Mushrooms are an incredibly versatile food: they can be eaten on their own or added to many different recipes. Boiling fresh mushrooms is a great way to prepare them when you need to do several preparations at the same time, as it requires little attention. Wash and cut the mushrooms before cooking them, boil them and use them to give more flavor to your dishes.
Ingrediants
Fresh Boiled Mushrooms
- 250-350 g of fresh mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) of butter
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) of salt
- Herbs, dressings and sauces to taste
For 2-4 people
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Clean and Cut the Mushrooms
Step 1. Rinse the mushrooms and pat them dry with kitchen paper
You can hold them in your hand under water or put them in a colander and rinse them with the hand shower. Rub them gently with your fingers to clean them of dirt.
If the mushrooms are not soiled with soil, you can avoid putting them under water and simply clean them with damp kitchen paper
Step 2. Remove the gills and stems from the mushrooms
The gills of portobello mushrooms are edible, but they release a dark liquid during cooking. Remove them by gently scraping them with a spoon. If the mushrooms have stems, remove the harder end with the knife.
You can throw away any parts of the stem that you discarded or keep them aside to add to the compost
Step 3. Cut the mushrooms into slices or quarters, according to the recipe
Use a clean cutting board and knife to gently slice the mushrooms. If you're in a hurry and don't have a clean knife handy, you can chop the mushrooms by hand.
If you prefer larger bites, you can boil the whole mushrooms; the cooking method and the result will not change
Step 4. Store excess mushrooms in the refrigerator
Fresh sliced mushrooms can last up to 7 days if you keep them in the refrigerator. If you keep them whole, they will also last for 10 days. Make sure they are completely dry before storing them in an airtight container to prevent them from becoming mushy in the refrigerator.
Put a label on the container specifying the "expiration date" so you don't forget how long they have been in the refrigerator
Part 2 of 3: Boil the Mushrooms
Step 1. Put the mushrooms in the pan
Use a high-sided skillet with a lid and make sure it can easily hold 250-350g of fresh mushrooms plus the liquid needed to cook them. Check that the pot is perfectly clean before adding the mushrooms.
As long as they are in the pan, you can boil all the mushrooms you want at the same time; is one of the advantages of this cooking method
Step 2. Add just enough water to coat the mushrooms
Put the pot in the sink or, if it's too heavy, leave it on the stove and add the water using a jug. Don't worry if some mushrooms emerge slightly from the water.
Later, you can add more water if the mushrooms are cooking too slowly or remove some if they are cooking too quickly, depending on your needs and other preparations in progress
Step 3. Add one tablespoon (15g) of butter and one teaspoon (5g) of salt
Measure the butter and salt with a scale, then pour them into the cooking water of the mushrooms. Measure the salt carefully to prevent the mushrooms from being salty or bland.
If you don't want to use butter, you can replace it with a tablespoon (15 ml) of extra virgin olive oil. If you prefer, you can use avocado, coconut, or other oil of your choice
Step 4. Heat the water over high heat to bring it to a boil
Put the lid on the pot if you want it to boil quickly. Keep an eye on the pot to notice when the water begins to boil.
Part 3 of 3: Simmer and Brown the Mushrooms
Step 1. Reduce the heat when the water is boiling
From now on, the mushrooms should simmer, so adjust the heat to a medium-low setting so that the water continues to simmer gently.
You may notice that the water level has risen: the reason is that the mushrooms lose their liquids during cooking. Don't worry, the excess water will gradually evaporate
Step 2. Simmer the mushrooms for 5-7 minutes or until the water has evaporated
You will hear them start to sizzle when there is no more water in the pot. If you have to leave the kitchen to do something else, set the timer for 5 minutes and then check the mushrooms.
At this stage, leave the pot uncovered so that the water can evaporate. If you use the lid, evaporation will be much slower
Step 3. Brown the mushrooms in the remaining butter for 1-2 minutes
When the water has evaporated, only the butter or oil will remain at the bottom of the pan. Let the mushrooms brown for a couple of minutes, stirring them occasionally with a spatula.
Since the mushrooms are already cooked, this last step only serves to give them more flavor
Step 4. Add the toppings and serve the mushrooms
You can add more salt, pepper, minced garlic, a fresh herb or soy sauce. Feel free to use the toppings of your choice based on your tastes. You can serve the mushrooms as a side dish or use them as part of another recipe, such as adding them to scrambled eggs.
If you only intend to eat part of the mushrooms you have prepared, remove the ones you intend to keep from the pot before adding the seasonings. In this way, you will be free to flavor the remaining part in a different way
Step 5. If the mushrooms are left over, place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator
Wait until they have cooled completely before transferring them to the container. You can store them in the refrigerator for a few days and reheat them in the microwave for 30-45 seconds. Alternatively, you can heat them in a hot pan for 2-3 minutes.
Label the container specifying the date you made the mushrooms so you don't forget how long they've been in the fridge. If when you are ready to use them you notice that they have an unusual smell or appearance, throw them away
Advice
- If you intend to add the mushrooms to a soup, it will be sufficient to clean them thoroughly and cut them according to the directions in the recipe, then you can put them directly in the pot and let them cook for the indicated time.
- If the mushrooms change in appearance or texture and become slimy or darker than when you bought them, it means that they have gone bad. If they also smell bad, have no doubts and throw them away.
- If you have mushrooms that are on the verge of spoiling, boil them. This way they will last a few more days.
