Mushroom Recipe: Lion's Mane

This Lion’s Mane Mushroom Recipe will blow your mind, featuring a Vegan Mushroom Crab Cake so delicious you won’t believe it is meatless!

If you have been hearing about a popular new ingredient called a lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus), you are not alone! Sometimes referred to as a lion’s head mushroom, this mushroom is popular in vegan and vegetarian recipes. It is absolutely delicious and provides an amazing hearty and firm texture, very similar to crab. It is mild in flavor and is an excellent vehicle to take on the different flavors that you are cooking with.

Cooking this mushroom is also surprisingly easy! It can be prepared in a number of ways including pan sauté, oven roasted and grilled! I want to share with you some of my favorite lion’s mane mushroom recipes, including my absolute favorite: vegan and vegetarian mushroom crab cakes!

• If you have ever wondered how to cook lion’s mane mushroom, I will teach you how!
• This mushroom is super easy to work with, takes on the flavor you are cooking with and is super delicious even with basic preparations. If you are a vegetable lover, you will love it mixed with Roasted Asparagus and Roasted Beets.
• The mouth feel and texture is hearty and serves as an excellent meat or seafood substitute in many vegan and vegetarian recipes.

• Fresh Lion’s Mane mushroom
• Egg or flax egg: To make a flax egg, mix one tablespoon of flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water. Allow to sit refrigerated for about 10 minutes to thicken.
• Panko breadcrumbs: I love panko breadcrumbs in this recipe but you can also use regular breadcrumbs.
• Onion: Sweet onion recommended.
• Mayonnaise or Vegan Mayonnaise
• Worcestershire sauce
• Old Bay seasoning: If you don’t have old bay seasoning, you can use Cajun seasoning or Italian seasoning for a slightly different (but still delicious) flavor profile.
• Dijon mustard: You can also use course ground mustard.
• Parsley
• Salt and pepper
• Oil (to fry cakes): Canola, vegetable or olive oil all work well.
• Optional Garnish: Lemon wedges.

1. Hand shred mushroom into small pieces resembling texture of flakey crab.
2. In large bowl, combine egg, mayonnaise, onion, Worcestershire sauce, old bay seasoning, Dijon mustard, parsley (finely chopped), salt and pepper. Mix until fully incorporated.
3. Mix in mushroom until fully incorporated.
4. Mix in Panko breadcrumbs until fully incorporated.
5. Form mixture into 3-4 equal size round flat patties (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick).
6. Heat oil in sauté pan on medium/high heat.
7. Cook patties for approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Should be golden brown and cooked throughout.
8. Add optional garnish, squeeze of lemon and enjoy!

This mushroom is super versatile and mild in flavor, making it an excellent choice for many lion’s mane mushroom recipes. Some of my favorite lion’s mane mushroom recipe preparations include:

• Pan Sautéed with butter
• Oven roasted with olive oil or butter and seasoning of choice
• Grilled
• Vegan crab cakes (my favorite!)

For some other more creative preparations, you can enjoy mushroom powder in a mushroom latte, lion’s mane tea or coffee or mushroom paste in a soup or pasta sauce.

An article published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health indicates that “Hericium erinaceus a culinary and medicinal mushroom is a well established candidate for brain and nerve health.” It cites that studies support “neurite outgrowth and neuronal health benefits” and could assist health problems and cognitive abilities in an aging population. To read the full article: Neuronal Health – Can Culinary and Medicinal Mushrooms Help?

Many companies sell lion’s mane in different forms such as supplement as capsules, pills, powder or extract.

You may be lucky enough to live in area where this mushroom is available in your grocery store or local farmer’s market. Another option is growing them yourself. This is becoming very popular and enjoyable! You can purchase substrate blocks directly from us HERE and begin your journey!