Mushrooms Are a Great Plant-Based Food, and Here’s Why

Are Mushrooms Vegan?

Vegan dishes are not only for vegans. Mushrooms are an excellent source of nutrients, not to mention delicious. 

This month, vegans around the world are celebrating a plant-based lifestyle by cooking up some of these mushroom-based recipes. Even if you aren’t vegan, mushrooms are a great plant-based food that you can add to your diet!

A vegan is someone who eats a plant-based diet. They don’t consume any animal products in their diet, so they avoid eggs, butter, cheese, yogurt, and usually honey. Most vegans also avoid animal products in their daily lives, such as looking for alternatives to leather for their shoes and jackets. 

Because vegans limit their food consumption to plant sources, it’s important that they pay special attention to essential nutrients like iron and B-12. Mushrooms contain some of these key nutrients which make them a valuable part of a vegan diet. Additionally, the texture of mushrooms makes them a tasty and affordable meat substitute. 

It’s easy to use mushrooms in a variety of vegan dishes alongside other vegetables. They make a great standalone ingredient but they’re also great for incorporating as a main dish or meat substitute.

Here are some delectable mushroom recipes for vegans to enjoy, whether at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

At breakfast, mushrooms are a great ingredient in a vegetable hash. For a simple evening meal, toss mushrooms into a stir-fry with other vegetables and enjoy a nutritious, fresh noodle dish.

If you want a show-stopping main dish, pick up some Portobello mushrooms. Scoop out the stems and fill the caps with vegan cheese and chopped onions before popping them in the oven.

When it comes to meat substitutes, it’s easy to chop up mushrooms and add them to chilis, soups, and casserole dishes. You can also cut Portobello mushrooms into fine slivers and fry them up like bacon.

To get the most flavor out of your mushrooms, experts recommend dry-sauteing them first.

This allows the water content to evaporate and strengthens the delicious umami flavor of the mushroom. Once this is complete, you can add oil and spices specific to your dish. After seeing how mushrooms are a great plant-based food, maybe you will add more to your diet!