Air-Frying Enoki Mushrooms: A Tasty, Healthy Treat

how to air fry enoki mushroom

Enoki mushrooms are a popular ingredient in Asian cuisine, known for their long, thin stalks and mild, earthy flavour. They can be air-fried to create a delicious, crispy snack with a unique texture resembling pulled meat. The air-frying method is a healthier alternative to deep-frying, resulting in a crispy exterior without the greasiness of traditional frying methods. This paragraph will explore the process of air-frying enoki mushrooms, including preparation, cooking, and serving suggestions, to help you create a tasty and addictive vegan treat.

Characteristics Values
Temperature 190°C
Time 10 minutes
Pre-cooking Trim brown roots, rinse, pat dry, coat with breadcrumbs and oil
Post-cooking Leave to cool for a couple of minutes
Storage Reheat leftovers at 180°C for 5 minutes
Dipping Sauce Spicy mayo, gochujang mayo, or ketchup

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Trimming and cleaning the mushrooms

Trimming and cleaning enoki mushrooms is a simple yet crucial step to ensure they are safe to eat and taste delicious. Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing your enoki mushrooms for air frying:

Trimming the Mushrooms:

Use a sharp knife to trim off about 1-2 cm from the bottom of the mushroom stems. This step is important as the base of enoki mushrooms can be dirty and tough, and you want to get rid of the brown roots. Be careful to keep the rest of the stems intact as you trim.

Cleaning the Mushrooms:

After trimming, gently separate the stalks to ensure no dirt is trapped between them. Rinse the mushrooms gently under cold running water, using your fingers to rub the stems and remove any remaining dirt. Avoid soaking the mushrooms for too long, as they can absorb water, which will affect their texture. For extra cleanliness, you can rinse them with warm water to kill any lingering bacteria, but be careful not to use water that is too hot, as this can cause the mushrooms to wilt.

Drying the Mushrooms:

Once the mushrooms are clean, dry them thoroughly. You can use paper towels or a salad spinner to remove any excess moisture. This step is important as it ensures the mushrooms will be crisp when air-fried.

Additional Tips:

  • When buying enoki mushrooms, look for packages that do not have too much condensation inside, as this usually indicates fresher mushrooms.
  • Properly stored, enoki mushrooms can last 7-10 days. Keep them in an airtight container or wrapped in paper towels and stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator at around 4°C.
  • If you are not air frying the mushrooms immediately, it is best to store them in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and reduce the risk of bacterial growth.

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Air fryer temperature and timing

The ideal temperature and timing for air-frying enoki mushrooms depend on the type of crust you use.

If you are using a breadcrumb crust, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Spray the basket with oil and place the mushrooms inside with some space between them. Spray oil generously on the mushrooms and air-fry for 5 minutes. Then, flip the mushrooms, spray with oil again, and air-fry for another 5 minutes.

If you are using a batter, air fry at 190°C for 10 minutes. The high temperature will ensure that the batter becomes crispy.

If you have any leftover fried enoki mushrooms, you can reheat them in an air fryer at 180°C for 5 minutes.

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Preparing the coating

Step 1: Prepare the Enoki Mushrooms

Trim the bottom inch or two from the enoki mushrooms to remove the brown roots. Gently rinse the mushrooms under cold water, then pat them dry with paper towels or use a salad spinner to ensure they are thoroughly dry.

Step 2: Create the Breading Station

Set up a breading station with three shallow dishes. In the first dish, whisk together an egg with flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder to create an egg wash. The second dish should contain plain dry breadcrumbs. The third dish can be used for the coated mushrooms before placing them in the air fryer.

Step 3: Coat the Mushrooms

Dip each enoki mushroom into the egg wash, ensuring it is well-coated. Shake off any excess egg wash, then transfer the mushroom to the dish with breadcrumbs. Toss breadcrumbs on top and gently press down to help them adhere and cause the mushroom strands to flare out. Flip the mushroom and repeat the process to coat both sides evenly.

Step 4: Prepare the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Spray the inside of the air fryer basket generously with oil to prevent sticking and enhance crisping.

Step 5: Arrange the Coated Mushrooms

Place the breaded enoki mushrooms in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each mushroom to allow for even cooking and air circulation. Spray the tops of the mushrooms generously with oil.

Now that the coating is prepared, you are ready to air fry your enoki mushrooms!

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Frying the mushrooms

Firstly, trim the bottom inch or two from the enoki mushrooms to remove the brown roots. Then, gently rinse the mushrooms and pat them dry with paper towels. Slice the mushrooms into thin slabs.

Next, prepare the breading. In a small dish, whisk together an egg, flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. In another small dish, add the breadcrumbs. Dip each mushroom into the egg wash, shake off any excess, and then transfer to the breadcrumbs. Coat both sides of the mushrooms with breadcrumbs and gently press them into the crumbs to spread out the mushroom strands.

Now, you are ready to fry the mushrooms. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (or 190°C). Spray the inside of the basket with oil and arrange the breaded mushrooms inside, leaving some space between each one. Spray the tops generously with oil and air-fry for 5 minutes. Then, flip the mushrooms, spray with oil again, and air-fry for another 5 minutes.

Your mushrooms should now be super crispy and ready to serve! Enjoy them with a dip of your choice—spicy mayo is a popular option. Simply combine mayonnaise with sriracha and a splash of lemon juice for a quick and tasty spicy mayo.

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Serving suggestions

Air-fried enoki mushrooms are best served fresh and crispy, straight out of the fryer. They can be paired with a variety of dips and sauces, such as spicy mayo, ketchup, or chilli aioli.

For a simple spicy mayo, you can mix vegan mayo, gochujang, lime juice, coriander, and a pinch of salt. You can also add a splash of lemon juice to the mayo. If you don't have gochujang, you can substitute it with sweet Thai chilli sauce or any other spicy chilli sauce.

If you want to make chilli aioli, you can use Thai red chilli paste and add a splash of lemon juice. This sauce pairs well with the fried enoki mushrooms, giving them a delicious flavour.

You can also serve the air-fried enoki mushrooms with a noodle soup or ramen. Enoki mushrooms have a mild flavour and an unusual texture, so they are a great addition to soups or noodles. They can also be added to curries, stews, casseroles, or baked dishes.

When serving enoki mushrooms, it is important to note that they have an unusual texture and a mild flavour compared to other mushrooms. They are also known to have a pulled meat texture when cooked, so they can be a great meat alternative for vegan or vegetarian dishes.

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Frequently asked questions

Air fry your enoki mushrooms at 190°C for 10 minutes or 400°F for 10 minutes (5 minutes on each side).

First, trim the bottom inch or two from the enoki mushrooms to remove the brown roots. Then, gently rinse them and pat them dry with paper towels. You can also use a salad spinner to dry them thoroughly. Next, slice the enoki mushrooms into thin slabs.

A spicy mayo dip goes well with air-fried enoki mushrooms. You can make it by combining vegan mayo, sriracha or gochujang, lime or lemon juice, coriander, and a pinch of salt.

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