Mushrooms undergo a personality change when they are marinated. Or maybe they just get a personality. Plain raw white mushrooms are a little boring, aren’t they? They’re the bland elevator music, the droning lecture that puts you to sleep, the song that never seems to end. How long it takes: 20 minutes Equipment you’ll need: large pot, glass jar or covered container Servings: 8 Perhaps I’m overstating it. I just can’t get too excited about raw mushrooms. Roasted mushrooms or sautéed mushrooms are a different story. Because mushrooms are a blank slate, they take on exciting characteristics when you mess around with them a little bit. And that’s why marinating mushrooms is such a great idea. Giving the mushrooms something to adorn themselves with, something to enhance their lovely earthy characteristics, to give them a boost of flavor is all it takes to make them the life of the party. Speaking of parties, marinated mushrooms are a perfect appetizer idea. They go great on an antipasto platter or charcuterie board, perfectly complementing the rich meats and cheeses. A jar of marinated mushrooms is great when you’re asked to bring an appetizer to a party because they’re portable and popular (try pickled cauliflower and marinated tomatoes, too!). You’ll find yourself just snacking on them right out of the fridge. And why not? They are nutritious and low calorie, a guilt-free snack that satisfies.
About This Recipe
You’ll notice from the photos that the mushrooms have a partner squeezed in the jar with them. Thinly sliced shallots balance things out. They have a mild sweet onion flavor and provide a nice visual and textural contrast to the mushrooms. Fresh garlic, and lots of fresh herbs, oregano, thyme, and parsley, make the marinade more exciting, too. The marinade is simple: olive oil, white wine vinegar, a hint of maple syrup, salt and pepper. You could actually use the marinade as a great vinaigrette. In order to tenderize the raw mushrooms and make them a little more receptive to the marinade, they are boiled briefly in salted water.
What You’ll Need
Mushrooms: You can use white, button, cremini, or baby bella mushrooms, or a mixture. Look for mushrooms that are somewhat evenly sized and not too gigantic, but don’t worry if that’s all you can find. They can be halved or quartered, if necessary. You’ll need 16 ounces. Shallot: A member of the onion family, a shallot is smaller in size and somewhat milder in flavor and a bit sweeter. The texture is more delicate, as well. Garlic: Fresh garlic is best. I use one clove but if you really love garlic, go ahead and use more! It can be omitted, too, if you don’t care for it. Olive Oil: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. It should be green in color, with a sharp flavor, almost fruity or grassy. Olive oil contains lots of antioxidants and has many health benefits. White Wine Vinegar: This flavorful vinegar is slightly sweet. It does have a trace amount of residual alcohol so if that’s a concern, white balsamic vinegar is a good substitute. Maple Syrup: A hint of sweetness helps balance the acidity of the vinegar and the sharp flavor of the shallot and garlic. If you prefer, it can be left out. Salt and Pepper: The mushrooms are seasoned with kosher salt and coarsely ground black pepper (freshly ground is best). Fresh Thyme, Oregano, and Parsley: This herbal trio really make the mushrooms special. If fresh herbs are nowhere to be found, substitute dried herbs. Remember that dried herbs are more potent so you won’t need as much (usually the recommended ratio is 1:3, dried to fresh).
How To Make It
Put a large pot of water on the stove over high heat. Add a couple teaspoons of salt and bring it to a boil. While the water’s heating up, clean the mushrooms thoroughly. Usually I recommend brushing the dirt off with a brush or damp paper towel since mushrooms are porous and tend to absorb water. In this case, however, the mushrooms are going to be boiled in water anyways. Give them a quick bath in water for a few minutes to clean them, swishing them around to loosen the dirt. Drain and rinse one more time to remove any dirt that’s still clinging. Trim the mushrooms. If they are very large, cut them in half or even quarters. It looks best if they are around the same size. Bite-size is best. It’s a little tricky to eat a gigantic marinated mushroom. Put the mushrooms into the boiling water, bring back to a boil, and boil them for five minutes. Cooking the raw mushrooms tenderizes them and gets them ready for the marinade. While the mushrooms are cooking, slice the shallot and garlic and whisk together the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Drain the mushrooms well and put them into a fairly large bowl. Add the sliced shallots and garlic, the herbs, and the marinade. Toss it all together until everything is coated with the marinade. Transfer the mushrooms to a covered bowl or large jar with a lid. Refrigerate at least overnight. It’s hard to wait that long but the mushrooms need a little time to absorb the marinade. You’ll be glad you waited.
Make It Your Own
Make this recipe keto by omitting the maple syrup. Like zesty marinades? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the marinade.
Make-Ahead Ideas
If you’re planning a get-together, marinated mushrooms are a good make-ahead appetizer idea. Prep them a day or two ahead and store them in the refrigerator. Looking for a few more make-ahead appetizer ideas? Try pickled asparagus spears or olive oil roasted almonds. Vegetable cream cheese roll-ups are attractive and always popular, too. Marinated mushrooms are great for snacking or jazzing up a salad, bowl or sandwich. They add loads of flavor to a veggie wrap or quinoa bowl.
Storage Tips
Marinated mushrooms should be refrigerated in an airtight container. They will keep for up to five days.
