Lion’s mane mushrooms are known for the benefits they have for your memory, mental health, and physical health. With these lion’s mane recipes, you will reap these many benefits while enjoying a delicious meal.

Article Jumplinks:

What are the health benefits of lion’s mane mushrooms?

Are there side effects to lion’s mane?

How can you grow lion’s mane mushrooms?

How should you store and clean lion’s mane?

How can you make lion’s mane pasta?

How can you make lion’s mane crab cakes?

How can you make pan fried lion’s mane?

How can you make lion’s mane steak?

What if you don’t like the taste of lion’s mane?

How much lion’s mane is in Forij granola?

What Is a Lion’s Mane Mushroom?

Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) is an adaptogenic mushroom known for its distinct appearance and the benefits it provides. Often referred to as one of the healthiest mushrooms in the world, this unique mushroom provides an abundance of benefits for overall mental and physical health. This fungus mainly grows in northern Europe, Asia, and North America.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Benefits

Research on the health benefits of lion’s mane indicates this fungus has the potential to maintain optimal brain health and relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Lion’s mane also appears to ease the symptoms of dementia, lessen oxidative stress, as well as alleviate chronic inflammation.

Lion’s Mane Side Effects 

For most healthy individuals, there are no long-term side effects to taking lion’s mane. If you’re new to adaptogenic mushrooms, you may experience slight digestive discomfort, but this should pass in a few hours.

Lion’s mane can interact with medications that produce a blood-thinning effect. Therefore, if you are on blood thinners, talk to your doctor before introducing this fungus to your diet.

How to Grow Lion’s Mane Mushroom 

Nowadays, it’s fairly easy to grow your own lion’s mane mushrooms, thanks to easily accessible lion’s mane mushroom growing kits. You have three primary options when it comes to growing lion’s mane mushrooms yourself—a growing kit, a lion’s mane mushrooms grow substrate, and lion’s mane spawns:

• Growing with a lion’s mane mushroom kit. Mushroom growing kits are readily available to purchase from various online retailers. A mushrooms kit is the easiest option for someone without mushroom growing experience.
• Commercially made substrate. You can buy lion’s mane mushroom spawn and cultivate it yourself.
• Make your own lion’s mane spawn. This is the most advanced method of growing your own lion’s mane mushrooms. You’ll be spawning your own lion’s mane starting with pure culture on agar, a jelly-like substance derived from algae.

How to Store and Clean Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

Whether you’re getting your lion’s mane mushrooms from farmers’ markets, a grocery store, or growing your own, you have to store them properly. Lion’s mane mushrooms are quite absorbent, so you should avoid washing them with water, as they can lose their delicious flavor. Instead, gently clean them with dry paper towels or a brush.

Store fresh lion’s mane mushrooms in a fridge in a paper bag (the inside of a plastic bag can become too humid) if you plan on using them soon. If you want to preserve them for a while, it’s best to freeze or dry lion’s mane.

Dehydrating (or drying) mushrooms is an easy way to preserve them for a long time. You can air dry lion’s mane (if you live in a hot, dry climate) or dry them in a food dehydrator or an oven. Once you want to cook with them, prepare lion’s mane mushrooms by letting them rehydrate in water for about half an hour.

How to Cook Lion’s Mane Mushroom

There are a lot of delicious ways to cook lion’s mane—add it to a stir fry, a pasta, or make it the star of the meal by making lion’s mane crab cakes or steaks. Here are four delicious lion’s mane recipes you must try:

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Pasta Recipe

Lion’s mane is a great addition to any vegan or vegetarian pasta dish. It adds protein to an otherwise carb-heavy meal and makes paste dishes more complete. Here’s how to make this absolutely delicious red sauce pasta with lion’s mane:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons of butter, vegan butter, or olive oil
• 10 ounces of tomatoes (fresh and cubed or canned)
• 1 medium yellow onion (finely chopped)
• 1-2 cloves of garlic (minced)
• ½ pound of lion’s mane
• 2 cups of uncooked pasta (preferably penne)
• ½ cup of vegetable broth
• ½ teaspoon of coarse sea salt
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper
• ½ teaspoon of Italian seasoning
• ½ tablespoon of smoked paprika
• 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley (chopped)
• ½ cup of heavy cream or coconut milk (optional)
• 1 minced chili pepper or ½ teaspoon of chili powder (optional)
• 1 ounce of cheese (optional)

Serves: 2

Nutritional information: 750 calories per serving

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Step 1:

Pour a tablespoon of vegetable oil into a saucepan and turn your stove top on to medium-high heat. Once the oil warms up, add the onions to the saucepan and turn the heat down to a low-medium. Let the onion cook until translucent. In the meantime, cook your pasta according to the package directions.

Step 2: 

Once the onions become translucent, add in the garlic and cook until it becomes fragrant (about a minute). Then, add in the tomatoes and the chili pepper to the saucepan, along with sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and the vegetable broth.

Stir, cover, and let it simmer on low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Once the mixture cooks down, add in the heavy cream (omit if you are vegetarian) and blend with an immersion blender until smooth.

Step 3:

Melt the butter (or vegan butter or olive oil, for a vegan alternative) in a skillet over medium heat. Cut the lion’s mane mushroom into small pieces and saute it until cooked (3-5 minutes). Add the sauteed lion’s mane to the sauce.

Step 4: 

Drain your pasta once it’s al dente and add it to the sauce. Optionally, add in shredded cheese and stir to combine. Garnish with fresh parsley and plate immediately.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Crab Cakes

When it comes to lion’s mane mushroom recipes, crab cakes are mentioned most frequently, and for a good reason. Lion’s mane crab cakes are a delicious alternative to regular crab, as lion’s mane mushrooms naturally have a seafood-like flavor and have a similar texture to crab meat. Here’s what you need for a killer lion’s mane vegan crab cake recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 8 ounces of lion’s mane mushrooms
• 1 egg (or a flax egg vegan alternative)
• 1 medium white onion (finely minced)
• ½ cup of panko breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise (or a vegan mayonnaise alternative)
• 1 teaspoon of old bay seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon of salt (adjust to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon of black pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1 tablespoon of parsley

Serves: 3

Nutritional information: 200 calories per serving

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes

Step 1:

Shred lion’s mane into small pieces that resemble the flakey crab texture. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, egg, onion, Worcestershire or soy sauce, mustard, parsley, old bay seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Step 2: 

Add lion’s mane to the bowl and mix until it’s fully incorporated. Then, add in the panko breadcrumbs and mix until combined.

Step 3: 

Form the mixture into patties. This mixture makes around 3 large patties. Heat the vegetable oil in a saute pan on medium heat.

Step 4: 

Once the oil is warm, cook the patties for about three minutes on each side (or until golden brown and cooked throughout).

Fried Lion’s Mane Mushroom Recipe

Pan-fried lion’s mane is a simple and quick way to enjoy this delicious medicinal mushroom. Here’s how to prepare a delicious and nutritious breaded and pan fried lion’s mane:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of lion’s mane mushrooms (cut into ½ inch pieces)
• 1 egg or an egg alternative
• ½ cup of milk or a milk alternative
• 1 cup of flour
• 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika
• 1-2 teaspoons of basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of salt (add more to taste)
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 2-5 tablespoons of vegetable oil for frying

Serves: 4

Nutritional information: 240 calories per serving

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Step 1:

Mix the egg and the milk (or their vegan alternatives) in a bowl. In another bowl, mix all the dry ingredients (flour, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder). Cut the lion's mane into ½ inch thick pieces.

Step 2:

Dip a slice of lion’s mane into the egg and milk mixture, then into the dry mixture. Set it aside on a plate and proceed to do the same with all lion’s mane pieces. 

Step 3:

Add 1-2 tablespoons of oil to a pan and let it warm up. Then, add the mushrooms and cook on medium high heat for 3-4 minutes per side (or until golden brown and cooked throughout), making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Repeat the process with all mushroom pieces. If you want a healthier alternative, try frying them in an air fryer.

Step 4:

Let the mushrooms cool slightly before digging in. Serve them on their own or with a dip (we recommend making a greek yogurt dip).

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Steak Recipe

Lion’s mane can be a terrific meat substitute, when prepared correctly. If you’re looking for a tender, juicy alternative to steak, lion’s mane is the way to go. Combine this steak with a side dish of vegetables or mashed potatoes, or eat it on its own. Here’s what you need for this lion’s mane steak blackstone griddle recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of lion’s mane mushrooms (cut into slices)
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, coconut oil, olive oil, or butter
• 2 tablespoons of barbeque seasoning
• salt and black pepper to taste

Serves: 2

Nutritional information: 150 calories per serving

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

Step 1:

Preheat your blackstone griddle (or a barbeque grill) to medium-low heat. Cut the lion’s mane mushrooms with a long, serrated knife from top to stem into about 1 inch pieces. Try to keep the pieces as uniform as possible.

Step 2:

Brush each side of the mushroom slices with some oil or melted butter and season with salt, barbeque seasoning, and ground pepper. Place them on a plate and proceed until the whole batch is done.

Step 3: 

Place a cast iron pan or a heavy skillet on the griddle and let it warm up without any oil or butter. Once the pan is hot, place 1-3 lion’s mane steaks on it. Then, place another heavy skillet or a heavy pot on top so that the mushroom steaks are pressed down. Let the mushrooms cook this way for a couple of minutes.

Step 4:

Remove the heavy pot and carefully flip each steak with a spatula. Place the pot or skillet on top of the mushroom steaks again and let them sear for another 2 minutes or so. Repeat this process with the remaining mushroom steaks.

What Is the Best Lion’s Mane Recipe?

If you like the taste of seafood, the lion’s mane mushrooms recipe you must try is the vegan lion’s mane crab cakes recipe. However, if you want to mask the flavor of these mushrooms, opt for mushroom pasta, as the pasta sauce and the shredded lion’s mane have a balanced flavor and the taste of lion’s mane won’t be too overwhelming.

Don’t Like the Taste of Lion’s Mane?

If you don't like the lion’s mane mushroom taste but still want to get the benefits of this fungus, fear not! Our medicinal mushroom granola will provide you with all the lion’s mane mushroom benefits and more, without any of the mushroom flavor.

In our breakfast granola bowl, you get a hyperconcentrated lion’s mane extract, as well as cordyceps and chaga mushroom extracts.

The granola is gluten-free, vegan, and contains the lowest amount of added sugar on the market. What more can you ask for in a morning bowl of cereal?

FAQ on Lion’s Mane Recipes

How much lion’s mane is in Forij granola?

Forij granola uses a high-quality lion's mane mushroom extract made from whole medicinal mushrooms. Our dual extraction method extracts both water-soluble beta-glucans as well as alcohol-soluble triterpenes. Our decoction process breaks down indigestible chitin cell walls of the mushroom to get much more of these compounds out than ordinary processes do.

One serving of our granola provides 250 mg of hyperconcentrated lion's mane extract, which is eight times more concentrated than regular lion’s mane mushroom supplements. Therefore, you get as much potency as you would if you were taking a 2000 mg lion’s mane mushroom powder, all in one bowl of granola.

What is the best way to consume lion’s mane?

The best way to consume lion’s mane is Forij granola, of course. Not only is it delicious, our granola also contains a high-quality hyperconcentrated lion’s mane extract. This extract is more concentrated than any lion’s mane powder and most lion’s mane supplements on the market and will certainly get you the most benefits with regular use.

Is eating lion’s mane good for you?

Yes, eating lion’s mane is incredibly good for you. Lion’s mane was shown to promote healthy sleep, regulate blood sugar levels, promote a healthy immune system, and alleviate symptoms of various mental health conditions. Plus, lion’s mane is the best mushroom you can take for memory.

Who should not take lion’s mane mushrooms?

Lion’s mane mushrooms are generally safe for most people. However, pregnant people may choose to avoid these type of mushrooms, along with all other fungi (oyster mushrooms, cordyceps, chaga, and even button mushrooms), as there is not a lot of research on the effects of mushrooms on fetuses. 

How does lion’s mane make you feel?

Lion’s mane provides an array of spiritual benefits. This fungus can make you feel more relaxed, less anxious, and more energized. With regular use, lion’s mane appears to alleviate symptoms of depression, as well.

Can I take lion’s mane every day?

Yes, you can take lion’s mane every day. By taking this fungus every day, you will reap the long-term benefits of lion’s mane, such as reduced blood sugar levels, increased energy, and fewer instances of inflammation. Of course, you should stick with the recommended daily dosages of lion’s mane.

Does lion’s mane cause weight gain?

No, lion’s mane does not cause weight gain. On the contrary, Hericium erinaceus was shown to aid in weight loss and weight maintenance. This fungus is low in calories, high in protein, and will keep you satiated for a long time.

Forij Disclaimer

This article was written strictly for informational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The statements contained herein are not evaluated by healthcare professionals or the FDA advisory board and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment information.