Enoki mushrooms are a staple in many Asian countries, from their place in Korean hotpots to their historical role in Japanese cuisine. The popularity of these fungi makes it harder to sort out the best enoki mushroom recipes from the worst — everyone has an idea of how to prepare them.
To help cut through the noise, we’ve collected some of the top enoki recipes for you. Because who has time to recipe hunt when you’re hungry?
The taste and rarity of enokis
As Specialty Produce writes, enoki mushrooms have a year-long season. A commonly cultivated commercial shroom, the white variety of enoki is a typical find in grocery stores.
There is a rare type of enoki, dubbed golden needle mushrooms, which can be foraged in North America and Asia, but you’re unlikely to see it for sale.
Enoki mushrooms have a long, thin structure that is almost noodle-like. It gives them a chewy texture. The flavor is a bit more earthy than oyster mushrooms, though some people report getting a similar seafood vibe. The off-sweetness takes on more of a fruity, mineral profile. One may argue that enokis are in between oysters and shiitake.
Can you eat enoki mushrooms raw?
Like many edible mushrooms, there’s a separation of opinion on eating raw enokis. Specialty Produce states that eating them without cooking is acceptable, so long as you’ve washed your shrooms.
However, the Singapore Food Agency reports that enoki mushrooms may pick up Listeria monocytogenes during cultivation. This bacteria can make you sick if consumed, but cooking it at 50 Celsius is enough to kill it.
For this collection, only one recipe relies on raw enoki mushrooms. However, you can cook them instead without disrupting the integrity of the meal.
Best enoki mushroom recipes
Enokis are a fantastic ingredient for home cooks because they’re so simple to work with. They have a woody stem, so be sure to chop that bottom off before cooking.
To prepare enokis, you can roast them in the oven, fry on the stovetop, or cook them in a stir-fry. You can also simmer them in curry or a hotpot — really, there’s no way to go wrong.
These mushroom recipes are ranked easy to expert, but be warned — even the the more advanced ones really aren’t that difficult!
Simple enoki mushrooms
Image Source: Yummy Mummy Kitchen
Black sesame seeds, green onions, and coconut oil come together for a nutty, balanced flavor accented by the finishing sweetness of teriyaki. Hard to think of a dish with more umami.
Soy butter enoki
Image Source: Okonomi Kitchen
This recipe calls for mirin, which we recognize only some keep at the ready! Fear not — you can easily use a small pinch of sugar to give the sauce a slight sweetness. The best part is that the prep time for this recipe takes just five minutes. Woah!
Enoki Mushrooms with Garlic & Scallion Sauce
Image Source: The Woks of Life
Here is an easy recipe that you can make a touch more flavorful by swapping your neutral cooking fat for sesame oil. Combined with garlic cloves, onion, and soy sauce dressing, it works as the perfect side dish.
Crispy Fried Enoki Mushrooms
Image Source: Food 52
Welcome to the easiest deep-fried anything you’ve ever made. Be careful not to burn it, though. Enokis fry quickly, so DON’T step away!
Grilled Enoki Mushrooms Wrapped with Smoked Chicken Breast
Image Source: Rasa Malaysia
These neat rolls are made in the form of Japanese yakitori and are perfectly sized for appetizers or hors d’oeuvres. Free from carbohydrates and with a total time of ten minutes. The deli meat and lightly cooked mushrooms have a slightly chewy texture, so garnish with something crispy like asparagus or celery.
Korean Enoki Pancakes
They might be called pancakes, but expect these to have much more of a crunchy texture than the breakfast treat you’re used to. The small-sized bites can burn quickly, so keep a max of medium heat.
Enoki Mushroom Stir Fry
Image Source: A Cozy Kitchen
All we can say here is fire up the wok! Here’s a weeknight meal you can cook with your eyes closed.
Enoki Mushroom Orzo Salad
Image Source: Fork in the Road
Here’s a recipe that moves away from the Asian flavors that enokis inspire, instead calling for traditional Mediterranean components like olive oil, basil, and lemon. Orzo can be filling, but if you bulk this up with extra veggies (cherry tomato, zucchini), you can have a full meal.
Sauteed Prawns, Potatoes, and Enoki Mushrooms
The slight seaside sweetness of prawns is a natural pair for enokis, which have a similar offset salinity. The biggest thing you’ll need to worry about is the shrimp, which can get rubbery if overcooked.
Enokitake Mushroom “Carnitas” Tacos
Image Source: The New Baguette
As it turns out, the texture and structure of enokis are remarkably similar to the pulled meat you’d expect on a carnitas taco — only entirely vegan! Make sure not to wash the mushrooms under running water, as they won’t brown crisp when wet. Instead, use a damp towel to spot clean.
Kimchi and Enoki Fried Cauliflower Rice Breakfast
Image Source: Yummily
Tired of the same old brunch routine? Add some new members to the party. You’ve got spicy kimchi, briny nori strips, and the earthiness of enokis. That’s a well-rounded group we’d drink bottomless mimosas with all day.
Spicy Enoki Mushrooms
Image Source: IanKewks
We’re putting this closer to the expert side of the list as it requires some essential ingredients you may not have already but definitely should invest in. With all the heat that goes into this, don’t forget the sugar (or honey).
Budae Jjigae (Army Stew Hotpot)
This hotpot recipe incorporates many tasty ingredients that elevate your typical ramen recipe. Spam, sausage, and rice cakes are all added for a soup that’ll warm your stomach and soul.
Thai Shrimp Curry
Image Source: Two Kooks in the Kitchen
Curry is a great way to add some unique flavors to your dinner routine while incorporating any lingering veggies in your fridge. After prepping, you can technically have a curry cooked in 10 minutes, but some extra simmer time will yield wonders in infusing flavor into the recipe.
Collard Green Rolls with Tofu and Golden Needle Mushrooms (Raw)
Image Source: Light Orange Bean
Look, people cook ham hocks with collard greens for a reason — these big leaves can handle a lot of seasoning and flavors. Even better, this recipe pairs with spicy peanut sauce! Chef’s kiss.
Beef & Ramen Noodle Soup with Chinese Broccoli & Enoki Mushrooms
This isn’t a difficult recipe, but it does involve a few more steps, such as browning your meat beforehand, blooming aromatics until fragrant, and simmering a nice miso soup-soy sauce broth before putting it all together. We recommend having everything pre-cut so you’re not rushing to complete the steps in a panic.
Sunchoke Soup with Caramelized Shallots and Roasted Enoki Mushrooms
Image Source: Snixy Kitchen
The enokis are more of a garnish on this one than the main course, but strangely, that still makes them the star of the show.
Mushroom Udon Stir-Fry
Image Source: Christie at Home
We LIVE for a good bowl of udon, especially one that doubles up on mushroom varieties. This one includes king trumpets, and though it calls for frozen noodles, there are some great dried varieties on the market (gluten-free ones, if that’s more your speed).
There are several ways to cook enoki mushrooms; many take less than fifteen minutes! Keep this collection of recipes saved, and you’ll have a library’s worth of meals to try out anytime you need a fresh crunch with your meals!
