Blog
Dried Tea Tree Mushroom Recipe
Dried tea tree mushrooms can add depth and flavor to soups, stews and stir fries as well as being fantastic filling options for dumplings!
Soak the mushrooms overnight in cold water to not only soften them faster, but to extract even more of their flavors into the liquid. This will not only soften them faster but will also release their unique taste into its entirety.
1. Vegetable and Mushroom Soup
Tea tree mushrooms are an integral component of Chinese cuisine, often used to add depth and dimension to soups, stews and braised dishes. Their woody earthiness blends beautifully with other flavors while their antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties help treat kidney deficiency, chronic nephritis, edema as well as improve circulation and reduce arthritis pain.
This mushroom vegetable soup is hearty and satisfying – ideal for cold winter days! Simple to make and easy to freeze for future use. Featuring an assortment of vegetables as well as protein-rich white beans for complete one dish meals. Scallions and green onion add crunch while dried mushrooms deepen flavor while salt, pepper, thyme basil rosemary provide plenty of umami flavors – an easy yet satisfying recipe!
Before adding dried mushrooms to your soup, soak them in water first to ensure they rehydrate fully, adding extra umami flavor when they’re added later. Don’t throw away the liquid used to soak – use it in addition for even more umami flavor!
Once your vegetables are tender, add in the mushrooms, chicken broth, milk or cream, season it with salt and pepper and then combine all of the components. If you want to keep this vegetarian-friendly, swap out heavy cream for soy or coconut milk (full fat versions are best). Additionally, sprinkle in some grated parmesan cheese at the end for added umami flavour!
This mouthwatering soup is so satisfying and satisfying, you may struggle to stop eating it! Perfect for cold days when your body craves comforting warmth from within! Making this recipe quickly is also key – barley makes this meal filling in itself! If you want an added tangy kick try adding Marmite or Henderson’s Relish. Plus it’s an awesome way to use up any leftovers too!
2. Stir-Fry
Tea tree mushrooms have an intense, woodsy flavor and firm texture that make them a popular ingredient in Chinese cuisine. Their versatile use ranges from soups, stews and stir fries to dumpling fillings and classic northern Chinese braised chicken with mushroom dishes; when rehydrated they make for a great alternative to more commonly-used shiitake varieties.
Mushrooms spoil quickly, so proper storage is critical to keep them at their optimal quality. Keep them in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the fridge away from other produce to avoid contamination and avoid humid environments like crisper drawers that could hasten their decay. Also when purchasing them from markets or grocery stores be sure to inspect for signs of grit – any amount can ruin any dish you prepare with mushrooms!
Many recipes call for using hot water to reconstitute dried mushrooms, but it isn’t always necessary. Rehydrating using room temperature water often produces more flavorful results due to less of their essential nutrients being extracted into soaking liquid. Any remaining soaking liquid could even be added back into your final dish for additional umami flavoring!
Stir-frying is an efficient and straightforward method of vegetable preparation in which ingredients are repeatedly stirred over high heat to ensure even cooking. To prepare an effective stir-fry, it’s crucial that the right combination of ingredients are combined and all vegetables cut roughly to equal sizes to ensure they cook at an equal rate. A top-of-the-line wok or skillet should also be utilized to achieve optimal results.
Stir-fries aren’t only delicious; they’re also extremely healthy! With their combination of high protein content from vegetables and umami savoriness from mushrooms, stir-frys offer a satisfying meal that is low in both calories and fat, providing an affordable source of antioxidants which may reduce risk for cardiovascular disease or help bring down blood pressure levels.
3. Braised Chicken with Mushrooms
Tea tree mushrooms are a central element in northern Chinese cuisine. Sometimes known as willow mushrooms or velvet pioppini, they add an umami punch to stews and soups while their firm and meaty texture makes for delicious dumpling fillings. After being rehydrated they can even be added into stir fry recipes!
They’re more difficult to find than shiitake mushrooms, but once you do have access, oyster mushrooms will take your chicken braising experience to another level. Though costly, their intense flavor and health benefits make up for any extra cost; high in vitamins and minerals they have long been used as treatments for kidney deficiency, chronic nephritis, and edema treatment.
To begin this satisfying and warming recipe, begin by rinsing your mushrooms. Do this to remove any dirt that might have collected, as well as to ensure their liquid hasn’t gone bad – taste one and if anything tastes off drain and resoak before proceeding further with this dish.
Heat a thin layer of oil a few turns of the pan in a large skillet with a lid or dutch oven over medium-high heat, pat the chicken dry and season generously with salt. Brown skin-side down first for approximately five minutes, before flipping and cooking an additional three to four minutes until done. Remove chicken to a plate before returning pan back over the heat.
Add wine, broth, soy sauce and thyme leaves to the pan before stirring in mushrooms and raising heat to medium-high, bringing everything to a boil. Ladle the juices from the pot over the chicken before leaving some space open so steam can escape and cover your pot as needed to let steam escape.
Braise chicken until it is fork tender, typically taking 45 minutes or longer. Once done, stir several times while it cools before garnishing with fresh parsley for garnishing and serving.
This dish is an indulgent and comforting meal that pairs beautifully with rice, but is equally enjoyable when enjoyed on its own. To experience maximum flavor development, let it simmer for several days, so the flavors have plenty of time to develop over time.
4. Fried Rice
Dried tea tree mushrooms add a unique, woodsy taste to soups, stews, and stir fry dishes. They’re often included as part of northern Chinese braised chicken with mushrooms dishes as a classic ingredient; or used as fillings in dumplings. Furthermore, these powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties make tea tree mushrooms highly sought-after ingredients in cuisines worldwide.
Rehydrated mushrooms possess a flavor similar to that of shiitake but milder and more delicate than its counterpart, making it an excellent replacement in any recipe that calls for those mushrooms. Chinese medicine considers dried mushrooms an effective means for clearing heat, soothing liver irritations, promoting diuresis and invigorating the spleen.
This delicious fried rice dish is a quick and simple way to use up leftovers or create an effortless homestyle meal. A firm family favorite, this recipe can easily be tailored to meet individual taste preferences.
Start with a generous splash of oil, then combine chopped vegetables such as peas, carrots and scallions along with strips of bacon or chicken for texture and extra flavour in your finished dish. Be sure to ensure all meat is fully cooked before incorporating it and don’t forget salt as a seasoning agent!
Make sure that when the vegetables have softened, add in your ginger and garlic slices as this will flavor the oil that will eventually be drizzled onto your rice. After stirring-frying your vegetables for several minutes, add in 1 cup of your soaked mushrooms (remember to rinse first!) before continuing until they become tender and your rice grains begin separating.
Push the rice to one side of the pan and add another teaspoon of vegetable oil in its place. Crack two large eggs into the oil and scramble them until fluffy; combine scrambled eggs and remaining ingredients with your fried rice mixture and toss together until everything is evenly distributed. Season it all off with soy sauce and drizzle of toasted sesame oil, and enjoy!