Properties and recipes for cooking dishes with shiitake mushrooms

In Japan, China and Korea, dishes without shiitake can be counted on one hand. Oriental residents simply adore this mushroom, and not only for its taste, but also for its healing properties. There it is called the elixir of youth, beauty, health and longevity. Why is this mushroom so useful?

What is Shiitake

Shiitake is known to be an edible lamellar mushroom that grows on a tree. The hat reaches a diameter of up to 30 centimeters, and its color is light or dark brown. A cream-colored fringe runs along the edge, and the top of the mushroom is covered with scales. If you look under the cap, you can see white fibers, in which a lot of useful elements have accumulated. Cylindrical leg is white, brownish when broken, with a fibrous surface.

Growing shiitake mushrooms

The name alone already speaks of the way of growth. “Shii”, translated from Japanese, means broadleaf tree, and “take” means mushroom. Other names for this plant are also known: black forest mushroom, Chinese or Japanese mushrooms, and its Latin name is edible lentinula. Under natural conditions, shiitake grows in the east: Japan, Korea, China and some areas of Southeast Asia.

Such mushrooms are also cultivated in Russia: in the Far East and in the Primorsky Territory. There are only two types of artificial production:

• outdoors - an extensive method of growing;
• in a greenhouse - an intensive way.

Cultivation of shiitake mushrooms in the extensive way takes from 6 to 12 months. To begin with, small depressions are made on the pieces of wood, into which the shiitake mycelium or its whole culture is laid. Then the logs are kept in the shade for some time, at a certain temperature and humidity. Fruiting of mushrooms on logs lasts from 3 to 5 years, and the yield from 1 cubic meter. m of timber is about 250 kg.

The intensive method involves cultivating shiitake on a mixture of hardwood sawdust with wheat or rice bran, in special propylene containers. First, the substrate is sterilized, pasteurized in hot water, dried and only after that the mycelium is planted in the soil. On one block, mushrooms will grow from 30 to 60 days, and the yield for the entire fruiting period will be 15-20%.

Shiitake - benefit and harm

Shiitake dishes are not only low-calorie (nutritional value of 1 kg - 300-500 kcal), but also healthy. For example, calcium has the same amount as fish meat. In addition, they contain a lot of phosphorus, iodine, potassium, zinc, complex carbohydrates and B vitamins. The accumulation of substances is concentrated on the cap, because only there spores form. The stalk has 2 times less micro- and macroelements. Therefore, dietitians advise cutting off the bottom, and preparing as many hats as possible.

It is worth knowing that the benefits and harms of shiitake are a very controversial topic. As it turned out, even they are imperfect. Sparingly soluble mushroom protein is practically not absorbed by our body. Plus, chitinous fiber contributes to poor digestion. It interferes with the production of gastric juice and passes through the body in transit. For these reasons, doctors do not recommend giving shiitake to children under 3 years old, and adults can consume no more than 300 g of mushrooms per day.

Shiitake mushroom - medicinal properties

The Japanese call Shiitake the elixir of longevity - dishes made from it were often served at the imperial table. And in Russia, the benefits of an overseas guest were recognized several decades ago. There is even a whole science - fungotherapy, which studies the medicinal qualities of mushrooms. It has been proven that the healing properties of shiitake lie in a rich vitamin composition:

• Polysaccharides, leucine, lysine normalize the work of the gastrointestinal tract, contribute to weight loss.
• Dried mushrooms have been found to have ergosterol, which, when absorbed, turns into vitamin D.
• Amino acids lower the level of sugar, bad cholesterol, and improve blood circulation. This makes the mushroom an indispensable product for diabetes and hypertension.
• According to Chinese studies, the presence of this mushroom in the diet will increase resistance to stress, help to cope with exhaustion and weakness.
• Lingans with lingins - virus-like particles that make up shiitake help the body to resist herpes and hepatitis viruses.
• With comprehensive therapy, shiitake is used to treat the upper respiratory tract, influenza, smallpox, polio, and even HIV.
• Eating 16 grams of dried mushrooms per day will increase immunity, prevent the development of heart diseases: atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease.
• Chitin with cellulose helps to cleanse the blood from chemical, toxic, radioactive substances.

There is unconfirmed evidence that the mushroom helps well in the treatment of stomach ulcers, gout, hemorrhoids, liver pathologies, prostatitis, and sexual impotence. Some companies specializing in medicinal cosmetics for women produce rejuvenating agents based on Japanese mushrooms: creams, cosmetic masks, lotions. Lentinan, added to the composition of this cosmetics, stops premature aging of the skin.

Shiitake tincture

If you want to have beautiful velvety skin, as in the photo of Japanese geisha, you do not have to buy expensive creams. Shiitake tincture prepared at home will cope with the tasks. Skin lotion is made according to a simple recipe:

1. Dried mushrooms are mixed with alcohol in proportions of 2 to 1.
2. Close the container with a lid, and then insist for 7-10 days.
3. The finished solution is applied to a cotton pad and wiped on the face, except for the eye area and nasolabial folds.
4. The procedure is repeated regularly: in the morning and in the evening.

Shiitake mushroom for oncology

Shiitake extracts and extracts have been used in the prevention and rehabilitation of cancer patients. Science has found that these medicinal mushrooms have the strongest anti-tumor properties, but this does not mean that it is worth stopping the main treatment and abandoning operations. Shiitake mushroom in oncology only reduces the spread of cancer cells, slightly reduces the size of the tumor, enhances the effect of chemotherapy procedures, restores the blood formula, and relieves pain.

Shiitake mushrooms - how to cook

Chinese mushroom is used not only by doctors, they are often included in the composition of dishes. Cooking shiitake is not a complicated process at all. They taste like a cross between porcini mushroom and champignons. Fresh, they can be used in salad recipes or snacks. This mushroom will accentuate, embellish and enrich the taste of any unsweetened sauce. In Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisine, rich miso soups are made from shiitake.

How to cook frozen shiitake mushrooms

Before you start cooking frozen shiitake mushrooms, let them stand at room temperature for 2-4 hours, and then squeeze out excess moisture. The easiest option is to fry the mushrooms in a pan with vegetable oil. You can add onions, lemon, sesame seeds to the product. Often frozen shiitake is added to more complex dishes of meat, fish, vegetables, seafood.

How to cook dried shiitake

Before cooking, dry mushrooms should be soaked in warm water with the addition of a teaspoon of sugar. If after that you plan to cook the dried shiitake further, and not put it in the salad as it is, then you can prepare the marinade for steaming. To do this, combine sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, spices, and lemon juice. Marinate the mushrooms with the mixture overnight, and in the morning continue cooking according to the recipe.

with the unusual name shiitake. In fact, they have been known for over 2000 years. China is considered their homeland, although they also grow in Japan. In these countries, shiitake can be found not only in the wild. They have been successfully cultivated for tens of centuries. Chinese medicine considers shiitake mushrooms to be a healing natural product that prolongs life, so there are several other names for the mushroom in the Celestial Empire - the elixir of life and the imperial mushroom.

Today, shiitake mushrooms are widely used in many countries of the world, not only for cooking, but also for medicinal purposes. It should be noted that there are several ways to grow these mushrooms in artificial conditions. Mushrooms grown with pressed sawdust mixed with mycelium have excellent taste, but there are few useful substances in them. It is these mushrooms that we can freely purchase in stores. Only shiitake mushrooms, grown in their natural environment or cultivated on wooden decks, have healing properties. Extracts of such mushrooms are used in the manufacture of medicines and dietary supplements in eastern countries.

Shiitake mushrooms have an immunostimulating effect.

There was no doubt that shiitake mushrooms are useful after a thorough study of their composition. They contain vitamins (A, D, C, group B), trace elements (sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, etc.), almost all amino acids, some of which enter the human body only from the external environment, fatty acids, polysaccharides ... Even coenzyme Q10 was found in the composition of these mushrooms, and this is far from the entire list of useful substances contained in them.

The polysaccharides that are part of the mushrooms have a positive effect on the synthesis of interferon in the body, thereby improving immunity, increasing resistance to infectious diseases. Due to its immunostimulating properties, in the East, shiitake mushrooms are compared to ginseng.

These mushrooms also contain substances that can reduce. Studies carried out by Japanese scientists have proven that with regular use of this product, blood cholesterol levels are reduced by more than 10%. These substances also prevent blood clots. Therefore, with regular consumption of shiitake mushrooms, the risk of developing, heart attacks and strokes is reduced.

In addition, shiitake mushrooms contribute to the normalization of metabolism, have a beneficial effect on the digestive system, promote the active breakdown of fats, therefore they are added to the diet for those who want to get rid of excess weight.

Shiitake mushrooms against cancer

One of the sensational discoveries was the discovery in shiitake mushrooms of the polysaccharide lentinan, which the body needs to form substances that can fight cancer cells, as well as phytoncides that can resist hepatitis, influenza and even HIV viruses.

Due to these unique properties, shiitake mushrooms are used in the treatment of cancer in several Asian countries (China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore) and India. Moreover, in these countries, the anti-tumor mushroom technique (PROGMA) is recognized as official medicine and is prescribed by doctors in conjunction with traditional methods of treating oncological pathology. PROGMA is used both for the treatment of malignant and benign tumors at any stage of the disease, as well as for the recovery of the body after radiation or chemotherapy.

For fungotherapy (treatment with mushrooms), only mushroom extracts are used, since the concentration of medicinal substances in them is several times higher than in alcoholic tinctures prepared from mushroom powder or mushrooms prepared in other ways. In addition, in countries where fungotherapy is used, almost a third of medicinal anticancer drugs contain extracts of various mushrooms, including shiitake.

Shiitake mushrooms in cosmetology

Healers in ancient China were among the first to notice the beneficial effect of the mushroom extract on the skin condition. When used in cosmetics, the skin becomes more elastic, wrinkles are somewhat smoothed out. The substances that make up shiitake mushrooms help to normalize the fat balance of the skin, give it a matte finish, have a regenerating effect, and help to cope with enlarged pores and acne. Many modern cosmetics manufacturers add the extract of this mushroom to masks, creams, serums that have a rejuvenating effect.

Shiitake mushroom damage

Shiitake mushrooms grown in proper natural or artificial conditions cannot be poisoned. But they, like any other mushrooms, contain a large amount of chitin (a substance that is not digested in the gastrointestinal tract), so they should be eaten in moderation. Individual intolerance to this product is also not excluded. It is not recommended to eat mushrooms for children under the age of 12-14 years, since this can provoke digestive disorders in them. You should not use this product for pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as for patients, since the mushrooms contain a large amount of substances that are potential allergens.

Before using the extract, tinctures, medicines and dietary supplements from shiitake mushrooms for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, it is necessary to consult a qualified specialist.

Video about the benefits of shiitake mushrooms from the program "Life is great!":

Shiitake mushrooms have been known to the world for over 2000 years. Considered an oriental symbol of longevity, they have many beneficial properties and are widely used for medicinal purposes.

Since ancient times, the healing properties of shiitake have been used to combat diseases such as:

• cardiovascular diseases,
• colds
• stomach ulcer
• diabetes mellitus,
• cancer.

The taste and aroma of shiitake (they are mistakenly called shitake) resemble forest mushrooms, as they have the same fleshy texture. Under natural conditions, they grow on trees in Asia: China, Japan. However, they are also grown artificially, this is especially popular recently due to the healing properties that they possess.

The beneficial properties of shiitake mushrooms can hardly be overestimated due to their rich chemical composition. These mushrooms are rich in minerals and vitamins necessary for the development and health of our body. They are very rich in composition, they include:

• selenium,
• iron,
• proteins,
• vitamins B and C,
• potassium,
• calcium,
• magnesium,
• phosphorus,
• zinc.

And this is just a small list of substances so useful to a person.

Shiitake is called ginseng mushroom due to its beneficial properties.

Strengthening immunity

Shiitake mushrooms are an excellent remedy in the fight against viral diseases. The polysaccharides included in their composition have a positive effect on the production of interferon in the body - a protein that prevents the reproduction of viruses and bacteria. Acting gently on the body, these fungi introduce it into the immune system, which causes the virus to die. At the same time, the likelihood of re-catching the virus or bacteria is significantly reduced.

The healing properties of shiitake are also associated with a polysaccharide called lentinan, which is included in their composition. In world medicine, the dry extract of this substance is successfully used to treat benign and malignant tumors such as myoma, fibroma, melanoma. Lentinan slows down the growth of cancer cells and allows in the treatment of cancer patients to achieve a significant remission of the disease, from several months to 10 years. Also, mushrooms successfully fight the effects of chemotherapy and radiation. The polysaccharides included in them are used even in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and AIDS.

Fighting cholesterol

The benefits of shiitake mushrooms are to lower blood cholesterol levels, thanks to the amino acid eritadenine, which is part of them.

Studies conducted by Japanese scientists have shown that people who ate shiitake daily for a week had a 12% decrease in serum cholesterol levels.

What eritadenine is good for is that it prevents blood clots from forming in the body, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Regular consumption of this mushroom in food can achieve a good effect in reducing high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.

Preventive use

Currently, shiitake mushrooms are widely used in medicine for preventive purposes. The beneficial substances included in its composition normalize metabolism, cleanse the blood, and increase the elasticity of blood vessels. Shiitake preparations heal ulcers and erosions in the stomach and intestines.

Shiitake contains zinc, which has a positive effect on male potency, therefore preparations from these mushrooms are often used to normalize the functioning of the prostate gland.

Scientists have proven that the use of shiitake prolongs youth and health, it is not for nothing that the inhabitants of Japan and China, where this mushroom comes from, call it "the elixir of life."

Not so long ago, an oriental culinary novelty appeared on the domestic food market - shiitake mushrooms. This product very quickly won the hearts of chefs and firmly established itself in the refrigerators of housewives. These mushrooms are native to China and Japan, where they have been cultivated and eaten for over a thousand years.

Doctors of the era left many treatises for descendants, where they talked about the miraculous healing properties of Shiitake mushrooms. Someone calls them today the elixir of youth, someone calls them a storehouse of vitamins and compares them with ginseng.

Eastern miracle

What are shiitake mushrooms and how did they impress even the most capricious culinary skeptics? First, of course, it's a wonderful woody scent. Since they grow on trees, it is not surprising that woody notes are present. Secondly, mushrooms are distinguished by rather dry caps, which have a lot of various cracks and blotches.

Very often this product is called "black mushroom" because the color of shiitake can vary from light chestnut to dark brown, almost black.

As for the taste, it is quite unusual, if not specific. Many reviews of shiitake mushrooms say that they combine the taste of a certain careless sweetness, bright heady bitterness and piquant pungency.

In addition, the great advantage of this product is its calorie content. Many slimming ladies, nutritionists, vegetarians, celebrities and world-class models eat shiitake dishes very often. Despite the fact that one hundred grams of the product contains about three hundred calories, these mushrooms are most often advised by nutritionists. Where else can you find a simultaneously healthy, incredibly tasty and satisfying dish that would not spoil your figure?

Shiitake mushrooms. Benefit and harm

Why is Shiitake the "elixir of eternal beauty and youth"? What useful composition can this oriental culinary novelty boast of?

In shiitake, you can find about eighteen useful amino acids, vitamins, trace elements, only 1 g of fat per hundred grams of product and about ten grams of protein.

Experts very often advise to eat shiitake for those who suffer from problems with the gastrointestinal tract, have cancer, suffer from reduced immunity and frequent fatigue. Consuming shiitake is said to allow ulcers and erosions in the stomach and intestines to heal faster. In addition, cholesterol is eliminated, general immunity is increased, metabolism is normalized.

Especially often fresh and dried shiitake mushrooms are recommended for consumption by obese people. Improving metabolism, removing toxins and toxins from the body, improving the functioning of the digestive tract - all this only contributes to weight loss.

Moreover, experts say that the diet should not be completely "tied" to the use of these mushrooms. It is enough just to add to your diet dishes containing shiitake mushrooms in the ingredients. Japanese scientists, who monitored a group of people who were losing weight and periodically eat dishes with shiitake, noted that many have lost ten or more kilograms in a couple of months.

Mushrooms are contraindicated for people suffering from bronchial asthma, individual intolerance (allergic reactions), as well as for pregnant women and children under the age of 12 years.

Shiitake and seafood

In cookbooks, you can find many dishes that will be prepared with the participation of Shiitake mushrooms. How to cook them? What products to combine with?

Shiitake mushrooms make amazingly tasty and aromatic soups, incredible snacks, salads and side dishes. They are in perfect harmony with seafood, chicken, vegetables, fresh herbs, cereals, etc.

To prepare the first recipe, you will need

• 120 g green beans.
• 200 gr of shrimp.
• 400 g of shiitake mushrooms.
• Chinese noodles.
• Several cloves of garlic.
• Butter.
• 5 table. spoons of soy sauce.

How to cook

We wash the mushrooms a little, dry them on a towel and send them to fry in a pan. Shrimps are cooked along with the mushrooms. They are boiled for five minutes in water and salt. Add green beans, peeled boiled shrimps to the mushrooms. Pour in the soy sauce mixed with chopped garlic. Cooking for two to three minutes. You can use Chinese noodles or rice as a side dish.

Fish soup with mushrooms and salmon

Shiitake mushrooms can be used not only for making salads. The soup recipe looks as simple as any of the appetizers. The housewives especially liked salmon fish soup.

For cooking you need

• 5-6 shiitake mushrooms.
• 250 g salmon fillet.
• Fish broth - 800 ml.
• A tablespoon of ginger (grated).
• 3 tablespoons of soy sauce.
• Lemon juice.
• Rice noodles - 150 g.
• Algae - 2 leaves.

Cooking method

Cut the fish fillet into small pieces and pour over the lemon juice. We leave the fish to "rest" for five minutes. Salmon can be fried in a pan, if you are not afraid of extra calories, or baked in the oven, wrapped in foil.

Put fish in the finished broth, add soy sauce. Cut the algae into small long plates with scissors. Mushrooms can be put in the soup as a whole. Reduce heat and cook the soup for about ten minutes. The noodles are boiled separately. When serving, put it on the bottom of the plate, pour the soup on top and chop the greens. You can also add a few small chili peppers.

Healthy Mushroom Chips

Shiitake mushrooms can also be used to make snacks. Losing weight especially appreciate such a quick, simple, but very healthy and tasty dish.

Would need:

• Fresh mushrooms.
• Grows up. butter.
• A little salt.
• Two tables. tablespoons of flour.
• Ground pepper.
• Three chicken eggs.

Cooking steps

Mushrooms must be rinsed and laid out to dry on a towel. When the mushrooms are dry, cut them into thin slices. Season with spices. Batter is made from eggs and flour. We lower each plate in batter and send it to deep fat for half a minute. Remember to prepare paper napkins or towels. It is important that the excess oil is glass and not left on the chips.

If you want the dish to turn out to be even less high-calorie, just send the mushrooms to bake on a dry baking sheet. Ten minutes in the oven is enough and the chips are ready.

Omelette

If you want to diversify your breakfast with a healthy, tasty dish with Chinese notes, we recommend making an omelet.

Required products:

• One onion.
• Shiitake mushrooms.
• Three chicken eggs.
• Salt.
• A little oil.

How to cook

To begin with, the mushrooms are washed and dried on a towel. Then the caps are cut off (they will go into the dish). We cut each hat into strips or cubes. Fry the mushrooms in oil with the addition of pepper and a pinch of salt. After five minutes, add finely chopped onions to the caps.

Break the eggs into a plate, add a spoonful of milk or water, beat well until a fluffy egg mass is obtained. Pour mushrooms and onions with it and leave to simmer under the lid for seven minutes. When serving, sprinkle the omelet with fresh parsley.

Salads

The most popular dish is salads. What foods can you combine shiitake mushrooms with for a delicious, but quick-to-prepare salad? It:

• Boiled beef tongue, fresh herbs, mushrooms.
• Pickled mushrooms, tomatoes, boiled chicken, broccoli.
• Rice noodles, mushrooms, shrimps.
• Mushrooms, cheese, asparagus, legumes.