Mushrooms are known to be full of flavor as well as rich in texture. There are countless options for cooking mushrooms.
Usually, people who decide to go on vegan or plant-based diets, love to include mushrooms in their food intakes. They have a savory flavor that can enhance the flavor of other dishes and they can be eaten alone too.
If you’re planning to cook a savory dish and you plan to use mushrooms, you must know the various types of mushrooms that can act as a substitute in meals instead of opting to use regular meat. Mushrooms are enjoyed throughout the world and can be found in various cuisines of different continents.
Once you know the types of mushrooms and the flavors they bring to the table, it will be easier for you to decide which type of mushrooms will complement your dishes.
Chanterelle Mushrooms
This type of mushroom is the most expensive kind of mushroom around the world. They come in distinctive colors such as the shades of peach, pink and yellow.
They have a very dominating flavor and when it’s cooked with other ingredients, they tend to steal the show. They are extremely popular in French cuisine and are considered a culinary delicacy around the world.
Chanterelle Mushrooms are famous particularly for their distinctive flavor, which is known as hard to replace. Many culinary geniuses claim that it is one of the best kinds of mushrooms and its unique flavor says it all.
They are very rich in taste and aroma and can be addictive for many people who can afford to eat them. Some people can sense a peppery flavor whereas, some claim that it is slightly fruity.
This kind of mushroom cannot be easily grown. One of the main reasons why Chanterelle Mushrooms are expensive is because of their specific cultivation requirements. These mushrooms need a combination of humidity and heat so they can ripe properly.
These can be found in the market in spring or after spring as their main harvest comes towards the end of spring or the beginning of autumn.
While it is every chef’s dream to cook with Chanterelle Mushrooms, don’t lose heart if you can’t get your hands on some. We have compiled a list of some chanterelle mushroom substitutes for you.
Since Chanterelle mushrooms are quite expensive and cannot be easily accessed throughout the year except in late spring or early autumn, many people who love these mushrooms tend to seek their substitutes.
Mentioned below are 6 Chanterelle mushroom substitutes that resemble its taste and can be cheaper and more accessible.
Chanterelle Mushrooms Substitutes
1. Cremini Mushroom
This type of mushroom is one of the best alternatives to chanterelle mushrooms. These have a unique and rich meaty flavor and they also provide a wonderful filling.
Cremini mushrooms are widely used for baked dishes, soups, and sautéed vegetables. Their flavor is unique and they are light brown, many recognized chefs prefer using cremini mushrooms for soups, stews, and many other liquid recipes.
2. Mushroom Sauce
Even though chanterelle mushrooms have a distinctive taste that can be hard to substitute for, you can always try by adding a little bit of mushroom sauce to enhance the flavor of your dish. The mushroom sauce can be store-bought or even homemade.
For making the mushroom sauce at home, all you need to do is sauté a few mushrooms and slowly cook them on low flame and you can season it with the right amount of salt and pepper.
You can also take a few sautéed mushrooms and add them to cream and enhance the taste and flavor by seasoning it with some parsley or oregano.
If you are short on time or cannot cook the mushroom sauce for any reason, you will find that most local stores and supermarkets stock ready-made mushroom sauce for easy and hassle-free cooking.
Mushroom sauce is available in a lot of varieties around the world. One thing you need to keep in mind is, however, while cooking mushroom sauce you need to carefully taste and add salt as per your liking.
The sauce can make curries or gravies extra salty, so you need to be careful and add less salt while making the mushroom sauce.
3. Black Pepper
Chanterelle mushrooms tend to add a black peppery flavor. If you’re making stews, soups, or noodles, you can take any kind of mushrooms available that have a subtle flavor of their own and you can add a little black pepper, some soya sauce, and half a teaspoon of brown sugar to balance the flavor.
Chanterelle mushrooms are not easy to replicate because of their slightly sweet and tangy flavor but this alternate way can help you come close to the taste of chanterelle mushrooms.
4. Plumped Porcini Mushrooms
These kinds of mushrooms are the most widely grown and cultivated mushrooms which makes them easily accessible. They have their own set of advantages such as antioxidants and help in boosting the immune system. They have a subtle flavor and are easy to cook.
If you can’t get some chanterelle mushrooms and you think you can’t go forward with your recipe without some mushrooms, don’t think twice before adding Porcini Mushrooms.
5. Oyster sauce
It may sound funny but the oyster sauce is used in a variety of recipes as a flavor enhancer. It ensures to provide the correct amount of sweetness and salty flavor in curries, soups, gravies, and sautéed dishes.
A teaspoon or two of oyster sauce can help your dish taste and smell like the chanterelle mushrooms. It has a perfect aroma to tantalize anyone’s taste buds.
Although, the oyster sauce was originally made by cooking real oysters for long periods to fully extract the yummy juices of the oysters.
However, over the years it has been used to cook many dishes, and it helps in uplifting the taste and aura of a dish. Oyster sauce now is made of soy, wheat, and other sauces and is easily available in supermarkets.
6. Shiitake Mushroom
The shitake mushrooms are more popular in the Japanese and Chinese cuisines and are widely cultivated all across South East Asia. These mushrooms are known to be rich in nutrients and are packed with proteins.
Shiitake mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years and it is still part of practicing herbal medication in South East Asia.
As times changed, shiitake mushrooms have become a part of various cuisines and they give off the right amount of flavor while used in various recipes.
They are a great alternative for chanterelle mushrooms as these also have a strong meaty texture with an earthy flavor. It is important to keep in mind while cooking Shitake mushrooms, to not overcook them. If shiitake mushrooms are overcooked they become extra chewy and lose their flavor.
The Bottom Line
While cooking any dish, a chef must be always ready to improvise. Whether you can run out of ingredients or the ingredients you have, have gone bad, or are less in the quantity you always need to be prepared with a plan B.
If you’re planning to cook a dish with chanterelle mushrooms but can’t seem to find them, you don’t have to sit cluelessly.
Indeed no taste can beat the taste of chanterelle mushrooms but these alternate ingredients can help you save your dish and help you fulfill your craving for the exquisite taste or replica taste of chanterelle mushrooms.
All the above-mentioned substitutes for chanterelle mushrooms are easily available and can help you cook the perfect dish!