Fried Oyster Mushrooms
Delicious Fried Oyster Mushrooms are coated in seasoned buttermilk and breading, then deep fried to crispy golden brown perfection. With an irresistible crunch and tender, meaty center, this recipe is a great vegan substitute for fried chicken. Serve with a side of ranch for an easy and satisfying appetizer or as a main course along with your favorite sides!
Ingredients
Buttermilk:
- 1 cup of plant based milk
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of golden flaxseed meal
- Optional ¼–½ cup of hot sauce
Breading:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tablespoons of nutritional yeast
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
Remaining Ingredients:
- 1 pound of oyster mushrooms
- Neutral oil for frying
Instructions
- Prep the mushrooms: using a damp paper towel, gently clean the mushrooms. Using your hands, tear the mushrooms into chunks. The size doesn’t really matter. You can make them roughly the size of chicken nuggets or bigger like tenders. Set aside.
- Make the breading: Combine all of the breading ingredients in a large shallow bowl. Set aside.
- Make the vegan buttermilk: In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together the milk, lemon juice, flaxseed meal and optional hot sauce. Whisk in ½ cup of the breading and mix until smooth and no lumps remain. Let sit for a few minutes to thicken.
- In a large skillet or dutch oven, heat 1 inch of oil to ~325 degrees F.
- Meanwhile, working with one mushroom at a time, dip it into the wet ingredients, tapping off any excess and then dredge it in the flour mixture. Put it again in the wet ingredients, knocking off any excess, and then once more in the flour mixture. Place it in the oil. Repeat until all of the mushrooms are done or until the skillet is full (leaving a little room in between mushrooms). Fry for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown all around.
- Once done, place on a paper towel lined plate to soak up excess oil. Serve and ENJOY!
Notes
For maximum crunch, fried oyster mushrooms are best served immediately. However, leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
To reheat, bake in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes, until heated through and the outside crisps up again. You can also reheat them in an air fryer at 325°F for about 5 minutes.
