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    Home » Wild Mushroom Recipes

    Cast Iron Oyster Mushroom Steaks (Vegan)

    Published: Jun 15, 2022 Modified: May 25, 2023 Author: Alan Bergo

    Jump to Recipe

    Golden oysters mushrooms are everywhere right now, and perfect for bringing home and making mushroom steaks if you find some nice bug-free clusters.

    Golden oyster mushroom steaks with ramp butter and watercress on a plate

    When you find those perfect clusters, one of the best golden oyster mushroom recipes you can make is oyster mushrooms steaks. It also makes a great vegan mushroom recipe if you omit the ramp butter and use an herb sauce.

    very young golden oyster mushrooms growing on a log
    A nice clump of golden oyster mushrooms.

    Wild Mushroom steaks are one of my favorite things to serve as a mushroom meat substitute, or as a compliment to meat as you'd serve a side of sauteed mushrooms. All you need is a cluster of fresh mushrooms, a weight, cooking oil, salt and pepper. 

    Cooking clusters of golden oyster mushrooms in a pan
    Clusters of oyster mushrooms can be cooked whole.

    How to cook oyster mushroom steaks

    It's easy to make. You cut the mushrooms into thick slices, then brown the whole cluster of mushrooms in a pan.

    For the best result you really need to use a weight here to press the mushrooms against the pan. I use a bacon press but many things will work. Putting a pan on top of the mushrooms works too.

    pressing golden oyster mushroom steaks with a grill press
    cooking golden oyster mushroom steaks under a bacon press
    Golden oyster mushroom steaks (10)

    Cooking multiple steaks at once

    I served mushrooms steaks first for a tasting dinner I did, and we had to do about 30 at once. Pressed for time, I put a baking sheet with a cast iron skillet on the mushrooms as they cooked on a flat top grill. If you want to make multiple steaks at a time use a pancake griddle and a cookie sheet with a heavy pan on top. 

    Other Mushroom Steaks

    This is a good wild mushroom recipe for many different mushroom varieties. Here's a few others that work well. Cultivated varieties like king oyster mushrooms work, but I don't press them under a weight.

    • Chicken of the woods
    • Hen of the woods
    • Umbrella Polypore 
    Grilled maitake mushroom steaks
    Hen of the woods makes a good steak too.

    What to Serve with Oyster Mushroom Steaks

    There's lots of things you can do with mushrooms steaks. Here's a few ideas of how I serve them. 

    • For a simple version, serve with a lemon wedge and a salad or cooked greens. 
    • Spread aioli or another creamy sauce, on the plate and put the mushroom steak on top. 
    • Spoon over an olive oil-based vinaigrette or infused butter is good too. Chimmichurri, salsa verde, melted ramp butter, and other herby things are great. 
    Cutting into golden oyster mushroom steaks
    Here they're served with melted ramp butter, wilted watercress and dames rocket flowers.

    Related Posts

    Golden Oyster Mushrooms

    Vegetarian and Vegan Mushroom Recipes

    Hen of the Woods Steaks

    Oyster Mushroom Soup with Soba Noodles

    Golden oyster mushroom steaks with ramp butter and watercress on a plate
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.86 from 7 votes

    Cast Iron Oyster Mushroom Steaks (Vegan)

    Mushrooms steaks made with golden oysters make a good meat-substitute or side dish.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time15 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Oyster mushroom
    Servings: 2 Servings
    Calories: 124kcal
    Author: Alan Bergo

    Equipment

    • 1 10-12 inch pan, preferably cast iron

    Ingredients

    • 2 4-6 oz very clean, clusters of oyster mushrooms wild or cultivated are both fine
    • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
    • Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
    • Optional
    • 3 tablespoons ramp butter optional
    • 8 oz cooked leafy greens like watercress
    • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice

    Instructions

    Cooking Oyster Mushroom Steaks

    • Heat the oil in a large pan on medium high heat.
    • Add the clusters of oyster mushrooms and cook until lightly browned.
    • Put a weight like a bacon press or another pan on top of the mushrooms and cook for a minute or two more until golden brown.
    • Flip the mushrooms, put the weight back on and cook for a couple minutes more. Remove the press from the mushrooms, season the mushrooms lightly with salt and pepper, then serve.

    Serving as pictured

    • Warm the ramp butter if using. Arrange the mushrooms on top of a bed of cooked leafy greens, drizzle the ramp butter over, along with a squeeze of lemon juice, and serve.

    Notes

    The Sauce 

    I use melted ramp butter here, but you can feel free to use your favorite herby green sauce. My Italian Salmoriglio sauce works great too. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4oz | Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.1g | Protein: 0.04g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 0.2mg | Potassium: 4mg | Fiber: 0.03g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 0.5IU | Calcium: 0.03mg | Iron: 0.01mg
    « The Black Locust Flower Salad
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. CarolAnn Tomko

      April 18, 2024 at 4:58 pm

      5 stars
      I made the steaks as well as “crab cakes” Absolutely delightful! AND , my husband actually enjoyed them!

      Reply
      • Alan Bergo

        April 18, 2024 at 5:37 pm

        Hey thanks CarolAnn. Glad it worked for you.

        Reply
    2. Brian

      July 09, 2023 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      This was AWESOME. Most moles I have tried to cook have been disappointing. Everything melded beautifully. I couldn't taste cherry, but definitely a thick, fragrant sauce with notes of fruit (not obscenely fruity, though). Pressure cooked it twice for 30 minutes, then hand pulled it. Thanks

      Reply
    3. Jacob Klaameyer

      June 02, 2023 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      Lions mane is an excellent steak-able as well!

      Reply
      • Alan Bergo

        June 04, 2023 at 3:41 pm

        Yes but not as good. The most common variety near me are Hericium coralloides and they're too loose for steaks really. Basically only works with H. erinaceous or a freakishly tight (and clean) clump of H. americanum.

        Reply
      • Joan

        November 19, 2023 at 2:20 pm

        5 stars
        I agree. We made some lovely “steaks” made with Lions Mane”

        Reply
        • Alan Bergo

          November 20, 2023 at 1:55 pm

          Thanks for commenting Joan.

          Reply
    4.86 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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