Spicy Enoki Mushroom

Sharing is caring!

If you are craving the spicy sauce of Asian cuisine, a plate of enoki mushrooms made with garlic, chives, and jalapeno peppers will hit the spot.

Even if you have never been a big fan of the mushroom family, after you try this spicy enoki mushroom recipe, you might just decide you love them after all.

The unique blend of sauces and garlic is what makes these spicy enoki mushrooms so special.

While most people are a bit hesitant to try out mushroom recipes because they always seem so complicated, this is one of the easiest things you will ever make in your kitchen

If you are tired of cooking the same old menu for your family, give them something different with the wonderful spicy enoki mushroom recipe.

What Are Enoki Mushrooms?

Enoki mushrooms are some of the most delicate-looking mushrooms you will ever come across.

If you are not familiar with the more exotic-looking mushrooms out there you might not even recognize the strange-looking enoki mushroom.

In China, they call the enoki mushroom Jin Zhen Gu, which means golden noodle mushrooms. When you think about it, “noodles” is a great way to describe the long stringy appearance of enoki mushrooms.

Unlike the other types of mushrooms we are accustomed to seeing, with their wide umbrella-shaped caps, enoki mushrooms have tiny white caps that are almost non-existent.

What Do Spicy Enoki Mushrooms Taste Like?

The first thing that will immediately stand out as soon as you take a bite of an enoki mushroom is the fruity taste which is so unlike what you would expect in Asian cuisine.

Another rarity is the fact that enoki mushrooms have quite a crunchy texture while most other members of the mushroom family are rather tender and squishy.

The advantage of this crunchy texture is that enoki mushrooms are great at attracting the flavor of a wide range of sauces, such as light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, and garlic sauce. If you add fresh chili to the mix, you better get ready for something special!

Best Place To Buy Enoki Mushrooms

This is not the most common of mushrooms, so do not expect to find enoki mushrooms on the shelves of your local corner supermarket. You will have to go to the Chinese market where they sell popular Asian mushrooms.

You will probably find enoki mushrooms in the chilled food section being sold in vacuumed plastic bags.

Be sure to look out for signs of discoloration as this might mean the mushrooms have become stale. This spicy enoki mushroom recipe requires only the freshest enoki mushrooms you can find.

Different Ways To Cook Enoki Mushrooms

While this method is my favorite way of preparing Enoki mushrooms, there are many other variations that you can try out to great effect. Consider the following:

Steamed

If you want a cooking method that retains the nutrition and flavor of your spicy enoki mushroom recipe, try steaming instead of cooking in a skillet.

The flavor will still retain its fruity taste but now with a hint of sweetness that is easily lost in other cooking methods.

As always, take special care when choosing the ingredients for your garlic sauce otherwise any off-tastes will be amplified when you steam your spicy enoki mushrooms.

Blanched

To blanch your enoki mushrooms, simply dip them in boiling water for about one minute and then fish them out and prepare a fresh salad.

Side Dish

If you feel that having spicy enoki mushrooms as the main course is not enough, you can use them as a side dish instead.

Enoki mushrooms can be prepared in a variety of ways and used to accompany boiled fish or beef.

Added to Soup

How does an enoki mushroom soup sound? You can use enoki mushrooms to make a delicious hot and sour soup, or egg drop soup with tomatoes.

In a Chinese Pot

Cooking enoki mushrooms in a Chinese pot means adding them to a whole host of other ingredients.

This will probably mask the fruity flavors but spicy enoki mushrooms are great at enhancing the taste of any savory dish.

Ingredient Substitution

No enoki mushroom recipe would be complete without looking at some of the various ingredients you can substitute to cater to a wide range of palates.

Worcestershire sauce

If you prefer a tangier-tasting spicy enoki mushroom recipe, trade in the soy sauce for some classic homemade Worcestershire sauce.

With its combination of sugar, spices, vinegar, salt, and anchovies, Worcestershire sauce is a great way to try out a new side of enoki mushrooms.

Fish Sauce Instead of Oyster Sauce

Most people might not like the fish sauce as an oyster sauce substitute because of its more liquid-like consistency, but it is nevertheless a great tasting option.

This option will give your dish a salty and fishy taste, so only go for this if you are a fan of seafood.

Jalapeno peppers

If you want a less intense spicy flavor than the one you get from your Thai chilies, try using some Jalapeno peppers instead. They will give you the same rich flavor but at a more palatable level.

Putting the peppers in a food processor will give you much smaller chunks that mimic what you would expect a dish prepared with Thai chili to look like.

Best Dishes To Pair With Spicy Enoki Mushroom

How you choose to serve your enoki mushroom dish will play a big part in its reception because some foods will counter the fruity flavor which you are trying so hard to preserve.

The following are some great options that you can try:

Simple Mashed Potatoes

There is a reason why potatoes are one of the first things you think of when you are looking for a great option for a side dish. Potatoes go well with just about anything you serve, and the same is true for your enoki mushroom dish.

Serve them mashed with a bit of cream to give a good balance of flavors and textures to your meal.

Balsamic-glazed Steak

If you want a good meat option that will go well with the spicy kick of your enoki mushrooms, go for a perfect balsamic-glazed steak served on a bed of spring onions.

Nothing makes a better pairing for your sauce ingredients than balsamic salt and that makes this one of my favorite serving combinations.

Onion Soup

A simple onion soup paired with your enoki mushrooms will make a hearty meal that is great on a cold winter evening.

Storing Your Spicy Enoki Mushrooms

Take extra care when storing your enoki mushrooms because they become quite tender after being cooked.

Whatever you do not serve immediately has to be placed in an airtight container and stored in the fridge after cooling. This will preserve your enoki mushrooms for about a week.

Longer storage can be achieved by freezing, although this is not recommended due to how tender these mushrooms are.

If you have to freeze your spicy enoki mushrooms, make sure it’s in a freezer bag. They will generally last about 10 months this way.

More Mushroom Recipe Ideas

• golden mushroom soup recipe
• oyster mushroom

Final Word

An enoki mushroom dish is a great way to give your family something different once in a while.

It will also impress your guests, especially if they are not familiar with the stringy appearance of enoki mushrooms. Keep this recipe for that special occasion you have been planning.