PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 17 Do it Yourself Coldwater Gardens does offer private classes on shiitaké inoculation and cultivation and Nick suggests checking out Field and Forest products online for all of your supplies (fieldforest.net). Although there are thousands of strains of shiitaké, Coldwater Gardens uses the West Wind variety and they have found that it does very well in the Northwest Florida climate. Although there are a few different options for the spawn, Nick recommends the sawdust variety for its affordability and ease of use. Be sure to store in the refrigerator until ready to inoculate. You want your logs to be fairly fresh, so don’t let them sit too long before inoculating. Kits are also available online for first timers. Cleaning, Storing & Cooking Most mushroom aficionados recommend not washing mushrooms as they tend to soak up water and become slimy. Nick recommends holding the mushroom by the base of the stem and tapping the gills with your palm. That knocks out most of the debris. Mushroom brushes are also available. Pat them dry if they are moist and store them in a paper bag in the produce drawer of your fridge for one to two weeks. You can also dehydrate in the oven or a dehydrator. Health Benefits Shiitaké’s health benefits are far reaching. Long considered a medicinal mushroom due its use in oriental medicine as a concentrated extract or medicinal powder, shiitakés in their culinary uses are high in B vitamins and are good sources of iron, selenium and copper, zinc, manganese, vitamin D2 and dietary fiber. Studies also show that shiitakés are helpful in fighting cardiovascular disease and in supporting the immune system. Be sure to cook them lightly as overcooking can diminish their nutrient content and flavor. Flavor Shiitakés have a rich, smoky, woodsy, flavor and a dense, meaty texture. They are often mentioned when speaking about umami, the fifth basic taste after sweet, salty, bitter and sour. Derived from the Japanese word umai, meaning “delicious,” umami (pronounced oo-MAH-mee) is described as a savory, brothy, rich or meaty taste that provides a satisfying sense of deep, complete flavor. SIMPLE ROASTED SHIITAKÉS Roasted shiitakés are delicious and versatile. Eat them on their own as a snack or throw on top of salads, pasta or soup for a woodsy flavor. Ingredients 1-2 lb. Shiitaké mushrooms Olive oil Coarse sea salt to taste Coarse black pepper to taste Optional: Minced garlic, herbs and truffle oil can be added as desired. Preparation Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Oil a baking dish. Lightly toss the mushrooms with olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Place shiitakés in a single layer in baking dish. Bake uncovered 10 to 12 minutes. Remove mushrooms and shake or flip. Continue to cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown and slightly crunchy.
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