Oyster Mushroom Flavor Newsletter
Fennel Fried Oyster Sandwich, mushroom tips, and a fresh podcast episode.
Get The Recipe
Fennel Fried Oyster Sandwich. In this recipe, oyster mushrooms are brined and fried in a spiced breading, then piled onto buns with a fennel slaw and lemony mayo. Even if you’re wishy-washy on the flavor of fennel, give this recipe a try: it’s got the crunchiness, fattiness, and brightness that makes a sandwich great. Make these for a game day lunch, or divide the mushrooms onto little buns to make sliders for a crowd. The Wild Grocery Podcast.



Oyster Mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms are mildly vegetal and a touch piscine, with an earthy and anise-like aroma. “Piscine” meany fishy, and “anise” is like black licorice - but both those descriptions sound like kind of a bummer.
Oyster mushrooms, despite the name that evokes a polarizing bivalve, are on of most versatile and universally accepted mushrooms. Their flavor is only subtly mushroomy, and they have an agreeable texture when cooked (perhaps similar to a tender piece of chicken thigh). Oysters are quite common both in the wild and at the grocery store or farmer’s market, and you’ll find several colors and varieties: golden oysters are delicate and a little funky; pink oysters are thin and savory; king oysters are thick and mild; blue oysters are meaty and versatile. More often than not, blue oysters are the ones you’ll find for sale - and they’re not really blue. Their color can shift from light tan to deep gray, but they do have tones of lilac or blue that give them their moniker.
If cooking with fresh mushrooms is new to you, oyster mushrooms are a great place to start. Here’s some quick tips to make your exploration a breeze:
A serving size for mushrooms is about 4oz, or a 1/4lb. Mushrooms are mostly water though, so their weight can change drastically during storage as water evaporates. Always purchase the freshest, plumpest, and heaviest mushrooms you can find.
Many mushrooms are priced around $20/lb these days, but oysters tend to be more affordable because they’ve become quite common. Budget around $4 per person when you’re serving fresh mushrooms.
Store uncooked mushrooms in a brown paper bag in the fridge - not in plastic. Mushrooms need some airflow to breathe, but will dry out if left uncovered.
The easiest way to cook a fresh mushrooms is the brown them in a dry pan, then baste with oil or butter and salt. This gives you maximum crispiness and a satisfying bite.
Check below for spots to purchase them, explore this week’s original recipe for a Fennel Fried Oyster Sandwich, and get more oyster inspiration on The Wild Grocery Podcast.



Find the Flavor
Find Oyster Mushrooms
✓ Wild throughout the United States
✓ Fresh at your local grocery store
✓ Fresh at your local farmer’s market
✓ Online on Foraged
✓ Grow them yourself at home
Find Oyster Mushroom Recipes
✓ Fennel Fried Oyster Sandwich
✓ Spicy Oyster Mushroom & Lemongrass Stir Fry
✓ Sri Lankan Oyster Mushroom Curry
References & Resources
Oyster Mushroom Nutritional Info
Identification article from Mushroom Appreciation
Learn Your Land Oyster Mushroom Video