With a slightly woodsy flavor that becomes more intense after cooking, white mushrooms are a favorite of chefs, cooks, and food lovers everywhere and they can be used in many different types of recipes as well as eaten raw.
Like every other type of mushroom they are grown from microscopic spores with one single mushroom producing more than 15 billion new spores that are used to grow more mushrooms. They need heat and humidity to grow properly along with plenty of compost and peat moss.
Despite their name, they actually range in color from a creamy white to a light brown shade and these fungi are often called button mushrooms while the largest are known as jumbo mushrooms.
The caps of these mushrooms are fleshy and will range in size from one to four inches across while the stems are usually three quarters of an inch to two inches long. You will know white mushrooms have just been freshly picked when the caps have closed veils or are close to the stem. The youngest, freshest white mushrooms will have a light, delicate flavor.
Mature white mushrooms, on the other hand, will have dark caps, open veils, and feature a deeper, richer taste than their younger counterparts.
Of the more than 100,000 types of edible, meaty mushrooms available, white mushrooms, or "Agaricus bisporus," are by far the most popular and are perfect for cooking in a variety of ways. Because the flavor of white mushrooms intensifies during the cooking process you can saute them briefly for a milder taste or lengthen the time for a stronger flavor depending on the recipe you are using.
For a quick appetizer or hors d'oeuvre, slice raw white mushrooms thin or thick and serve with various dips and dressings. The caps of larger white mushrooms can be stuffed with just about anything you could think of including ordinary, seasoned stuffing and crab meat.
Alternatively, marinate the mushrooms or saute them and serve as a side dish. White mushrooms are also ideal for garnishing salads, using on vegetable trays, and for topping pizzas.
White mushrooms will keep fresh in the refrigerator for about five to seven days. Store them in brown paper bags for the best results.
Spinach and Mushroom Lover's Pizza Recipe
What You Need
1 pound pizza dough
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1/4 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon oregano
Ground black pepper to taste
1 cup plum tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cups white mushrooms, sliced
6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
12 baby spinach leaves, torn
How to Make It
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Roll the pizza dough out to make 1 large round or square crust or 2 thin small to medium crusts.
Spread the pizza sauce on top of the dough followed by the seasonings, the chopped plum tomatoes and onions, the sliced mushrooms, shredded cheddar, and the torn baby spinach leaves.
Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until the crisp is golden brown and crisp and the cheese has melted.
Serve the spinach and mushroom lover's pizza immediately while hot.
Serves 4.
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