Enoki mushrooms have been used as an ingredient in Japanese cuisine since ancient times, but they were not always called “enokis” until World War II.
The name comes from their shape—they look like little pine trees.
The texture of enoki mushrooms resembles meatloaf, so they are often served on top of rice or over fish instead of bread.
You might also find them stuffed into croquettes or fried up as tempura.
In Japan, this versatile mushroom is often paired with sushi or sashimi because its mild flavor makes it easy to match with any type of seafood.
What Are The Ingredients In A Spicy Enoki Mushroom Recipe?
Spicy enoki mushroom recipes typically include onions and garlic in addition to other spices such as ginger, pepper, and soy sauce.
Some versions call for green onion (scallion), which has a similar flavor profile to leek.
Other variations use red chili peppers or even hot oil to give the finished product more kick.
You can add these extra ingredients to your own enoki mushroom recipe if you want to spice things up.
It’s important to note that there is no one specific recipe for making enoki mushrooms.
There isn’t just one way to cook them.
Each chef will decide what flavors work best for his or her palate.
For example, some people prefer very light seasoning while others enjoy intense heat.
That said, here are a few basic guidelines for creating your own version of a tasty mushroom.
- Use about 1/3 cup water per pound of enoki mushrooms when cooking.
- Add salt to taste after steaming.
- If using fresh herbs, remove stems before adding to pan.
How Do You Make A Spicy Enoki Mushroom Recipe?
This recipe is for a dish of spicy enoki mushrooms.
If you want to try something different, we recommend adding some vegetables such as zucchini or eggplant to your enoki mushroom mix.
- Step 1: Wash the enoki mushrooms under running water and pat dry with paper towels. Then cut off the stems with scissors.
- Step 2: Slice the mushroom caps into thin strips using a sharp knife. Don’t worry if the mushroom cap doesn’t completely separate from the stem. It will be easier to remove after grilling.
- Step 3: Combine all of the spices together in one bowl. Add salt and sugar to taste, along with soy sauce, sake, mirin (sweet cooking wine), and pepper flakes. Mix well.
- Step 4: Place the mushroom slices in a shallow baking pan. Pour half of the spice mixture over the mushrooms and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Flip the mushrooms over and pour the remaining spice mixture over them. Let them sit another 15 minutes before serving.
What Is The Best Way To Cook Enoki Mushrooms?
There are many ways to prepare your enoki mushrooms!
Here are a few different ideas that will get you started:
- Grill: Enoki mushrooms are great when cooked outdoors during summertime. To grill them, place the mushrooms directly over medium-high heat and cook for about 2 minutes per side. Remove them from the grill and brush both sides with olive oil before serving.
- Pan fry: Pan frying enoki mushrooms is another option. Cook them over high heat in peanut oil for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove the mushrooms from pan after cooking and serve immediately.
- Deep fry: Deep frying enoki mushrooms is a good choice if you want something extra crispy. Place the mushrooms in a shallow bowl filled with vegetable oil (about 1/4 inch deep) and add salt to taste. Heat the oil at 350° F until bubbles appear around the edge of the mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms for 5 to 7 minutes, turning once halfway through the process, until golden brown. Remove the mushrooms from the hot oil and drain on paper towels.
- Sauté: Sautéing enoki mushrooms is another good idea. Coat them lightly with vegetable oil and sprinkle with salt. Add them to a skillet and sauté over medium-low heat for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with additional salt to taste while they’re still warm.
How Can I Make My Enoki Mushrooms More Spicy?
Spice is one of the most important factors in determining how well your enoki mushrooms will turn out when you grill them.
If you want extra heat, there are two main ways to do that: adding hot pepper flakes or using chili powder.
- Hot Pepper Flakes: These small red chilies come whole or ground up. Some brands contain salt, sugar, and MSG (monosodium glutamate) which gives them a slightly sweet taste. You can add these directly to your cooking liquid if you prefer less spice.
- Chili Powder: Chili powders vary in strength depending on where they came from. To create more spice, use a very hot variety such as cayenne, habanero, or jalapeño. A good rule-of-thumb amount of chili powder is 1/4 teaspoon per pound of enoki mushrooms.
Other ingredients for making enoki mushrooms spicier
You should consider several additional spices when trying to increase the spice level in dishes containing enoki mushrooms.
Here are some examples:
- Cumin seeds: Cumin seeds add depth of flavor, especially when combined with onion.
- Onion: Onions naturally contribute a lot of sweetness to food, so they help balance the strong flavors of other seasonings.
- Garlic: Garlic contributes both sweetness and pungency to a dish, so it helps balance your meal by giving it a nice kick while remaining mellow enough to work well with everything else.
What Are Some Other Recipes That Can Be Made With Enoki Mushrooms?
There aren’t many other dishes you can create using these tasty fungi.
However, there are plenty of ways to use your enoki mushrooms once you get past the main course!
Here are just a few options:
- Try making enoki pesto by blending cooked enoki mushrooms along with basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Use this delicious pesto to dress pasta, sprinkle onto pizza crusts, or add it to sandwiches.
- You could try making enoki butter by simmering whole enoki mushrooms in water, cream, and herbs until fully cooked. Strain out the liquid, and blend the mushrooms together with softened butter. Serve this spread on toast, crackers, bagels, biscuits, or English muffins.
- If you want to make enoki risotto, cook your favorite white rice in chicken stock, adding a ladleful of broth at a time while stirring constantly. Once all the broth has been absorbed, add another ladleful of broth, followed by a handful of sliced enoki mushrooms. Continue cooking until the rice starts to turn translucent around the edges, about 20 minutes total.
- Make enoki soup by boiling sliced enoki mushrooms in vegetable stock seasoned with soy sauce and sake (or shoyu), then serving each portion topped with scallions and nori strips.
- Use enoki mushrooms as a topping for salads. Add chopped enoki mushrooms to mixed greens, toss them with arugula leaves, or stuff them inside pita pockets.
How Long Does It Take To Make A Spicy Enoki Mushroom Recipe?
It takes about 45 minutes to prepare these tasty mushrooms.
If you want to get started right away, just follow our simple steps below!
- Wipe each mushroom clean by gently brushing off excess dirt using a soft toothbrush.
- Trim the stem down to 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick with scissors.
- Slice off the base where the cap attaches to the stalk.
- Place the caps onto a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, mix together all ingredients except for the oil.
- Add enough oil to coat the inside of your pan and heat over medium-high heat.
- Once hot, add the mushrooms and cook for 4–6 minutes per side, depending on how firm or chewy you prefer your mushrooms.
- Remove the mushrooms from the pan and place them back on the baking tray.
- Mix the remaining ingredients together in a separate bowl, adding more water if necessary.
- Pour the mixture over the mushrooms and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Enoki Mushrooms?
You may be wondering what all the fuss about enoki mushrooms is about, especially if you don’t live in Japan.
Enoki mushrooms are native to Asia, but today, they can be found growing wild in North America too.
They grow naturally in warm climates where temperatures range between 58-80 degrees F (14-27 C), which means that they are perfect for gardens and greenhouses.
They thrive under artificial lights and grow quickly, so they are great candidates for indoor growers who want quick harvests.
If you buy fresh enoki mushrooms at your local Asian market, keep in mind that they do contain small amounts of sodium.
If you prefer to purchase dried ones, check out our guide to buying quality dried mushrooms online.
Fresh enoki mushrooms are available year round, while dried ones will only be around during certain months of the year.
For example, in July, they will be plentiful, but August through December will see a shortage.
When purchasing enoki mushrooms, try to choose those that feel firm rather than rubbery when squeezed.
Also, avoid mushrooms with brown spots or discoloration anywhere on them.
Healthy cooking tips
In general, eating more vegetables and fruits is one way to improve overall health.
However, many people shy away from some foods for fear of getting sick.
But there are plenty of healthy recipes using enoki mushrooms that won’t leave anyone feeling queasy after they eat them!
Are Enoki Mushrooms Good For Weight Loss?
Like many types of fungi, eating enoki mushrooms can help you lose weight by stimulating your body’s metabolism.
Fungi contain compounds that affect how our bodies break down food, including enzymes that speed up digestion and stimulate fat-burning cells in our liver.
Some studies show that consuming more than one serving per day can help you maintain healthy levels of cholesterol while reducing inflammation in the blood vessels.
How do enoki mushrooms work to boost metabolism?
They may be able to increase your metabolic rate without increasing hunger signals.
Studies suggest that the proteins found in enoki mushrooms bind to receptors that trigger the release of hormones associated with increased energy expenditure and appetite suppression.
These include peptide YY (PYY), which helps regulate satiety and reduce calorie intake, and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1).
GLP1 stimulates insulin secretion, decreases glucose production, increases beta cell function, and suppresses gastric emptying.
In addition, enoki mushrooms contain antioxidants such as polyphenols and carotenoids, which are known to improve antioxidant status and protect against cardiovascular disease.
Carotenoids are particularly important to maintaining optimal eye health.
Eating just half a cup of cooked enoki mushrooms provides approximately 20% of daily vitamin A requirements.
Can enoki mushrooms prevent cancer?
Some evidence suggests that enoki mushrooms may inhibit tumor growth and promote cell death.
One study showed that enoki mushrooms inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation by blocking the Wnt/beta catenin pathway.
Beta catenin regulates genes responsible for cell division and survival, and blocking it stops tumor formation.
Other research shows that enoki mushrooms may help prevent colon cancer when eaten regularly.
Colon cancer occurs when abnormal cells develop inside the large intestine.
Enoki mushrooms contain a protein called lectins that stop these cells from growing and spreading throughout the body.
Another compound called mycetol has been shown to kill cancer stem cells, which are believed to cause relapse after treatment and lead to resistance to chemotherapy drugs.
What Are Some Other Uses For Enoki Mushrooms?
You may be wondering why you would want to eat something that tastes like tofu when there are plenty of delicious foods out there!
Luckily, enoki mushrooms don’t taste like tofu at all.
Instead, the texture is firm enough to hold together while still being soft and tender.
They are high in protein, low in calories, and rich in B vitamins.
Plus, unlike most vegetables, they contain no fat and very few carbohydrates.
That means you won’t feel bloated after eating them.
If you aren’t familiar with enoki mushrooms, here’s what you need to know about them:
- They grow wild throughout Asia and North America, including in California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii
- While similar in appearance to portobello mushrooms, enoki mushrooms do not come from the same genus as the more common variety
- Enoki mushrooms have a distinctive aroma and flavor which make them ideal for use in both savory and sweet dishes
- They are high in vitamin D, calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, copper, and zinc
- They are considered a superfood because of their health benefits
- Enoki mushrooms are relatively cheap compared to many other types of food
- Due to their strong flavor, these mushrooms should be cooked thoroughly before serving
Enoki Mushroom Recipe
This enoki mushroom recipe includes three different kinds of mushrooms: shiitake, maitake, and baby bellas.
Shiitakes are larger than the others and provide the bulk of the vegetable-like substance in the mushroom.
Maitakes are smaller and rounder, giving the dish a nice balance between textures.
Baby bells are small enough to fit inside each other and give your mouth a fun surprise every time you bite down.
For the best results, cook the mushrooms separately in batches.
If you’re using fresh mushrooms, remove the stems first by cutting off the bottom half where the stem meets the cap (or just pull them off).
Then place the caps atop a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and cover completely with a paper towel.
Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Next, combine all ingredients except the butter in a large bowl.
Use your hands to coat the mushrooms evenly with oil and spices.
Place them back onto the baking sheets and let stand for 10–15 minutes before grilling.
To grill, brush the cooking grate clean and preheat the grill to medium heat.
Grill the mushrooms directly on the grate without turning until lightly charred on one side, 3–5 minutes per side.
Remove from the grill and serve hot with butter.
How Can I Store Enoki
Enoki mushrooms do not last very long when they come out of the package.
Once you open your box, eat them within two days.
Store enoki in the refrigerator in a paper bag or plastic container once opened.
If you plan to use them right away, wrap them loosely in foil or place them in a resealable freezer bag before putting them back in the fridge.
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Skillet
Ingredients
- 7 oz. Enoki mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon black sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon Chives
Instructions
- Remove 1 inch from the mushroom bases. Rinse the mushrooms gently, then pat them dry.
- Divide the enoki into six or so bundles.
- A cast-iron skillet on medium heat is used to heat the oil. The mushrooms should cook for two to three minutes with frequent turning.
- Cook over low heat for an additional 30 seconds after adding the teriyaki sauce and soy sauce. To taste, increase the sauces.
- These tasty Enoki mushrooms can be used to top tofu steaks, add to veggie sushi rolls, or be served over sushi rice. Sesame seeds and chives are used as a garnish.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.