Mushroom

Shiitake Mushroom

A savory, meaty forest mushroom prized in cooking and studied for immune and heart support.

🌱 What it is

Shiitake is a widely cultivated culinary mushroom native to East Asia, grown on hardwood logs or sawdust blocks, with a rich, savory (umami) flavor when cooked.

✨ How it may help

May help support healthy immune function through beta-glucan compounds (lentinan)
May help support healthy cholesterol levels
Dried shiitake exposed to sunlight develop vitamin D2
A hearty, savory way to add depth to plant-based cooking

🥄 How to use it

Sauté, simmer in broths, or rehydrate dried shiitake in warm water before cooking; always cook shiitake fully, never eat them raw.

🥗 Nutrition

Per 1 cup, cooked (145g) · about 81 calories

Protein 2.3g
Fiber 3g
Copper 0.6mg
Vitamin B6 0.3mg

Source: USDA FoodData Central

⚖️ Caution

Always cook shiitake; eating them raw or undercooked can cause "shiitake dermatitis," an itchy, whip-like skin rash. As with any mushroom, only eat cultivated or expert-identified shiitake, never a wild lookalike.

🍃 A note from nature

A quiet forest log, patiently colonized, turned into something rich enough to season a whole pot of soup.