Simple Wild Mushroom Stir-Fry with Brown Sauce

Are you by any chance in a post-Thanksgiving detox mode as I am? I'll be about whole grains, fruits, and vegetables for the next several days. No meat, dairy, refined starch, or sugar for at least a week.

A week of going without chocolate and ice cream? Wish me luck.

Light, natural, clean eating doesn't have to be all about deprivation, though. There are so many dishes made almost entirely of fruits and vegetables that give you the same hearty satisfaction as some of the heavier dishes. Mushroom is my go-to vegetable during the time when I want to lay off meat and dairy. I find its "meaty" texture to be very filling and satisfying. Its somewhat bland flavor and spongy texture make mushroom a very versatile and inoffensive ingredient. Like tofu, it goes with pretty much anything.


Wild mushrooms are the master of unassuming vibes; their subdued earthiness says, "We're here to lend our varying textures to the dish and quietly let our pores soak up any delicious sauce or seasonings you add to it." Once the dish is finished and plated, though, it's obvious that the humble, unassertive fungi have become the star of the dish. In fact, you've come to realize that they, in a temperate, modest way, have never intended to be anything less.

This simple stir-fry of assorted wild mushrooms is one of the most delicious meatless dishes I have ever eaten. Let me take that back. This simple stir-fry of assorted wild mushrooms is one of the most delicious dishes I have eaten. It features three kinds of fresh mushroom: oyster, shiitake, and king oyster, some green onions, some fresh garlic, and a simple brown sauce that is a cinch to put together.

While only one kind of mushroom would be sufficient to yield a great result, using various types of mushroom in this particular dish gives you a rice or noodle topper that is both spectacular to look at and utterly good to eat. In one bite, you get the velvety texture of the oyster mushrooms, the spicy-toasty aroma of the shiitake mushrooms, and the voluptuous meatiness of the king oyster mushrooms (which I adore). You can add crimini, portobello (with gills removed), or even good old white button mushrooms to the mix. The idea is to play with various textures.


Firstly, make the sauce by whisking together 6 tablespoons of oyster sauce, 1/4 cup of soy sauce, 1/4 cup Chinese rice wine (Shaoxing) or brandy, 3 tablespoons of cornstarch, 3 large cloves garlic sliced thinly, 3/4 cup of water, and 2 teaspoons of sesame oil. Cut 5 green onions into 1-inch pieces and set aside.

Set a large pan over medium-high heat. A total of 3 pounds of assorted mushrooms, cut into bite-sized pieces*, go into the pan with about 1/4 cup of water to get some steaming action going. For this dish, I do not want to brown the mushrooms; no caramelization is needed when you just want the velvety/meaty textures in a brown gravy. In fact, I don't use any oil, except for the two teaspoons of sesame oil in the sauce.


Once the mushrooms are softened a bit, but still remain firm, pour the sauce mixture all over the surface of the mushrooms. (The cornstarch in the sauce may sink to the bottom, so give the sauce a quick whisk before you add it to the pan.) Stir in the green onions.

The sauce will thicken up fast and you need to keep adding about 1/4 cup of water at a time to the pan just to thin it out a bit. Don't add too much water, though, as the end result should not be too "saucy." You don't want the mushrooms to look like they're drowned in the sauce. Add just enough water to thin out the sauce so it doesn't look like a lumpy goo.

By the time the green onions are softened a bit, the dish is ready to serve. This mushroom stir-fry is great over steamed rice or cooked noodles. This recipe makes 4-6 servings.

*Sometimes it's necessary to trim off the stems of fresh shiitake mushrooms as they can be tough. Oyster mushrooms, on the other hand, are quite delicate and no trimming is required. King oyster mushrooms may look like mushrooms on steroids, but they are actually very tender. Other than the very bottom part where you may see some dirt, the stems (which make up for more than 90% of the mushrooms) can be used without much trimming. I usually cut the stems of king oyster mushrooms diagonally into 1/2 inch chunks.

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