Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • Sautéing in oil over high heat, instead of butter, allows mushrooms to brown without the risk of burning.
  • A generous pat of butter added toward the end of cooking helps emulsify the stock or water into a rich, creamy sauce.
  • Soy sauce adds umami depth, while lemon juice brightens the dish up.

Mushrooms, for the most part, make me think of autumn. Except the morel. Likeasparagus,peas,ramps, and fiddleheads, morels are a harbinger of spring, and a welcome earthy counterpoint to the fresh, grassy flavors of those other vernal ingredients. Morels are also easy to prepare and cook, as long as you know a few key pieces of information.

Choosing and Cleaning Morels

Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (1)

As you'll find with a lot of mushrooms, the biggest risk with morels is that they soften and rot. Seek out morels that are fresh, firm, and dry—avoid ones that are either desiccated and shriveled or soft, wet, and spongy.

Large morels are more prone to sponginess, since they're often older and already starting to break down. Smaller morels, as you can see in the photo above, are generally a safer bet, though if you do find beautiful big ones, by all means, grab 'em.

Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (2)

Be sure to check your morels for critters like worms, which often set up residence in the little frilly nooks in the mushrooms' caps—the silky threads they excrete may look like white mold, but it's actually a sign you have some unwanted dinner guests. Morels are wild mushrooms, so it's common to find bugs on or in them. There's no reason to avoid morels with worms (though heavily infested mushrooms might be more trouble than they're worth), as long as you take the time to pick those little visitors out.

You should also inspect the morels for dirt and debris, cleaning them off with a dry pastry brush.

Trimming Morels for Cooking

Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (3)

Start by slicing off the tough/dirty end portion of each stem.

Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (4)

Then slice the morels in half lengthwise. You'll notice that they're hollow inside. I usually leave them halved, though you're free to quarter them lengthwise, or divide them even more if they're particularly large.

Cooking Morels

Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (5)

To cook morels, start by searing them in oil over high heat to brown them, just as you would other mushrooms.

The morels will soften and brown. Some recipes have you cook morels from start to finish in butter, but we find that the butter will burn before the morels are sufficiently browned. It's better to brown the mushrooms first, saving the butter for the end.

Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (6)

Then add minced onion,shallots, and/or garlic, lowering the heat to prevent scorching. (If you add these before browning the mushrooms, you risk burning them as the mushrooms sear.)

Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (7)

Add a very generous pat of butter, which will melt and soak into all the little crevices in the morel caps.

I like to add a splash of soy sauce, which pumps up the umami depth, along with some lemon juice, to brighten the whole thing up. A littlestockor water helps emulsify the butter into a creamy, mushroom-y sauce that's just thick enough to both coatandsoak into the morels.

Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (8)

Some green herbs right at the end, like parsley, chervil, or minced chives, add a hit of freshness, and, of course, seasoning with salt and pepper is important. Just make sure to go easy on the salt and taste as you go if you've used soy sauce—it's already brought some saltiness to the mix.

Let's end it there, before I give in to the temptation to make a "morel of the story" joke.

May 2015

Recipe Details

Sautéed Morel Mushrooms

Cook10 mins

Active10 mins

Total10 mins

Serves4to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) vegetable or canola oil

  • 8 ounces (225g) morel mushrooms, cleaned, trimmed, and split in half lengthwise

  • 1 small shallot, minced (about 2 tablespoons)

  • 1 medium clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon; optional)

  • 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter

  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) soy sauce

  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) fresh juice from 1 lemon

  • 1/4 cup (60ml)homemadeor store-bought low-sodium chicken stock, or water

  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh herbs, such as chives, chervil, or parsley

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Heat oil in a large cast iron or stainless steel skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring and tossing occasionally, until well browned, about 4 minutes total.

    Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (9)

  2. Reduce heat to medium-high and add shallot and garlic (if using). Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 45 seconds. Add butter, soy sauce, lemon juice, and chicken stock or water and cook, swirling pan, until liquid reduces and morels are coated in a creamy sauce, about 1 minute. Stir in herbs, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.

    Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (10)

Special Equipment

Large cast iron or stainless steel skillet

Sautéed Morel Mushrooms Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long do you soak morel mushrooms in salt water before cooking? ›

Fill a bowl (approximately a gallon) with hot tap water. As hot as your sink will make it. Add roughly 1 cup of salt to the water and stir well until salt dissolves. Soak the Morels in the hot salt water for about 4 minutes.

Why should you not drink alcohol with morel mushrooms? ›

8: Morel Mushrooms

Even those who are normally able to enjoy morels without any ill effects may find that consuming them with alcohol causes nausea or vomiting. Stranger still, a trouble-free experience with morels and alcohol in the past doesn't necessarily mean that you won't have an adverse reaction in the future.

What is the best way to fix morels? ›

Place flour in a shallow bowl. Heat vegetable shortening in a large skillet until very hot. Roll mushrooms in flour and tap off excess; gently lay mushrooms in the hot shortening. Pan-fry until golden brown and flour coating is crisp, 5 to 8 minutes, turning often.

How much salt do you use to soak mushrooms? ›

Add salt to the washing water: 1 tablespoon per 4 cups of water. Swoosh to dissolve the salt, then add the mushrooms. Soak the mushrooms for 20 minutes. Drain and repeat.

How to get worms out of morels? ›

First, place your mushrooms in a tightly sealed plastic bag, making sure to suck out all the air. Let them sit there for a while, and the worms and larvae will seek out fresh air, crawling away from the morels like tiny adventurers.

Why do I get sick when I eat morel mushrooms? ›

Cooking likely reduces toxin levels present in the mushrooms. Consuming raw or partially cooked morels may lead to varying degrees of gastrointestinal illness, or even death.

When not to eat morel mushrooms? ›

Avoid those that are bruised or slimy. Practice safe storage methods. Store morels in breathable packaging such as a paper bag at a temperature of 40° F or below. Avoid using plastic bags for storage, because plastic bags cause the mushrooms to “sweat,” which promotes growth of bacteria and molds.

What happens if you eat too many morel mushrooms? ›

Consumption of morel mushrooms, which are generally considered edible, was strongly associated with gastrointestinal illness. A dose-response relationship was identified, and consumption of raw morel mushrooms was more strongly associated with illness than was consumption of those that were at least partially cooked.

How do you know when morel is fully cooked? ›

Sauté morel mushrooms about five minutes or until golden brown and crispy.

Can you cook morels in olive oil? ›

Wild morel mushroom sauteed with olive oil, white wine, garlic and butter. These sauteed mushrooms are perfect eaten as an appetizer or as a side dish. Make with fresh or frozen morel mushrooms.

What goes well with fried morel mushrooms? ›

Morels are served as a side dish or appetizer and are either breaded and fried or sautéed in butter without breading. They can be enjoyed alone or in a variety of ways, including with steak, in scrambled eggs, atop pizza, or in gravy.

Should I refrigerate morels? ›

Morels can be kept in a paper bag or a bag made of breathable cloth. If you plan to use the morels within a few days, you can store them in the fridge. Place the morels in a paper bag or a breathable cloth bag and store them in the crisper drawer of your fridge.

Do you wash morels before cooking? ›

Kerner recommends rinsing your morel mushrooms under cold water, slicing them in half, and then soaking them in salt water. The salt water soak should last for about five minutes, but feel free to add a few more minutes to the soaking time if the mushrooms are really dirty.

Why are morels so expensive? ›

There are several reasons why morel mushrooms are so expensive. Firstly, they are difficult to find and harvest, as they grow wild and are often located in remote areas. Secondly, the growing season for morel mushrooms is relatively short, typically only a few weeks in the spring.

How long to soak mushrooms in water? ›

The time for soaking mushrooms at room temperature generally should be no more than two hours, otherwise they should be kept in the refrigerator. Mushrooms that have been soaked should be used and consumed as soon as possible. Discard mushrooms if slime or abnormal smells are found after soaking.

How long are morels good in water in the fridge? ›

3. Resist the urge to hoard your morels; they are best eaten within four days of picking them. 4. Keep them fresh in a brown bag or a bowl with a damp paper towel over them in the fridge—if you don't use them in five days, they're history.

How to store morels after soaking? ›

The first of those is to clean the mushrooms then wrap them in a damp towel or cloth and store them in the fridge. The second way is most common in Missouri. After the morel mushrooms have been cleaned, they are placed in half-filled plastic containers with water. The containers are closed with a lid and refrigerated.

How to get sand out of morel mushrooms? ›

Brush dirt off the morel with a pastry or other veggie brush. Look into the morel's tubular stem and be sure it's clear of any debris. Tap the morel to shake off any other dirt. If you must, give the mushroom a very swift rinse of cold water in a colander just before cooking it, and pat it dry thoroughly.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Last Updated:

Views: 5776

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Birthday: 1993-01-10

Address: Suite 391 6963 Ullrich Shore, Bellefort, WI 01350-7893

Phone: +6806610432415

Job: Dynamic Manufacturing Assistant

Hobby: amateur radio, Taekwondo, Wood carving, Parkour, Skateboarding, Running, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.