Mighty mushroom

Often grouped with vegetables, mushrooms are a kind of fungi which are a good source of Vitamin B. Used in a variety of dishes, they boost the metabolism too. Mushrooms can be sauted, deep fried, ground and basted. They are one of the most widely used and loved topping/filling for pizzas and sandwiches. They are also used in quiches, tartines, soups, curries and gravies. Here, Vijayalakshmi Reddy has some mushroom recipes for you to try at home and relish.

Mushroom masala

Ingredients: ¼ kg button mushroom (sliced), 2 tomatoes (chopped), 2 onions (chopped), 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste, 4 green chillies (chopped), 1 tsp dhania powder, 1 tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp garam masala powder, 1 tsp Kitchen King powder, few curry leaves, salt, 1 tbsp ghee, 1 tbsp oil. (For the paste): 25 gm cashew nuts, 1 tbsp poppy seeds, ¼ cup coconut.

Method: Heat oil in a pan, add onions, saute for 2 minutes. Add ginger-garlic paste, green chillies and fry. Now add chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, chilli powder, dhania powder, Kitchen King powder, garam masala powder, cook for a while. Add cashew paste, mushroom, salt , ½ cup of water, and cook. Lastly, add curry leaves & ghee. Serve with rotis.

Mushroom pepper masala

Ingredients: ¼ kg mushroom (chopped), 2 tbsp oil, 2 onions (chopped), 2 tomatoes (chopped), 2 capsicums (chopped), 2 tbsp curd, 1 tsp dhania powder, ½ tsp chilli powder, ½ tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp crushed pepper, 2 tbsp mint leaves (chopped), 1 tbsp
coriander (chopped), 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp ghee, 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste, salt to taste.

Method: Heat oil, add chopped onions and saute. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry. Now, add chopped tomatoes, capsicum, curd, and cook. Add turmeric powder, dhania powder, chilli powder and mint, cook for a while. Add chopped mushrooms, sprinkle water & cook till dry. Lastly, add crushed pepper, lemon juice & coriander leaves.

Mushroom soup

Ingredients: 200 gm mushroom (chopped), 4 cups water, 3 veg or non-veg cubes, ¼ cup cooked peas, salt, pepper powder, 2 tbsp maida, 2 tbsp butter, ½ cup milk.

Method: Melt butter in a pan, add maida; gradually add milk, and cook for a while. Add water, veg cubes, salt, pepper powder and boil well. Take another pan and add 1 tbsp butter, mushroom, and fry for a while. Now to this, add cooked peas and boil well. Lastly, add coriander. You can add 2 tbsp fresh cream if need be. Combine the two mixtures.

Mushroom manchurian

Ingredients: ½  kg mushroom (cut each into 4 pieces), 1 tbsp ginger (chopped), 25 flakes garlic (chopped), 10 green chillies (chopped), ajinomoto, salt, 1 tsp pepper powder, 1 egg or 2 tbsp milk, 2 tsp red chilli paste, 2 tbsp maida, 2 tbsp corn flour, 2 tbsp rice flour. (For the sauce): 2 tbsp tomato sauce, 1 tbsp soya sauce, 1 tbsp vinegar.

Method: Make medium-thick batter with maida, corn flour, rice flour, salt, pepper powder, egg & ajinomoto. Dip mushroom in the batter & deep fry in oil. Heat 1 tbsp oil, add chopped ginger, garlic, chillies and saute. Now add the sauces, red chilli paste, fried mushroom, pinch of salt & pepper, toss well. Lastly, sprinkle spring onions and greens.