5 Ways to Eat More Mushrooms and Less Meat
Photo by Thanh Soledas/Unsplash
We should all know at this point that the world’s current meat consumption habits are far from sustainable. Meat accounts for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector, and demand for meat keeps increasing despite our knowledge that it’s very much contributing to the growing climate crisis. And still, we yearn for our hamburgers, our pork belly, our juicy chicken thighs.
Often, when we think of alternatives to meat, our minds go directly to tofu, tempeh or beans—all foods that are delicious but that are decidedly not meat-like in most cases. It makes sense why we would swap one for the other; these vegan products all contain relatively high amounts of protein, which is what we’re told we should look for in a dietary meat replacement. But sometimes, protein shouldn’t be the main focus; sometimes, you’re looking for textures and flavors that black beans just can’t replicate.
Enter mushrooms. When cooked well, fungi often offer that deep, rich, umami flavor that many associate with meat. And if you’re craving a meat-heavy dish but want to eat more sustainably, you might be more satisfied with adding mushrooms to your meal instead of sticking with other standard plant-based protein sources. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of some easy ways you can start incorporating more mushrooms into your diet, whether you always have some shiitakes on hand or you’re looking to jump into cooking mushrooms for the first time.
1. Use mushrooms as a meat replacement.
You’ve probably seen a portobello mushroom cap being used as a burger patty, but there are so many other ways you can use mushrooms as a meat replacement. One of my favorites? Simply swapping out a meat-based pasta sauce with a mushroom-based one. Chop the fungi up finely enough, and you’ll barely even notice a difference. Some recipe developers even offer recipes for mushroom steaks; if you’re used to ribeye, a portobello certainly isn’t going to fool you, but the meaty texture is still super satisfying.