Lion’s mane may not be the first kind of mushroom you think of when you hear someone’s cooking up some shrooms in the kitchen. Sure, it’s not as common as white buttons, crimini, portabello, or shiitake, but that doesn’t make lion’s mane any less special. In fact, this medicinal mushroom is an absolute must-try – if you can get your hands on them, that is. So, in addition to the recipes we’ll share today, we’ll also give you some tips on how to cultivate lion’s mane mushroom indoors!
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What do lion’s mane mushrooms taste like?
These exotic-looking shrooms will delight your tastebuds, that’s for sure, especially if you’re a huge seafood fan. Its taste and texture is similar to crab and lobster (not gamey like you’d expect something named “lion” would taste like). It goes well with many different types of dishes.
You can slice, dice, or plunk it down whole on a frying pan. A bit of butter or oil, along with some seasoning, and your mushrooms are ready. Or simply add it to your favorite soup (would make ramen taste even better). It’s that easy to prepare!
Fresh vs dried lion’s mane mushrooms
When it comes to taste and flavor, many say fresh ones trump dried mushrooms. And in an ideal world, we’d all be eating fresh lion’s mane mushrooms, a.k.a. nature’s brain booster, regularly.
But unfortunately, it’s not readily available in its natural, raw, fresh goodness in many places. The good news is that you can order your dried lion’s mane online. Make sure though that you follow the instructions on how to reconstitute the mushrooms, as these are intensely flavorful when dried.
The good thing with dried mushrooms though is that they’ve got a pretty long shelf life. Plus, you can use the so-called “mushroom water”, i.e. the water used to soak the mushroom to bring it back to life, to flavor up stews, sauces, and soups. Mushroom water contains nutrients and compounds from the mushroom itself, so don’t throw it out immediately.
5 lion’s mane mushroom recipes the whole family will enjoy!
With so many health benefits on the line, eating lion’s mane regularly can do a lot of wonders for your overall wellness. Vegans and vegetarians are going to love these recipes, too!
1) Lion’s mane mushroom soup with broccoli and potatoes
There are plenty of lion’s mane mushroom soup recipes on the web, but we like this one from Tyrant Farms best. This recipe calls for either dried or fresh lion’s mane, broccoli (feel free to replace with cauliflower), and potatoes to help thicken the soup.
The authors use an immersion blender for this recipe since they also feed it to their baby. But if you have neither child nor blender, then just slice the veggies to your preferred cut. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top as garnish. It’s perfect for cold, cuddle weather!
Check out the full recipe here.
2) Sauteed mushrooms with garlic
This recipe from Litchfield Hills Farmers Market is simple enough that even non-cooks can make it. A pound of lion’s mane, a couple tablespoons of butter and dry white wine, some salt, pepper and chives, and you’re ready to roll. An easy but umami-rich recipe that’s perfect for eating on its own or pairing with steak or some hot rice!
Check out the full recipe here.
3) Blackened lion’s mane steaks
This recipe from Trimazing uses blackening seasoning to give the mushrooms that grilled steak look. Making this does take some work, but they do look amazing!
First, you’ll need to sear the mushrooms on a skillet. Then grill them on a preheated barbecue grill. For that authentic-looking steak meal, serve these bad boys with a plate of mashed potatoes!
Check out the full recipe here.
4) Lion’s mane crab cakes
What do lion’s mane and shredded crab meat have in common? They both look very similar (some may say they look exactly the same)! Lion’s mane is an excellent substitute for crab meat.
This special lion’s mane mushroom recipe from Aubrey’s Kitchen will help you get your dose of nootropic goodness. Aside from the obvious ingredient, you will need eggs, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, mustard, and your favorite seasonings to make these delicious faux-crab cakes.
Check out the full recipe here.
5) Lion’s mane latte
Well, this is probably the easiest recipe ever. If you’ve got some lion’s mane capsules lying around, simply pull it apart and dump the powder into a cup of hot latte.
But this special recipe from Dr. Hyman is worth checking out as well, especially if you’re trying to avoid caffeine and/or on a low-carb diet. Their recipe calls for a packet of lion’s mane elixir from Four Sigmatic, MCT oil, and unsweetened nut or seed milk.
Check out the full recipe here.
Is it possible to grow lion’s mane in your own backyard?
Yes, it is! Indoor grow kits are available online, so cultivating these at home is very much possible. When you start growing your own lion’s mane mushrooms at home, you can unlock its amazing nootropic benefits whenever you like.
Just search for “lion’s mane indoor grow kits” and you’ll see available options. Read the instructions carefully and follow them to a T if you want a bountiful harvest of these brain mushrooms!
What’s your favorite lion’s mane recipe?
I like the first one from Tyrant Farms. It’s easy enough to make and very versatile so you can swap out the veggies with anything you like. But all the others are good, too.
That said, here’s a final tip for those who don’t have easy access to these mushrooms:
Check out our Intelligent Labs Lion’s Mane powder supplement. It’s 100% extracted from the fruiting bodies (the same part that’s actually eaten) and not the mycelium (this is the “root”).
The powder is packed into vegetarian capsules, making it very easy to pull apart. Add them to your favorite recipes in seconds, giving you a boost of healthy goodness right away!
