Lion's mane mushrooms are well-liked as a functional fungus and have a delicious seafood-like taste. The mushrooms and supplements are frequently combined with tea and coffee and used as a critical ingredient in haute cuisine like pasta.
This Lion's mane mushroom pasta recipe is the ideal vegetarian alternative to seafood pasta due to its lobster-like flavor. This delectable flavor provides a crunchy texture that will surely please your taste buds.
It's a hit at any dinner gathering since it's creamy without overpowering. Moreover, you get to enjoy the health benefits of Lion's Mane, including its ability to boost cognitive function, enhance gut health, boost immunity, improve your mood, and fight brain fog.
Discover our Lion's mane mushroom recipe pasta below. In addition, learn more about this unique mushroom and how to incorporate it into your cooking.
A Step-by-Step Lions Mane Mushroom Pasta Recipe
Lion's Mane is an excellent add-on to any pasta dish that is vegan or vegetarian. In all Lion's mane mushroom recipes, this interesting fungus gives a meal that would otherwise be high in carbohydrates the much-needed extra protein.
Moreover, Lion's mane mushroom taste completes pasta dishes, with these fresh mushrooms replacing crab and lobster while satisfying your taste buds. Undoubtedly, a tasty way to include the mushroom and its benefits in your diet is with this Lion's mane recipe, a vegetarian seafood pasta alternative.
General Information
Serves: 2
Nutritional information: 750 calories per serving
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of butter, extra virgin olive oil, or vegan butter
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- 1 medium yellow onion (finely diced)
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 10 ounces of tomatoes (fresh and cubed or pre-made tomato sauce)
- ½ pound of Lion's mane mushroom
- 1-2 cloves of minced garlic
- ½ cup of vegetable broth
- 2 cups of uncooked pasta of your choice
- ½ tablespoon of smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
Optional Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon of chili powder or 1 minced chili pepper
- ½ cup of heavy cream, coconut milk, or vegan cream cheese
- 1 ounce of parmesan cheese
- Asiago cheese
- Serrano pepper to taste
- Cayenne pepper to taste
Instructions:
Step #1: Prep Your Mushrooms
It would help if you prepared your Lion's mane mushrooms before cooking them. To remove any extra dirt, rinse them in water or brush them with a mushroom brush. If you rinse them, let them dry for a few hours, ideally in the sun, so the excess water evaporates and the mushrooms regain their natural properties.
The mushroom's bottom is probably soiled and rough to the touch. You should remove that section as well as any other spots that are discolored or unclean.
Step #2: Prepare Your Seasonings
Turn your stovetop to medium-high heat and add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to a saucepan. Add the onions to the pan once the oil has warmed up, then reduce the heat to low to medium. Cook the onion until transparent, stirring periodically. Cook pasta as directed on the package in the meanwhile.
Add the garlic and continue cooking it once the onions are transparent and aromatic (about a minute). Then, add salt, pepper, smoked paprika, Italian spice, and vegetable broth to the pot, along with the tomato paste, tomatoes, and chili pepper.
Stir, cover, and simmer on low to medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes. To make your pasta sauce creamy, add the heavy cream when the liquid has simmered down (skip this step if you're a vegan) and blend with an immersion blender until smooth.
Step #3: Fry Lion's Mane Mushrooms
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. A vegan substitute might be vegan butter or vegan olive oil. Lion's mane mushroom should be cut into small pieces and fried in a skillet (3-5 minutes). To the sauce, add the cooked Lion's Mane.
Step #4: Stir Your Lion’s Mane Pasta in Sauce and Enjoy
When your pasta is al dente, drain and stir it into the sauce. Grated parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper grinds are optional additions. Stir everything together over low heat. Plate right away after adding fresh parsley as a garnish.
Read More: See our guide with hand-picked Lion's mane mushroom recipes.
Additional Tips for Cooking Lion's Mane Pasta
The best pasta varieties are those that are long. Tagliatelle, linguini, bucatini, and spaghetti are all excellent choices. Of course, the easiest option is spaghetti, but bucatini best holds the creamy sauce.
Don't worry about obtaining a specific type of pasta; dried or fresh pasta will work. If you'd like, you may even make your pasta from scratch.
When making the sauce for this recipe, you can use a food processor or Ninja blender instead if you don't have an immersion blender. However, ensuring the sauce has cooled down is crucial to avoid splattering when unscrewing the blade from the cup.
To adjust the spiciness level, you can omit the Serrano and cayenne pepper for a milder flavor or add an extra sliced Serrano pepper for an extra kick before serving the pasta. Additionally, you can sprinkle Asiago cheese on the pasta instead of parmesan cheese.
Lion's Mane Mushrooms are high up on tree trunks and branches if you decide to go foraging for them. Lion's Mane is an excellent option for beginners since they do not have dangerous look-alikes.
Read More: Learn about Lion's mane look-alikes.
Health Benefits Of Cooking With Lion's Mane
Incorporating Lion's Mane Mushrooms into this dish is an excellent method to imitate the taste and texture of expensive seafood, such as lobster and crab meat, using these seafood-flavored mushrooms.
Moreover, Lion's mane mushrooms offer health benefits beyond their delicious taste, from gut to brain health. This is because they contain all essential amino acids and bioactive compounds that protect neurons and nerves from damage.
They can boost nerve growth factor synthesis and improve brain health, including memory, cognitive function, and emotion control. You can take Lion's mane extract as a supplement—for example, mushroom powder—to tap into these benefits.
Boost Your Brain Health With Our 100% Organic Lion's Mane Powder - Claim Your 10% Discount Now!
FAQs About Lion's Mane Mushroom Pasta Recipe
What Can You Mix Lion's Mane With?
You can mix Lion's Mane mushrooms with various ingredients to create delicious and nutritious meals. Lion's Mane's seafood-like flavor and meaty texture make it an excellent substitute for crab or lobster in dishes like crab cakes or lobster rolls mixed with breadcrumbs.
It can also be sliced and sautéed as a side dish or added to stir-fries, soups, and stews for a unique flavor and texture. Lion's Mane can be used as a meat substitute in vegan or vegetarian dishes, such as mushroom burgers or tacos. Additionally, it can be paired with various herbs and spices like thyme, garlic, and rosemary for an enhanced flavor profile.
Read More: Learn about the different mushroom flavors.
Is Lions Mane Better Raw Or Cooked?
Lion's Mane mushrooms can be consumed raw and cooked, and their nutritional value may differ based on their preparation. For example, raw Lion's Mane contains higher amounts of beneficial enzymes and nutrients like antioxidants. At the same time, cooked Lion's Mane has increased levels of beta-glucans, a type of fiber that supports the immune system.
Cooking Lion's Mane mushrooms can also break down their tough texture and enhance flavor. Moreover, when cooking Lion's Mane, you can use all your favorite seasonings—including flat-leaf, shallots, white wine, lemon, zest, garlic powder, cherry tomatoes, etc.—to enhance the taste. Therefore, whether Lion's Mane is better raw or cooked depends on personal preferences and the specific nutrients or benefits one seeks.
Which Mushroom Is Best In Spaghetti?
Depending on personal preferences and taste preferences, several mushroom varieties can be used in spaghetti dishes. Some popular mushroom choices for spaghetti include shiitake, portobello, cremini, oyster, and porcini mushrooms. These mushrooms have a meaty texture and earthy flavor that pairs well with tomato-based or creamy Alfredo sauces.
Lion's Mane mushrooms are an excellent option for those seeking a more seafood-like flavor in their spaghetti, as they have a crab or lobster-like taste that complements spaghetti dishes well.
Where Can I Find Lion's Mane Mushrooms?
You can find Lion's Mane mushrooms in various places, including grocery stores, specialty health food stores, and farmers' markets. They can be available fresh, dried, and sometimes canned or frozen. You can also find Lion's Mane mushrooms online from various retailers, including those specializing in mushroom products.
Lion's Mane mushrooms can be foraged in the wild, particularly during the summer and fall months in North America, Europe, and Asia. However, it is essential to be cautious and knowledgeable when foraging wild mushrooms to avoid consuming poisonous varieties.
Read More: See what to look for when buying Lion’s mane.
Key Takeaways
Lion's mane mushroom pasta recipe is an excellent substitute for seafood pasta since it is a meatless meal that maintains the crab and lobster-like taste. The flavor of Lion's Mane is similar to seafood, making it simple to switch to a vegetarian diet. In addition, regularly consuming Lion's mane pasta will guarantee improved brain health, enhanced immunity, and improved digestion and gut health.
Purchase some fresh Lion's mane the next time you see it so you can try this recipe. However, if you have time to go into the forest foraging, take someone knowledgeable enough to avoid getting look-alikes. You can play around with the ingredients to achieve a taste that appeals to you and your family.
Have you eaten pasta before? What are some interesting ingredients you added to boost taste and health benefits? Please share with us in the comments.
Let Us Know Your Comments