Why Dried Mushrooms Belong In Your Pantry

How to use dried mushrooms

So, which recipes work best with dried mushrooms? The answer is: just about any! Soups, stews, and broths are particularly convenient options for incorporating chopped dried mushrooms, as there's no need to rehydrate them beforehand. You can simply add the dried mushrooms directly to your liquid and let them rehydrate while the dish simmers. Dishes like a classic French chicken with morels can also benefit from the richer flavor of dried mushrooms, especially since fresh morels are only available in spring, making them harder to source at other times of the year. This is an important factor to consider when deciding between dried and fresh.

Dried mushrooms can enhance a recipe even when paired with fresh ones, as seen in dishes like chicken, mushroom, and winter squash pot pie or a mushroom and leek quiche. Risotto made with finely chopped fresh mushrooms can be elevated by adding dried porcini mushrooms along with the water used to steep them, creating a delicious umami broth. You can also make dried mushrooms the centerpiece of a dish; for example, rehydrated and chopped dried mushrooms can be used to create a flavorful compound butter that takes steak to the next level. No matter how you choose to use them, dried mushrooms are an essential pantry item that you should always have on hand for any occasion.