The Underappreciated Mushroom

One of the most harrowing difficulties cooks face when they begin learning gourmet preparations for the very first time is how to best utilize each ingredient in a dish. One much loved but often overlooked ingredient for many dishes is the mushroom. If you've never considered the many varieties and possibilities available to you as a chef when it comes to the mushroom, today's the day of enlightenment.

The mushroom is a healthy, delectable, diverse, and often underappreciated food. Many people don't like mushrooms because they object to eating a fungus. However, mushrooms are often used to flavor a variety of dishes, and can even be used as the main course. Some people find that a nice, plump, freshly grilled mushroom hits the spot more quickly than even a steak!

The portobello mushroom makes a delightful substitute for a meat product. Believe it or not, many people replace hamburger with portobello mushrooms to get the texture they crave without the unhealthy effects of red meat. This is good news for vegetarians everywhere! The mushroom also makes a delightful addition to any Italian sauce or soup. In fact, most people consider spaghetti sauce to be incomplete without the addition of a flavorful mushroom.

Whether sautéed, eaten raw, added to salads, substituting for meat, incorporated in a sauce or soup, or simply used as a garnish, the mushroom should not be underestimated as one of the powerhouse foods for chefs everywhere. The finest mushrooms are usually hand-picked and cultivated in the highest quality soil, the highest quality environment, and grown to come equipped with the highest quality flavor.

Because of the many varieties of mushrooms available, cultivating a delicate system of checks and balances that are required to give each mushroom a unique flavor is an often underappreciated process. In fact, if you can find a supplier of high-quality mushrooms who have dedicated their practice to growing, cultivating, and supplying the best possible quality mushroom -- you've found a connoisseur you likely will not come across again any time soon.

So, if you’ve never considered the mushroom as a delicacy, now’s the perfect time to start trying the many different types, flavors, and varieties of mushroom available. What could be better than enjoying a gourmet food that not only tastes good, but is good for you, too?