Emily Johnson
Caramelized mushrooms are a delicious addition to any burger. They can be cooked in butter and garlic until brown and crispy, or even with onions for a slightly different flavour. The key to achieving that rich, deep flavour is to allow the mushrooms to caramelize completely, forming a crust. This can be done by letting them sit without stirring for a few minutes, before stirring and cooking for a further few minutes. You can also add aromatics such as garlic, thyme, rosemary, and even a dash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce to enhance the flavour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Mushrooms, Butter, Olive Oil, Garlic, Salt, Pepper, Thyme, Soy Sauce, Wine, or Worcestershire Sauce |
| Flavor | Deep, Rich, Earthy, Savory |
| Texture | Crispy, Golden Brown |
| Cooking Method | Sautéing, Frying |
| Cooking Time | 10-20 Minutes |
| Serving Suggestions | Toppings, Side Dishes, Fillings |
| Storage | Refrigerate for 3-5 Days, Freeze for 3 Months |
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What You'll Learn
Caramelizing mushrooms with onions
Caramelized mushrooms and onions are a versatile combination that can be used as a topping or side dish for burgers, steaks, grilled vegetables, sandwiches, pizzas, and more. The process is simple and can be completed in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- Mushrooms (any variety, such as baby bella, white, cremini, button, oyster, chanterelles, or procini)
- Onion (yellow, red, or sweet Vidalia)
- Butter (unsalted or salted, according to taste)
- Olive oil (optional)
- Salt and pepper
- Garlic (grated or finely chopped)
- Thyme (optional)
- Soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- Brown sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Slice the mushrooms and onions. For the onions, cut them into halves, peel off the skin, and then slice them thinly (about 0.25 to 0.5 inches or 0.6 to 1.3 cm). You can also slice the mushrooms into thicker pieces, about 0.5 inches.
- Heat a large skillet or pan over medium to high heat. Add butter and/or olive oil to the pan. You can adjust the amount of butter or oil depending on your preference, but enough should be used to coat the mushrooms and onions.
- Once the butter has melted, add the sliced mushrooms to the pan. You can also add a dash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce at this point for additional flavor.
- Allow the mushrooms to cook without stirring for about 4-5 minutes to form a crust and achieve a golden brown color.
- Add the sliced onions to the pan and continue cooking for about 4 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning. The onions should become translucent and start to caramelize.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic to the pan, stirring continuously for about 1 minute. You can also add thyme for extra flavor.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. You can also add a sprinkle of brown sugar to enhance the caramelization and balance the flavors.
- Continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all the ingredients are cooked to your desired level of doneness.
- Serve warm as a topping or side dish for your favorite burger or other dishes.
Tips:
- It is important not to stir the mushrooms too much at the beginning to allow them to form a crust and caramelize properly.
- You can experiment with different varieties of mushrooms and onions to find your preferred combination of flavors and textures.
- Caramelized mushrooms and onions can be made in larger batches and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for later use.
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Choosing the right mushrooms
When cleaning your mushrooms, you can give them a quick rinse under the sink and dry them off, or wipe them with a damp paper towel. Then, use a sharp knife to cut them into quarter-inch thick slices. They will cook down in the pan, so don't worry too much about how small or big you cut them. Just note that the thicker the mushroom slice, the longer it may take to caramelize.
Once you have your mushrooms cleaned and sliced, you're ready to start the caramelization process. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add some butter. You can use unsalted butter if you're concerned about the dish becoming too salty, especially if you're also using Worcestershire sauce. Add the mushrooms to the skillet and let them cook without stirring for about 5 minutes. Then, give them a stir and cook for another 3 minutes.
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Using butter and oil
To make caramelized mushrooms for burgers, you can use butter and oil.. This is a great way to add flavour and texture to your burgers.
First, clean the mushrooms. You can do this by gently wiping them with a damp cloth or paper towel, or by rinsing them under a shower of water in a colander. Do not soak the mushrooms, as this will affect their texture.
Slice the mushrooms into thick slices, about half an inch thick. You can also slice them into 0.4-inch slices, as recommended by The Fruity Jem.
Heat butter and oil in a skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and season with soy sauce, pepper, or salt. You can also add garlic and thyme for extra flavour.
Cook the mushrooms for 4-5 minutes without stirring, to allow them to brown on one side. Then, continue cooking and stirring occasionally for another 3-4 minutes.
Keep cooking until the mushrooms are brown, crispy, and caramelized. This should take about 20 minutes in total.
You can also add onions to your caramelized mushrooms for extra flavour. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat and add the onions. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown. Then, add the mushrooms and continue cooking for 20-25 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
Serve your caramelized mushrooms on top of your burger, or as a side dish. Enjoy!
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Adding aromatics
Aromatics are a great way to add flavour to your caramelized mushrooms. The most popular aromatics to add are garlic and thyme. You can also add rosemary, although some people prefer to substitute this with another herb.
When adding garlic, it is important to grate it using a microplane grater to avoid raw garlic in the dish. You can also add pepper to taste.
Another way to add aromatics to your dish is to cook your mushrooms with onions. You can use red, yellow, or sweet Vidalia onions, slicing them thinly. Onions contain sugars that will caramelize during the cooking process, adding a deep, rich, caramelized flavour.
You can also add a dash of soy sauce to your mushrooms. This will add great flavour and help the mushrooms to caramelize to a deep golden brown.
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Cooking time and temperature
The cooking time and temperature for caramelized mushrooms depend on the type of mushroom used and the method of cooking.
When caramelizing mushrooms on a stove, the temperature should be set to medium-high heat. The mushrooms should be cooked for about 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning. It is important to note that the mushrooms will cook down significantly during this process. The mushrooms are ready when they have a nice golden brown color and a crispy texture.
Some recipes suggest cooking the mushrooms for a shorter duration of about 10 minutes, while others recommend simmering them for up to 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
When using an oven, the temperature should be set to 400°F (200°C) and the mushrooms should be cooked for about 20 minutes, or until they are tender and golden brown.
Additionally, the type of mushroom used can impact the cooking time. For example, white mushrooms and baby bella mushrooms are commonly used for caramelizing and have different cooking times due to their varying water content and texture. White mushrooms tend to cook faster and require a shorter cooking time, while baby bella mushrooms, known for their "'meatier'" texture, may take slightly longer to cook.
It is worth noting that the cooking time and temperature can be adjusted to personal preference and the desired level of caramelization and crispiness.
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Frequently asked questions
You should sauté the mushrooms for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
You can use any mushrooms, but baby bella mushrooms have a 'meatier' taste, and white mushrooms are slightly sweet.
You can use butter, olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and soy sauce. For added flavour, you can include onions, wine, or Worcestershire sauce.
Mushrooms can be sautéed for a long time without becoming mushy. The key is to allow them to form a crust, so don't stir them too much at the beginning.
Caramelized mushrooms are a perfect topping or side dish for burgers, steaks, grilled vegetables, sandwiches, and wraps. They can also be added to soups and stews.
