Kitchen guide
Shiitake recipes: stir-fry, crispy, noodles and ramen
Shiitake cook quickly and have a deep, savoury flavour. Our favourite recipes are teriyaki shiitake stir-fry, crispy fried shiitake, shiitake wok noodles, ramen and dried shiitake powder. Fresh shiitake aren't washed: wipe them, remove the tough stems and cook over high heat for a few minutes. Dried shiitake are soaked in warm water first, and the soaking liquid goes into the dish.
Shiitake recipes on this site
Mains
Shiitake stir-fry
Shiitake stir-fried with garlic, dried chillies, bean sprouts and teriyaki sauce in 15 minutes; serve with jasmine rice or rice noodles.
25 min
Shiitake
Garlic, dried chilli, bean sprouts and teriyaki in 15 minutes; the quickest way to cook shiitake.
Coated in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and fried; a starter served with mustard.
Pasta & risotto
Shiitake stir-fry noodles
Glossy egg noodles tossed with seared shiitake, pak choi and a soy and ginger sauce, ready in 30 minutes.
30 min
Shiitake
Gingery soy noodles from the wok; shiitake keep their meaty texture in the sauce.
Soups
Shiitake ramen
Homemade ramen with a deeply savoury broth of dried shiitake and kombu, finished with miso, crisp fresh shiitake and soy-marinated eggs.
1 hr 20 min
Shiitake
Ramen with a deep broth steeped from dried shiitake, topped with fresh shiitake.
Mains
Oyster mushroom 'döner' wraps
Oyster mushrooms marinated in spiced yoghurt, pressed in a hot cast-iron pan until crisp and wrapped in lavash with sumac onions and garlic yoghurt. Ready in 40 minutes, plus 30 minutes marinating.
40 min
Oyster mushroom
Mushroom döner; thinly sliced shiitake can stand in for the oyster mushrooms.
Pickles & preserves
Homemade mushroom powder
A deeply savoury powder made from dried shiitake and porcini that lifts soups, sauces and meat rubs. Makes about 75 g, one small jar.
1 hr
Shiitake
Grind dried shiitake into a powder and add it to soups, sauces and pilaf for umami.
Which recipe, when?
- Quick dinner: shiitake stir-fry or shiitake wok noodles.
- Starter for guests: crispy fried shiitake.
- Cold day: ramen with a broth steeped from dried shiitake.
- Dried mushrooms in the cupboard: grind them into mushroom powder for soups and sauces.
Fresh and dried shiitake
We don't wash fresh shiitake; their spongy flesh soaks up water quickly. Wipe them with a damp cloth or brush and pull off the tough stems. The stems are too tough for a stir-fry but add flavour to stock and soup.
Soak dried shiitake in warm water for 20–30 minutes and squeeze them out. Strain the soaking liquid and use it for stock, pilaf or sauces; much of the flavour is in it. We cover the mushroom itself on the shiitake page.
Cooking tips
- Shiitake cook fast: 5–6 minutes in a pan is enough; overcooking makes them rubbery.
- Add soy sauce, teriyaki or salt after the mushrooms have browned.
- Scoring a cross on top of the caps helps them soak up sauce.
- Oyster and button mushrooms can stand in for shiitake in these recipes, with a milder flavour.
FAQ
How do you cook shiitake mushrooms?
Wipe them, remove the stems, slice and stir-fry in a wide pan over high heat for 5–6 minutes. Add soy sauce or salt at the end. In the oven 12–15 minutes at 200 °C; when frying, 2–3 minutes a side.
Should you wash shiitake mushrooms?
No. Their spongy flesh soaks up water and then won't brown. Wipe them with a damp cloth or a soft brush.
Can you eat shiitake stems?
Fresh shiitake stems are tough and stay chewy in a stir-fry. We save them for stock, soup or ramen broth and strain them out afterwards.
How do you use dried shiitake?
Soak them in warm water for 20–30 minutes, squeeze them out and remove the stems. Strain the soaking liquid and add it to the dish; it carries much of the flavour in soups and pilaf.
How long do shiitake take to cook?
Fresh shiitake take 5–6 minutes in a pan and 12–15 minutes in the oven. Soaked dried shiitake simmer in soup for 15–20 minutes.
Can you eat shiitake raw?
It isn't recommended. Shiitake are meant to be cooked; raw or undercooked shiitake can cause a skin reaction in some people, so we recommend cooking them through.
What can I use instead of shiitake?
Oyster, chestnut and maitake mushrooms are the closest in texture. The flavour is milder; a little dried mushroom powder makes up the difference.
How long do fresh shiitake keep in the fridge?
5–7 days in a paper bag or wrapped in kitchen paper. They sweat in plastic. Dried shiitake keep for months in a sealed jar somewhere cool and dry.
Can you freeze shiitake?
Freezing them raw ruins the texture. Sauté and cool them first and they keep for 2–3 months. For long storage, drying works better.
What goes well with shiitake?
Noodles, ramen, vegetable stir-fries, risotto, pilaf and sauces for meat and chicken. They pair well with soy sauce, ginger, garlic and sesame oil.
Is 'şitaki' the same as shiitake?
Yes. Şitaki (or şiitake) is how Turkish speakers often spell shiitake (Lentinula edodes) as it sounds. It's the same brown-capped, meaty mushroom grown on logs and sawdust blocks.
Sources
- yemek.com — Shiitake Mantarı Sote yemek.com
- yemek.com — Ben Bunu Yerim: Üç Çeşit Mantar yemek.com
- yemek.com sözlük — Shiitake Mantarı yemek.com
Now, time to cook
All recipes
Soups
Cream of mushroom soup
A silky, deeply savoury mushroom soup made with well-browned button mushrooms, ready in 35 minutes.
35 min
Button mushroom
Mains
Turkish mushroom sauté
A classic Turkish sauté of button mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes and tomato paste – perfect with rice and ready in 35 minutes.
35 min
Button mushroom
Meze & olive-oil dishes
Stuffed mushrooms with kaşar cheese
Big mushroom caps filled with their own stalks fried in garlic butter, topped with kaşar (a mild Turkish cow's-milk cheese) and baked until bubbling – a favourite hot meze.
35 min
Large button mushroom
Kitchen guides
Before you cook: clean, store, dry
How to clean mushroomsPractical ways to clean everything from button mushrooms to morels without waterlogging them or ruining their texture.
How to store mushroomsHow to keep fresh, cooked, frozen and dried mushrooms at their best — and how to tell when they’ve gone bad.
How to dry mushroomsA step-by-step guide to drying mushrooms at home in the oven, in a dehydrator or on a string — and how to store and rehydrate them.