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Plant-BasedMushrooms & Fungi
🟡Caution

Shiitake Mushroom

Lentinula edodes

Facts

Shiitake adds savory depth quickly and is often the easiest mushroom to taste clearly in small recipes.

Regional names

Donggu, Black forest mushroom

Origin

East Asian cultivated mushroom prized for strong umami character.

Native region

Japan, China, and Korea

Season

Cultivated year-round

Food Combinations & Timing

✅

Safe Combination Profile

It is safe to eat this food item with other food items.

Nutritional profile

Calories

34 kcal / 100 g

Protein

2.2 g

Carbs

6.8 g

Fat

0.5 g

Fiber

2.5 g

Water content

90% fresh

Glycemic index

Very low

Vitamins

  • B Vitamins
  • Vitamin D if UV-exposed

Minerals

  • Copper
  • Selenium
  • Zinc

Health benefits

Evidence-aligned highlights

  • Contains beta-glucans studied for immune support.
  • Adds umami intensity with low calories.
  • Provides copper for connective tissue and enzyme function.

Flavor notes

Umami-rich, Woody, Savory

Texture

Meaty and springy

Aroma

Earthy and forest-like

Pairings

Soy sauce, Ginger, Scallion, Rice, Tempeh

Safety & toxicity

Edible parts

Caps, Tender stems for stock

Toxic or risky parts

Wild lookalikes can be dangerous; only buy cultivated or expertly identified mushrooms.

Raw vs cooked

Cooking is preferred; some people develop shiitake dermatitis from raw or lightly cooked mushrooms.

Allergies & intolerances

Mushroom allergy is uncommon but possible.

Drug interactions

No major drug interactions for typical intake.

Safe daily limit

Normal culinary servings are appropriate for most adults.

⚠️ Notice: This safety profile is a general guideline. Dietary tolerances differ; consult a healthcare professional for allergies or drug interactions. See our full disclaimer.

Who should avoid & how to handle it

Who should avoid or moderate

  • Anyone uncertain about wild mushroom identification should avoid foraging guesses.

Preparation & storage

  • Clean: Brush or wipe clean; rinse briefly only if gritty.
  • Cut: Slice caps thinly; remove woody stems.
  • Cook: Saute, roast, braise, or steep stems in broth.
  • Store: Refrigerate in paper for airflow.
  • Preserve: Dry for concentrated flavor and rehydrate later.

Cuisine & cultural use

Common cuisines

  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Korean
  • Fusion vegetarian

Shiitake Mushroom appears in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Fusion vegetarian, often because its flavor structure and prep speed fit both everyday cooking and ceremonial dishes.

Dynamic Substitutions

No alternatives recorded for this specific item. It is chemically or botanically unique in the database.

🌱 Cultivation & Production

Shiitake Mushroom Home Growing Guide

Learn how to grow and cultivate shiitake mushroom at home, whether you live in an urban apartment or have access to outdoor garden land.

Apartment Friendly

✓ Highly Recommended

Yes

Urban Space Advice

Excellent for indoor apartments. Requires no sunlight and thrives in dark, humid cupboards or closets.

Difficulty

Easy

Propagation

Mycelium spawn on sawdust or grain

Soil Type

Sawdust blocks, straw, or spent coffee grounds (no soil)

Watering

Mist multiple times daily to maintain 85%+ relative humidity

Sunlight

Shade / Dark (no direct sunlight)

Best Season

Year-round indoors

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

  1. 1

    Obtain a ready-to-fruit mushroom grow kit or mix spawn with pasteurized straw/sawdust.

  2. 2

    Keep in a cool, draft-free closet or cupboard.

  3. 3

    Mist the surface daily with a spray bottle to trigger pinning.

  4. 4

    Harvest the crop once the caps expand but before the edges roll upward.

Quick recipes

Fast recipes using Shiitake Mushroom

Dinner

Shiitake Soy Skillet

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High-umami mushrooms glossed with soy and ginger.

Ingredients

Servings:2
  • 2 cups sliced shiitake
  • 1 tsp oil
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 sliced scallion

Nutrition

  • 85 kcal
  • 4 g protein
  • 8 g carbs
  • 4 g fat

Preparation Steps

  1. 1Sear mushrooms in oil until browned.
  2. 2Add soy sauce and ginger.
  3. 3Finish with scallion and serve over rice.

Dinner

Shiitake Tempeh Lettuce Wraps

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Crumbled tempeh and mushrooms in a quick savory wrap filling.

Ingredients

Servings:2
  • 1 cup crumbled tempeh
  • 1 cup shiitake
  • 1 tsp oil
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • Lettuce leaves

Nutrition

  • 230 kcal
  • 17 g protein
  • 12 g carbs
  • 12 g fat

Preparation Steps

  1. 1Brown tempeh and shiitake in oil.
  2. 2Add soy sauce and maple syrup until glossy.
  3. 3Spoon into lettuce cups.

Snack

Five-Minute Miso Soup

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A warm and restorative broth with white miso, silken tofu, and dried nori.

Ingredients

Servings:2
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 1/2 tbsp white miso paste
  • 1/2 cup silken tofu, cubed
  • 1/2 nori sheet, cut into small squares
  • 1 sliced scallion

Nutrition

  • 80 kcal
  • 5 g protein
  • 9 g carbs
  • 3 g fat

Preparation Steps

  1. 1Bring water to a gentle boil in a saucepan, then reduce heat to low.
  2. 2Ladle a small amount of warm water into a bowl, whisk in the miso paste until smooth, and return to the pan.
  3. 3Add tofu cubes and nori squares, warming through for 1 minute.
  4. 4Top with sliced scallion and serve.