Here are a couple of fun facts about Mushrooms. According to a Food & Wine article: from 2019 to 2020, Pennsylvania sold 526 million pounds of mushrooms; that's 2/3 of the total amount sold in the United States. That's a lot of mushrooms! 😮
I also watched this interesting documentary called Intelligent Trees, which talked about the symbiotic relationship between mushrooms and trees. Both benefit from this relationship. The mushroom or fungus colonizes the tree's root tissues, improving the tree's moisture and nutrient absorption. In return, the tree provides the fungus carbs produced through photosynthesis. That's was really cool!
Do you know some fun facts about mushrooms? Share with us.
How many mushrooms can you name? How many mushroom varieties have you consumed? I know a few and have eaten the following: cremini, shiitake, portobello, baby Bella, white button, black Truffle, and Enoki.
We use baby Bella and white button mushrooms most often in our cooking, like when we make omelets, stuffed bell peppers, soups, as well grilled vegetables. They are more readily available as well.
Check out our recipe for Tandoori mushrooms below that is made with a few ingredients and it's easy to make.
- 6 to 7 oz or 10 to 15 white button mushrooms, cut into 1" pieces
- 2 tbsp Tandoori Paste (we used Deep brand)
- 1 tsp plain yogurt (or as needed)
- 1½ tbsp Vegetable oil
- few sprigs of cilantro/coriander or basil (for garnish)
Procedure
1) Clean the mushrooms with a damp paper towel, and then chop them into half as needed; you can leave the small ones as is.
3) In a non-stick pan (saute pan or saucepan) heat oil on medium heat and when it's hot, add the mushrooms and mix well to coat with oil.
Pan roast the mushrooms with a half-closed lid for a few minutes mixing intermittently. Remove the lid and allow the mushrooms to carmelize for 2 to 3 minutes or until oil is seen on the edges. The whole roasting and sauteing will take roughly about 7 to 8 minutes.
4) Transfer the mushrooms to the serving plate, and garnish with fresh coriander or basil. You can serve this appetizer with any type of drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic).