We’re Calling It: Mushrooms Are the New Cauliflower

Whether you were in your college dining hall or at your neighbor’s cookout, mushrooms (particularly Portobellos) were typically seen as the sad meal option for the one rogue vegetarian at the dinner table in the early aughts. Now, withplant-based eatingat the forefront of our collective appetite, there aretonsof easily accessibletypes of mushroomsto explore at the supermarket, and they’re being cooked more creatively and enticingly than ever before.

Seriously—the options are endless. We’ve seen Carolina Gelen’s ingenious take onvegan schnitzel, which uses oyster mushrooms in place of traditional pork. We’ve seen searedtrumpet mushroomsstand in for scallops,shiitakestransformed into bacon andcreministurned into chorizo. You’ve also likely seen famously crunchy enoki mushrooms cross your Instagram feed and TikTok For You page, whether they’re slathered in sauce, deep-fried or pan-seared and seasoned with Old Bay as a vegan alternative to crab legs, a laTabitha Brown.

Now that foodies have opened the fungi-lined floodgates with creative recipes (which some vegans and vegetarians have been hip to for years, BTW) and consumers have veggies top of mind, shoppers are venturing to corners of the produce section that they didn’t dare visit before. That gave the lowly mushroom a fair shake, and it’s proven to be versatile and delicious enough to win over even the staunchest carnivores. (I mean, have youtriedour30-minute beef stroganoff?)

On the heels of a pandemic, it’s no surprise that people are thinking more about health andimmunitythan ever before—and mushrooms are discreetly leading the charge. If you didn’t start eating them because of a viral recipe, odds are you did for their wellness benefits. Mushrooms have been used medicinally for generations in the East, largely for theirimmunity- and energy- boosting perks, but now, they’re having a lasting moment in the West. Whole Foods Market predicted that wellbeing would be of peak importance to shoppers in 2021, particularly health-conscious products like mushroom broth and mushroom jerky.

So what are the benefits of eating mushrooms, anyway? They’re part of theadaptogenfamily, a buzzword that’s been basically everywhere since 2020.Adaptogensare a group of plants, herbs and roots that help your body adapt to stress and ailments over time with routine use. We’ve tried them in everything fromcerealtosparkling water, and many of the most popular items champion mushrooms. TakeMUD\WTR, a coffee substitute that’s made with reishi and turkey tail to improve mood and immunity, andFour Sigmatic, a coffee blend made with lion’s mane, which is purported to inspire mental clarity.Clevr—a line of adaptogenic latte blends adored by Meghan Markle and Oprah—is the go-to for tea lovers, whileRenude’s Chagaccinos, made with wild-foraged chaga mushrooms, are the top choice for mocha fanatics. Evennon-alcoholic cocktails将依然强劲,因为他们2021年夏季嘿day, many of them enhanced with adaptogens and mushrooms.

These products allow people who can’t get down with the texture of raw or cooked mushrooms to reap their benefits, since they’re typicallypowderedand undetectable. (If you don’t have a specific wellness product in mind, you can also buy a general powdered mushroom blend or supplement tablet to add to things like smoothies, spreads and soups.)

Mushrooms are so versatile and multifaceted that their influence seeps far beyond the kitchen, especially as businesses continue to try to meet public demand for sustainability.Mushroom fibers越来越常见的可降解的, affordable packaging material. They have also been added to countless beauty andskincareproducts, as their antioxidant content is said to improve moisture retention, shrink pores and boost glow.

Mushroom leathermade a huge splash in sustainable fashion this year as well, with lululemon, Adidas, Stella McCartney and even Hermès getting in on the trend. Chalk it up to TikTok-inspired Cottagecore, but mushrooms have become a bonafidedécoraesthetic (or as the kids say, a ~vibe~) to boot: Think toadstool string lights, throw pillows andfairy garden bathroom renos. And need we mentionmicrodosing? (Soon, shroom moms will be the new wine moms, don’t @ us).

Like it or not, mushroom haters, they’re here to stay. And there’s no better time to convert yourself than right now.

Ready to see what the fuss is all about?

Try your hand at some of our favorite mushroom recipes:

• Crispy Mushrooms
• Baked Chicken and Mushroom Risotto
• Restorative Miso Noodle Soup
• Mini Skillet Pizzas with Mushrooms and Roasted Tomatoes
• Easy Skillet Mushroom and Gouda Fondue
• Poblano and Mushroom Tacos with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
• Easy 30-Minute Beef Stroganoff
• Vegan Butternut Mac and ‘Cheese’ with Smoky Shiitake ‘Bacon’
• Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Barley Risotto
• Easy Skillet Linguine with Trumpet Mushroom ‘Scallops’