spinach
- frisée lettuce
What meat goes well with mushrooms?
Meat and mushrooms are a powerhouse of umami flavor, and chicken or steak and mushrooms are the ultimate classics.
In general, mushrooms pairs well with bacon, beef, chicken, crab, eggs, fish, game, ham, pork, seafood, veal, and prosciutto. However, depend on the type of mushrooms, the pairing may vary.
- Chanterelles: game, eggs, mussels, poultry
- Cremini: chicken
- Matsutake: chicken, black cod, fish, shrimp
- Morels: bacon, eggs, ham, lamb, pancetta, pork
- Porcini: bacon, roasted chicken, grilled or white fish, prosciutto, steak, veal
- Shiitake: anchovies, bacon, chicken, cod, eggs, pork
What flavor goes well with mushrooms?
Herbs, garlic, and shallots add zing to mushrooms. Chop shallots and add them halfway through the cooking as adding them too early may cause them to burn, and if added too late, they tend to have a raw taste.
For the garlic, mince it finely, and mix with some parsley towards the end. Thyme also tastes great with mushrooms as well.
The fat used also takes the flavor up a notch higher, especially with good olive oil or rich butter. Most of the flavor clings to the bottom of the pan, so be sure to deglaze the pan with a tablespoon of cream, wine, sherry, or stock.
Here are classic flavor combinations to try with most types of mushrooms:
- mushrooms + garlic + lemon + olive oil
- mushrooms + garlic + parsley
- mushrooms + garlic + shallots
- mushrooms + butter + cream + garlic + parsley
- mushrooms + parsley + tomatoes
Eat with Mushrooms: Conclusion
Mushrooms are pretty versatile and therefore pair perfectly with a vast majority of foods. They can be paired with vegetables, meat, and many grains.
When it comes to filling proteins, try with cured meat, for instance, with bacon, ham, and prosciutto. Mushrooms complement especially well with salty, oily, and rich tastes.
Other than cured meats, mushrooms goes well with beef, chicken, pork, veal, eggs, and seafood.
Cook mushroom dishes by adding herbs and spices to boost the umami flavor even deeper. Garlic, shallots, parsley, tarragon, and thyme are the top notch herbs to learn to work with when cooking mushrooms.
The easiest ways to enjoy mushrooms are by sautéing. And serving as sides with grilled steak, toasted bread, and pasta dishes is way to go.
As a side or main dish, adding bright green vegetables are the key to success. Toss asparagus, celery, fennel leaks, onions, peas, scallions, and spinach for healthy options.
The list above is just a scratch on the surface, so feel free to explore more options as you delve deeper. You might just discover a new favorite for you and your family that you never knew existed.