Whether you're a vegan who's in love with mushroom risotto or a meat lover obsessed with mushroom and chicken bake, mushrooms really are for everyone. This fungus-born vegetable that comes in a range of varieties -- shiitake, portobello, morels or oysters, to name a few -- can be added to everything from pasta to fried rice.
Mushrooms vary in their caloric value, but a portobello, for example, has about 22 calories per 100 grams. Mushrooms are also a good source of potassium and copper. While roughly 8,000 kinds of mushrooms grow in Canada, the most popular types for everyday cooking include white and brown mushrooms. You should always give your mushrooms a thorough wash before cooking (they do come from the ground, after all), and some health experts suggest not eating them raw at all.
Taste-wise, white, cremini, shiitake and portobello mushrooms have woodsy, meaty or earthy tastes, while Oyster, king oyster and enoki mushrooms are more mild and delicate.
And in case you missed it, last week we packed healthy breakfast.
Here's what you need to buy this week, while the other necessary ingredients (like pepper, salt and oils) are likely already in your kitchen.
- Mushrooms (variety)
- BBQ sauce
- Onions
- Whole wheat tortillas
- Cheese
- Low-fat butter
- Low-fat milk
- Avocados
- Cilantro
- Blue cheese
- Cumin
- Hot sauce
- Shoe string fries
- Sage
- White wine
- Cheese curds
- Vegetable stock
- Vegetable broth
- Arborio rice
- Chives
- Truffle oil
Pack It: Mushrooms
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