These Lion’s Mane Mushroom Recipes will blow your mind, featuring a Vegan Mushroom Crab Cake so delicious you won’t believe it is meatless!
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If you have been hearing about a popular new ingredient called a lion’s mane mushroom (hericium erinaceus), you are not alone! Sometimes referred to as a lion’s head mushroom, this mushroom is popular in vegan and vegetarian recipes. It is absolutely delicious and provides an amazing hearty and firm texture, very similar to crab. It is mild in flavor and is an excellent vehicle to take on the different flavors that you are cooking with.
Cooking this mushroom is also surprisingly easy! It can be prepared in a number of ways including pan sauté, oven roasted and grilled! I want to share with you some of my favorite lion’s mane mushroom recipes, including my absolute favorite: vegan and vegetarian mushroom cake!
Why this recipe works
- If you have ever wondered how to cook lion’s mane mushroom, I will teach you how!
- This mushroom is super easy to work with, takes on the flavor you are cooking with and is super delicious even with basic preparations. If you are a vegetable lover, you will love my Roasted Asparagus and Roasted Beets.
- The mouth feel and texture is hearty and serves as an excellent meat or seafood substitute in many vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Ingredients in this recipe
- Fresh Lion’s Mane mushroom
- Egg or flax egg: To make a flax egg, mix one tablespoon of flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water. Allow to sit refrigerated for about 10 minutes to thicken.
- Panko breadcrumbs: I love panko breadcrumbs in this recipe but you can also use regular breadcrumbs.
- Onion: Sweet onion recommended.
- Mayonnaise or Vegan Mayonnaise: If you are enjoying the vegan version of this recipe, I recommend this Vegan Mayonnaise.
- Worcestershire sauce
- Old Bay seasoning: If you don’t have old bay seasoning, you can use Cajun seasoning or Italian seasoning for a slightly different (but still delicious) flavor profile. You might also love my Tempero Baiano Brazilian Spice Blend.
- Dijon mustard: You can also use course ground mustard.
- Parsley
- Salt and pepper
- Oil (to fry cakes): Canola, vegetable or olive oil all work well.
- Optional Garnish: Lemon wedges.
How to make this lion’s mane mushroom crab cake
- Hand shred mushroom into small pieces resembling texture of flakey crab.
- In large bowl, combine egg, mayonnaise, onion, Worcestershire sauce, old bay seasoning, Dijon mustard, parsley (finely chopped), salt and pepper. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Mix in mushroom until fully incorporated.
- Mix in Panko breadcrumbs until fully incorporated.
- Form mixture into 3-4 equal size round flat patties (about ½ to ¾ inch thick).
- Heat oil in sauté pan on medium/high heat.
- Cook patties for approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Should be golden brown and cooked throughout.
- Add optional garnish, squeeze of lemon and enjoy!
Other lion’s mane mushroom recipes
This mushroom is super versatile and mild in flavor, making it an excellent choice for many lion’s mane mushroom recipes. Some of my favorite lion’s mane mushroom recipe preparations include:
- Pan Sautéed with butter
- Oven roasted with olive oil or butter and seasoning of choice
- Grilled
- Vegan crab cakes (my favorite!)
For some other more creative preparations, you can enjoy mushroom powder in a mushroom latte, lion’s mane tea or coffee or mushroom paste in a soup or pasta sauce.
Health benefits
An article published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health indicates that “Hericium erinaceus a culinary and medicinal mushroom is a well established candidate for brain and nerve health.” It cites that studies support “neurite outgrowth and neuronal health benefits” and could assist health problems and cognitive abilities in an aging population. To read the full article: Neuronal Health – Can Culinary and Medicinal Mushrooms Help?
Many companies sell lion’s mane in different forms such as supplement as capsules, pills, powder or extract.
Where to buy
You may be lucky enough to live in area where this mushroom is available in your grocery store or local farmer’s market. However, if you don’t live in area where lion’s mane is sold fresh, you have a few options.
Buying online is one option. There are a number of companies online that will sell and ship to you. I purchased my mushrooms on Etsy because of the additional Etsy protections should anything go wrong with your order. The price for this product can vary quite widely so if you are able to purchase fresh, you can avoid shipping costs.
Another option is growing them yourself. This is becoming very popular and you can purchase lion’s mane mushroom kits on Amazon and Etsy. You can also purchase the dried version on Amazon. The dried version is excellent in soups and rehydrated in pastas.
FAQ and expert tips
Store fresh lion’s mane mushrooms in a paper bag in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Some Whole Foods locations sell fresh lion’s mane mushrooms, as well as other derivative products such as lion’s mane powder, capsules or coffee/tea. You can search by location on the Whole Foods website.
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Lion’s Mane Mushroom Recipes: Crab Cakes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 oz Lion's Mane mushroom
- 1 egg (or flax egg)
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup onion (finely diced)
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¾ teaspoon old bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon parsley (finely chopped)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (to your taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2-3 tablespoon oil (to fry cakes)
- 2 optimal garnish: lemon wedges
Quick Tartar Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
- ¼ teaspoon old bay seasoning
Instructions
- Hand shred Lion's Mane Mushroom into small pieces resembling texture of flakey crab.
- In large bowl, combine egg, mayonnaise, onion, Worcestershire sauce, old bay seasoning, Dijon mustard, parsley (finely chopped), salt and pepper. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Mix in Lion's Mane Mushroom until fully incorporated.
- Mix in Panko breadcrumbs until fully incorporated.
- Form mixture into 3-4 equal size round flat patties (about ½ to ¾ inch thick).
- Heat oil in sauté pan on medium/high heat.
- Cook patties for approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Should be golden brown and cooked throughout.
- Add optional garnish, squeeze of lemon and enjoy!
Notes
- Leftovers and Storage: Transfer to airtight container or dish. Refrigerate for up to 48 hours. Can reheat and serve.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Substitutions or Omission: You can use vegan mayonnaise and flax egg in place of regular mayonnaise and egg in this recipe.
Andrew Ware
These were excellent. Thanks for the recipe. When I added the mushrooms, they absorbed most of the liquid so I added a second mixture of eggs, Mayo, spices, and mustard, then added the panko. They came out great.
Katrina Johnson
Easy, amazing, fantastic and healthy!!!! Whoot!
Aubrey
I am so happy you enjoyed! 😁
jo
Thank you! These were amazing.
Aubrey
So happy you enjoyed!
Angel
I was skeptical, but so glad I tried this recipe. I should also add that I do not like mushrooms, but this recipe was outstanding!! I’ll definitely be making these again. Thanks for the recipe!
Aubrey
Thanks Angel!!! That makes me so happy! So glad you enjoyed. 😁
Emily
I can’t believe how good these were!! For such an easy recipe, too!! Now all I can’t believe is that these aren’t more common, ha. Love it!
Aubrey
Thank you so much Emily! I am so happy you enjoyed and I agree, Lion’s Mane mushrooms are such a versatile ingredient!
Fbe.
Excellent recipe! My D.M.V. (DC, Maryland, Virginia) taste buds were pleasantly surprised. Even garnered support from a non-mushroom eater! Thank you 🙂
Aubrey
I am so happy to hear that! Thank you!
Jessica
RUN DON’T WALK. TRULY AMAZING!! Thank you so much for posting this recipe!!
Aubrey
Oh wow! Thanks Jessica! So happy you enjoyed!
Stephanie
Absolutely phenomenal recipe. Easy to make and the texture and taste were outstanding! It was my first time cooking with lions mane and I’m so glad I happened upon this recipe. The cakes were hearty and savory and so delicious without the fishy taste of crab. I will definitely be making them again.
Aubrey
Thank you Stephanie! I cannot thank you enough for your kind words. I am so happy you enjoyed!
Aaron
Thank you for sharing this recipe. It was truly amazing and I dare to say, better than the actual crab version!
Aubrey
Thanks Aaron!!!
Tricia
this recipe was outstanding!! tasted just like real crab cakes!! I am totally obsessed with Lion’s Mane mushroom and this recipe now!! lol I highly recommend it, AND you could serve it to non-vegans and they would have no clue that it was mushrooms. Seriously. this was so delicious!!
Aubrey
Thank you so much for your kind words Tricia! I am so happy you enjoyed! 😁
ChristyG
These are so good. Tastes just like crab cakes. Easy to make too.
Aubrey
Thanks Christy!!! So happy you enjoyed!
CJ
These were ridiculously amazing. As a crab cake lover, I was highly skeptical. Is there a way to make these in the broiler or bake them?
Aubrey
Thank you CJ! I am so happy you enjoyed!!! I am also a crab cake lover and love that Lion’s Mane mushroom is such a great vegetarian/vegan alternative. I have not tried these in the oven but my instinct tells me it would be delicious. I would try 425 degrees (F) and start with 10 minutes (maybe 10-15). Oil helps get the outside crispy. Let me know if you try it that way and how it turns out! 😁
Halina
Cannot believe that a mushroom can taste just like crab! It was a very delicious version of a crab cake and relatively easy to make (took a bit long to pull the mushroom into small pieces). My husband was very suspicious at first, but he was pleasantly surprised how good it tasted!
Aubrey
Thanks Halina!!! I am so happy you enjoyed. 😁
Tricia
Omg, this recipe was insanely delicious!!!! I was a little reticent going into it wondering what this was going to taste like, but I was blown away with the first nibble! My husband literally licked the plate after he ate them. LOL I think I will make them and see if my 12 and 14 year olds might like it. I think they will, because there is nothing fishy about it. This recipe has all the savory flavor and texture of regular crab cakes, but you don’t have to worry about biting into crab shell and you know it is super healthy for you. Amazing vegan option!
Aubrey
Thank you Tricia!!! I am so glad that you liked it!! 😁
MK Conner
These were INCREDIBLE. Lion’s Mane is my new obsession.
Aubrey
Yay!!! I am so glad you enjoyed! I also share in your obsession. 🙂
Emma Washington
I have never cooked with lion’s mane mushroom and was very interested to try it as a vegan crab substitute. These crab cakes were awesome! The texture of these mushrooms really mimicked crab and the flavors in this recipe were perfect.
Aubrey
Thanks Emma! I agree that lion’s mane is a cool ingredient!