Mushrooms are a frugal cook’s best buddy. They are super nutritious, low in calories and carbs, and add a rich depth of flavour to any dish. However, one of the best bits about cooking with mushrooms is that it doesn’t take a lot to transform them into a quick, budget-friendly meal.
While the store-bought varieties, particularly the gourmet kind, don’t come cheap, you can easily grow your own gourmet mushrooms for a fraction of the price with the help of these mushroom kits. However, even if you don’t opt for the gourmet shiitakes, oysters or morels — which score the highest in terms of texture and flavour — you can still create amazingly scrumptious dishes using basic white or button mushrooms.
That said, here are two crazy-delicious recipes that will delight your tastebuds as well as your wallet.
Easy Garlic Sautéed Mushrooms
Take sautéed mushrooms to the next level with this easy-peasy recipe that calls for no more than four ingredients — all pantry staples. Enjoy it as a side, appetiser, pizza topping, or simply as a snack!
Ingredients (for 2-3 servings)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 ounces or 140 grams of mushrooms (any variety will do)
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- Salt
Instructions
- Clean and slice mushrooms.
- Heat a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Coat the pan with oil.
- Add mushrooms and arrange them in a single layer, making sure you’re not crowding the pan.
- Stir continuously on high heat, letting the pan juices to evaporate. This could take 5-10 minutes depending on the type of mushrooms you’re using.
- Sprinkle salt and keep cooking and stirring until the mushrooms are golden-brown in colour.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- An optional step is to garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Beef Stroganoff on a Budget
This blend of rich, tender beef, earthy mushrooms, and perfectly cooked pasta, all wrapped in a creamy, delicious sauce is a flavour bomb of a dish that’s inexpensive to make and gets ready to be served in under 15 minutes!
Ingredients (for 4 servings)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 8 ounces or 225 gm of crimini or button mushrooms, roughly sliced
- 10.5 ounce can of cream of mushroom soup
- 1 1/2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Fresh parsley leaves, chopped (for garnish)
- 16 ounces or 450 gm pasta, cooked according to package
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and butter and wait till it melts.
- Stir in the ground beef, making sure to break the meat into small pieces with the back of your spatula.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Add onion and garlic and cook, until the meat is nearly browned, the onion is translucent, and the garlic is fragrant.
- Blot away any excess grease.
- Add sliced mushrooms to the pan and cook until the mushrooms are lightly browned.
- Pour the cans of mushroom soup and beef broth.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and paprika.
- Bring the mixture to simmer over medium heat, for about 3-4 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and add the sour cream. Stir well.
- Adjust seasonings and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving over cooked pasta.
Rustle up these easy mushroom dishes that are frugal yet flavourful in a big way, and will make your weeknight meals extra special on a dime!
