SMART EATING

The king oyster mushroom deserves a place on your meat-free plate.

If you’re looking to expand your fungi repertoire beyond the portobellos and porcinis, the king oyster mushroom is well worth a try. Also known as the king trumpet, it is the largest in the oyster mushroom family and can grow up to 20cm long. A popular ingredient in Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisine, the king oyster mushroom boasts a rich, umami flavour and a scallop-like texture, making it a popular meat alternative. The king oyster mushroom’s versatility and size lends itself well to inventive dishes. The large stems can be turned into ‘mushroom steaks’ by slicing in half, scoring, marinating with a bit of barbecue or soy sauce and grilled. Or cut them into thick discs and cook with butter and herbs for ‘scallop’ pasta. When purchasing king oyster mushrooms, make sure they are firm and undamaged. Be careful with the caps as they are quite delicate.