The spice you never knew you needed - mushroom powder. Ground from dehydrated mushrooms, salt, and a few other ingredients and sold more and more widely, this powdered blend when added to any dish can add a deep depth of flavor. This extra depth of flavor is often referred to by the Japanese word 'umami' which simply is one of the five basic tastes in addition to sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Use a tablespoon in a stir-fry sauce, add it to your vegetable sabzi, a curry, in your soup and stews, or even in a risotto. My white bean soup is rich and flavorful simply from mushroom powder. You can make your own by simply combining any variety of dried mushrooms and a little salt and whizzing them through a coffee grinder reserved for spices, or simply purchase a pre-made blend. I really like the version Trader Joe's offers in their spice section. What I love best about it is that it adds a deeper flavor component to any vegetarian dish - making it delicious and irresistible to even my pickiest meat eaters (um ... like that husband of mine.)
What do you use mushroom powder in? Please share in the comment section below so we can all start incorporating this simple yet essential flavor burst into our own cooking.
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Anupy
December 05, 2022
Hi Elizabeth … ramen is the perfect place for mushroom powder, agreed! I love adding it to ramen and udon and then adding kimchee before serving. Yum! Love your omelet and dip ideas as well. I will try them.