Tabla de contenidos para EatingWell The Magic of Mushrooms en EatingWell

The ideal mushroom will feel dry and firm and have a smooth outer appearance. Next, check for dark spots. If each of the whole mushrooms in a package looks dark or there are dark spots popping up, it’s likely that the batch is past its prime. How to Tell If Mushrooms Have Gone Bad Thankfully, it usually won’t take a taste test! One of the obvious giveaways that mushrooms have gone bad is when their texture has changed from firm and plump to sticky and slimy. Similarly, if they are dried out or downright shriveled, it’s time to toss them. If the color of your mushrooms has noticeably changed, or if they have begun growing dark spots or fuzzy mold, they should be headed for the compost heap. Most…

While fungi are often overshadowed in the realm of nutrient-dense foods—where leafy greens and vibrant fruits reign supreme—compelling research has found that their unique properties can benefit and protect your brain, heart and gut health. If any food source has stood the test of time, it’s mushrooms. The use of these unassuming fungi spans millennia, so much so that they’ve been found in long-preserved corpses like Ötzi the Iceman, the mummy of a man preserved in ice and discovered in pristine condition in the Ötzal Alps of Italy. Estimated to have died around 5,300 years ago, he was discovered with birch polypore—a type of medicinal mushroom—in his digestive tract. The popularity of mushrooms for their medicinal value spread through time and cultures. While they’ve been a mainstay of traditional…

Brussels Sprout & Farro Soup With Bacon ACTIVE: 45 MIN TOTAL: 45 MIN This soup is umami-packed with bacon and mushrooms. Farro and brussels sprouts offer fiber and texture, while cream and a splash of vinegar balance the flavors. Serve it with hearty bread to sop up every delicious bite. 3 center-cut bacon slices, cut into ½-inch slices1½ cups chopped sweet onion1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil1 (8-ounce) package sliced cremini mushrooms1 tablespoon minced garlic½ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon ground pepper5 cups lower-sodium chicken broth½ cup pearled farro1 bay leaf2 cups shredded Brussels sprouts¼ cup heavy cream1 tablespoon sherry vinegar2 teaspoons fresh thyme 1. Cook bacon in a large Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat until crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate, reserving the drippings…

CHANTERELLE Ranging from vase-shaped to trumpet-shaped, golden chanterelles are some of the most widely available and prized wild mushrooms. Lab studies show that they contain several antioxidant compounds, including flavonoids, polyphenols and beta carotene. While more research is needed to highlight the specific benefits of chanterelles, the delicious blooms warrant a place on any table with their peppery taste and meaty texture. Wild mushrooms like these may be a challenge to find at the grocery—natural-foods stores and farmers markets may carry them, or you can order them online. Chanterelles are best enjoyed whole—they are bite-size, and it preserves their squeaky, bouncy texture. For a simple sauté, cook them in a pan with butter or olive oil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the water they release evaporates and the mushrooms…

Mushrooms are a delicious addition to any recipe. Aside from providing some great health benefits, which include boosting gut health and supplying lots of potassium, mushrooms can be enjoyed both raw and cooked. One way that we love to cook with mushrooms is by drying them. Dried mushrooms provide a concentrated punch of umami flavor—plus, they can last a long time. How to Dry Mushrooms When you make dried mushrooms, you’re removing the moisture from the vegetable, so it turns into a dry, shriveled version. The following instructions explain how to dry mushrooms in the oven, but you could also use a food dehydrator if you don’t want to tie up your oven for hours. Food dehydrators come in a number of sizes and models, and many include accessories…

Cognitive decline is a natural part of aging. As you get older, your brain does too—and you may notice your mind feels foggy, it takes longer to recall words or that learning new things is more challenging. As scientists continue to study the mechanisms behind age-related changes to the brain, including how to prevent them, a growing body of research suggests nutrition in part holds the key to protecting the brain from cognitive impairment. One important component is the fruiting body of fungi: the mushroom. Along with supporting the immune system and helping the body adapt to stress, the chemical compounds found in mushrooms could also improve brain health. Researchers consistently point to mushroom consumption as beneficial for cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, and it’s thought that eating…

Creamy Chicken, Mushroom & Ricotta Pasta ACTIVE: 30 MIN TOTAL: 30 MIN Ricotta is the key to this creamy pasta dish made without the cream. The cheese melts down along with Parmesan into a luscious sauce, thanks to a little pasta-cooking water. For the smoothest results, use freshly grated Parmesan—pre-grated cheese often contains cellulose that can prevent melting. 8 ounces whole-wheat cavatappi or penne2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, trimmed and thinly sliced½ teaspoon salt, divided½ teaspoon ground pepper, divided8 ounces mixed mushrooms, sliced3 cloves garlic, minced2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme and/or sage, plus more for garnish¼ cup dry white wine2 tablespoons lemon juice1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish4 cups baby spinach, coarsely chopped 1. Bring a…

Fresh mushrooms keep for up to a week in the refrigerator, but we all know how disappointing it is to discover your shrooms have turned soft and smelly. Before that happens, do yourself a favor and freeze them. Mushrooms can be frozen for nine to 12 months and used in a variety of cooked dishes. Read on for three ways to freeze mushrooms, plus how to thaw them and the best recipes for making the most of your mushroom stash. HOW TO FREEZE RAW MUSHROOMS Freezing raw mushrooms is super easy, but because they will retain so much water, they can turn quite mushy, which means they’ll be best used in dishes that are more about flavor than texture, such as soups, stews and casseroles. Start by chopping cleaned…

Iam scrambling through a patch of Douglas fir on a misty January morning in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and I’m holding a small miracle in my hand. It’s knobby and muddy and certainly doesn’t look like a miracle, but when I hold it to my nose, extraordinary scents fill my head, and little Pop Rocks of pleasure burst in my brain. It’s a white Oregon truffle, and it has never had a good reputation. But this little nugget is as aromatic as anything I’ve ever sniffed in Europe. So I ask Charles Lefevre, the gray-goateed mycologist scampering beside me—who has devoted the past 15 years of his life to promoting Oregon truffles—why they’ve long been snubbed by connoisseurs. He points to his two four-legged friends hoovering back and forth across the…

Adaptogens are an increasingly common part of our health and wellness vernacular, both online and offline. New and exciting to the majority of the Western world, they’re mentioned as ingredients in protein powders and supplements in flashy fonts: ashwagandha, reishi mushrooms and cordyceps, to name a few. The word adaptogen was coined by Soviet scientist and medical doctor Nicolai V. Lazarev in the 1940s in reference to herbs and mushrooms that resisted stress. The word itself comes from the Latin adaptare, which means “to adapt.” Eastern medicine—notably from China and India—has been using what we call adaptogens for centuries. But what are adaptogens, exactly, and how do they impact our well-being? Simply put, adaptogens are herbs, roots and mushrooms that help regulate our stress hormones. With the rise in stress-related…

Goat Cheese Crostini With Mushrooms & Brown Butter ACTIVE: 20 MIN TOTAL: 20 MIN Serve these savory herbed crostini with a big green salad. Looking for a heartier meal? Top each toast with a poached or fried egg. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil12 small fresh sage leaves12 ounces cremini mushrooms, quartered2 tablespoons minced shallot¼ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon ground pepper1½ tablespoons butter4 ounces goat cheese4 slices crusty whole-wheat bread, toasted4 teaspoons pine nuts, toasted 1. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add sage and cook until crisp, 2 to 4 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sage to a paper-towel-lined plate. 2. Add mushrooms and shallot to the pan, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly browned, about…