Easy Chestnut Mushroom Recipe

Chestnut mushrooms are a tan-colored variety of white button mushrooms, a grocery store staple. These edible fungi belong to the Agaricus bisporus family of mushrooms, which also includes cremini mushrooms and portobello mushrooms. Like white buttons and portobellos, these brown mushrooms have a dense, meaty texture and are easy to cook, making them a popular choice for chefs.

Recognizable by their brown caps, chestnut mushrooms have an earthy aroma and mildly sweet flavor with distinct hints of nuttiness. Diners commonly compare their flavor to shiitake mushrooms. With a firm texture that holds up well during the cooking process, these wild mushrooms have a heartier flavor than the other different types of mushrooms in their mycological family (like white button mushrooms).

Once you’ve mastered the basics of cooking chestnut mushrooms, you’ll find yourself preparing these tasty fungi time and again. Follow these simple tips to make the most of any new recipe that calls for chestnut mushrooms.

1. 1. Store the mushrooms under the right conditions. Store your chestnut mushrooms in a paper bag in the back of the refrigerator, rather than inside of the produce drawer. Storing mushrooms using this method will provide a cool environment with good airflow, preventing your produce from spoiling prematurely.
2. 2. Clean the mushrooms properly. Instead of soaking your mushrooms in water, give them a quick rinse in cold, running water to loosen any debris. Alternatively, cooks can simply brush off excess dirt using a mushroom brush or damp paper towel. Place the rinsed chestnut mushrooms on a kitchen towel and gently pat them dry using paper towels. Learn how to clean mushrooms.
3. 3. Give the mushrooms room to cook. Mushrooms release liquid as they cook, so give them some room to cook in the pan to yield perfectly browned, toothsome mushrooms.
4. 4. Cook with high heat. For properly browned, caramelized mushrooms, always use high heat to prepare them. Their sturdy texture will hold up well to extreme temperatures.
5. 5. Experiment with additions. This versatile fungi pairs well with a wide variety of seasonings, herbs (like sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme), condiments (like soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce), proteins, and vegetables (like shallots and chives).

Make the most of these toothsome fungi by incorporating these edible mushrooms into comforting dishes, like:

1. 1. Chestnut mushroom bisque: Add chestnut mushrooms to a cozy mushroom soup consisting of fresh veggies and aromatics. Simmer whole or sliced mushrooms in a broth and cream mixture, then purée them into a velvety consistency using an immersion blender. Learn how to make a mushroom bisque.
2. 2. Chestnut mushroom pasta: Use a braised creamy mushroom sauce to dress a bevy of noodle dishes, from beef stroganoff to mushroom cream pasta. Garnish these dishes with herbs like fresh thyme to complement the earthy flavor. Learn how to make mushroom pasta.
3. 3. Chestnut mushroom pizza: Add raw or cooked chestnut mushrooms to any pizza for a hearty and nutritious addition that pairs well with other pizza toppings. Enjoy this dish for dinner or brunch. Learn how to make homemade pizza.
4. 4. Chestnut mushroom rice: Deriving its earthy flavor from sliced mushrooms, this pilaf-style, one-pot side dish has enough satisfying flavor to stand alone as a main course. Instead of chicken or beef stock, use vegetable broth to make this dish vegan. Learn how to make mushroom rice.
5. 5. Chestnut mushroom risotto: Earthy mushrooms complement risotto, a creamy and toothsome rice dish. Traditional risotto uses arborio rice, a rounded short-grain white rice with a high starch content that gives the dish its signature creamy consistency. Learn how to make risotto.