My hockey teammate recently introduced me to Maitake mushrooms. After touching and feeling it, and then smelling it, I decided to make a Vegetarian-friendly Lemongrass Mushroom that I used to make all the time with canned straw mushrooms or oyster mushrooms.
Maitake mushrooms, also known as “Hen of the Woods,” are a type of edible mushroom prized for their unique flavor and texture. They grow in clusters at the base of trees, particularly oak trees, and have a frilly, layered appearance that resembles a bird’s tail or a hen’s plumage, hence their name.
The lemongrass Maitake mushrooms turned out great. The dish tasted super aromatic and flavorful. I love the meatiness of the mushroom, and felt like it had a clam-like texture. I look forward to using this in other stir fry and soup dishes in the future. If you’re looking for a Meatless Monday, Vegetarian, Plant-Based, Vegan, or Mushroom recipe, you gotta check this out!
Ingredients:
12 ounces Maitake mushrooms, chopped
½ cup lemongrass, finely minced
½ shallot, finely minced
4 garlic cloves, finely minced
4 Thai chilies, 2 finely minced, 2 for garnish
2 tablespoons vegetarian oyster sauce
2 tablespoons Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce or soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons neutral oil
Steps:
Stir Fry Maitake Mushroom – Stir fry minced shallots and minced garlic in oil over medium high heat for a minute then add the minced lemongrass and minced Thai chilies and stir fry until fragrant. Add Maitake mushrooms and stir fry for a few minutes until it starts getting tender.
Pour in the sauce and continue stir frying the mushrooms until it absorbs all the yummy and aromatic flavors. Once all the liquid evaporates, add thai chilies for spice and color, and give it a last mix.
Tips:
- I buy frozen minced lemongrass at the Asian grocery store for convenience.
- If Maitake mushrooms are not available, straw, beech, or oyster mushrooms are great substitutes
- You can control the amount of Thai chilies used depending on your spice tolerance
No Limit Cooking 
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