Spotlight Spice: AllSpice Gourmet Mushrooms

Ahh, it’s officially September. And September is full of wonderful things… the beginning of the “-BER” months, Labor Day holiday, pumpkin spice lattes, and mushrooms. Yes, mushrooms. You probably didn’t know it, but September is National Mushroom Month, and we think the timing is perfect – mushrooms are wonderful in cooler-weather comfort dishes.

This week we’re shining the AllSpice spotlight on our collection of gourmet mushrooms. We carry several varieties of dried culinary ‘shrooms, each packed full of rich flavor and texture. It’s easy to grab a few varieties to keep on hand in the pantry since they don’t spoil like their fresh counterparts.

We recommend using them in one of two ways: by rehydrating or crushing into a fine powder.

The rehydration method is perfect when using dried mushrooms in place of fresh. Use it when adding mushrooms to risottos, pasta dishes, and sauces. Water works great for rehydrating; however, the mushrooms will absorb the flavor of the liquid you use to rehydrate, which you can use to your advantage. Use broth or stock, red or white wine, or beer to create a unique flavor for your dish.

To rehydrate, soak the mushrooms in your choice of liquid for at least 15 minutes. Next, drain them. Don’t toss the water! You can use it to deglaze a pan or add rich flavor to a sauce. Lastly, give one a taste. If it’s at all gritty, you’ll want to give the mushrooms a quick rinse before using them in your recipe.

The crushed method is amazing for adding a great mushroom flavor to dishes you don’t want large pieces of mushroom in. Adding mushroom in powder form is a wonderful option for burgers, meatloaf, steaks, casseroles, soups and more. We like to use a mortar and pestle to crush the mushrooms, but a food processor or spice grinder will work equally well.

Dig out your favorite hoodie, drop the kids off at school, and swing by the shop (or online store) to grab a bag or two to try.