Umami-Rich Shiitake Dishes for All Occasions

Yaki-shiitake and Itame-shiitake

Although these two dishes may just be shiitake grilled and drizzled with soy sauce, the umami taste is unforgettable. Succulent log-cultivated shiitake, sauteed in a frying pan and glazed with butter and soy sauce, are just as satisfying as any meat dish.

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Nabe

Fresh shiitake are a staple for any nabe hotpot, from the basic yosenabe to mizutaki and sukiyaki. Cutting the caps into decorative shapes not only adds elegance to the dish, but also ensures they cook evenly, letting the umami permeate fully.

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Nikuzume

This is a classic side dish of stuffed mushrooms. Just remove the stems from fresh shiitake and stuff the caps with minced meat. They are delicious grilled or coated in panko breadcrumbs and fried. Each juicy bite gives a rich umami taste.

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Takikomi-gohan

This mixed rice dish is full of umami! If using dried shiitake, you can enhance the flavor even more by adding the dashi created when soaking them to rehydrate.

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Chawanmushi

For this savory steamed egg custard dish, it is made all the more attractive topped with a single small shiitake. Larger, sliced fresh shiitake or dried shiitake work well too.

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Fukume-ni

Here, dried shiitake are simmered in the dashi they have been rehydrated in, along with soy sauce and sugar to give them a salty-sweet taste. They can be enjoyed as an accompaniment to rice, but are also very popular used in fillings for sushi rolls or as a topping for sōmen noodles.

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Suimono

Fresh or dried shiitake can be added to this clear soup. If using dried shiitake, adding the dashi gives this dish a rich deep flavor.

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Nishime and Chikuzen-ni

Once an ingredient reserved for special occasions, dried shiitake are essential in these simmered vegetable dishes, standardly served as part of osechi ryōri at New Year. They hold the meaning of a long healthy life, as well as signifying growth and prosperity, thought to be due either to them growing large gradually over time or because they have cracked caps that resemble the shell of a turtle, a symbol of longevity.

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Shiitake: Japan’s Best-Known Mushroom | Nippon.com

Shiitake are plump, tasty mushrooms that can be eaten fresh or dried, which enhances their umami, as well as their shelf life.

https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c15322/

(Originally published in Japanese. Text by Ecraft. Banner Photo: Nikuzume, juicy stuffed shiitake with a rich umami flavor. © Pixta)