How to Cook Lion's Mane Mushrooms
If you've never cooked Lion's Mane mushroom, you're not alone.
With its unusual shape and long white spines, Lion's Mane looks very different from the mushrooms you normally find at the grocery store. But once you know how to prepare it, it's a surprisingly versatile culinary mushroom.
Fresh Lion's Mane has a mild, savory flavor and a unique texture that works well with several different cooking methods.
At Shroom-Mates, we grow Lion's Mane here in Kansas, and we've cooked it in a number of different ways. One of our favorites is breaded and fried like chicken, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy it.
Here are five easy ways to cook Lion's Mane mushroom.
What Does Lion's Mane Mushroom Taste Like?
Fresh Lion's Mane has a relatively mild, earthy and savory flavor.
Its texture is one of the things that makes it interesting. When cooked properly, it can become tender and develop a substantial bite.
Because the flavor isn't overpowering, Lion's Mane works well with butter, garlic, herbs, spices, breading, sauces, and other ingredients.
How to Prepare Lion's Mane for Cooking
Before cooking, gently remove any dirt or debris from the mushroom.
Avoid soaking fresh Lion's Mane in water for an extended period. If it needs cleaning, use a damp cloth, soft brush, or a quick rinse and then allow it to dry.
Depending on the recipe, you can either:
Tear it into smaller pieces
Slice it
Cut it into steaks
Leave larger sections intact
The way you cut it can change the final texture of the finished dish.
1. Crispy Fried Lion's Mane Mushroom
This is one of our favorite ways to prepare Lion's Mane at Shroom-Mates.
We bread it and fry it like chicken.
The result is crispy on the outside and tender and savory on the inside.
Ingredients
Fresh Lion's Mane mushroom
Flour
Eggs
Breadcrumbs
Salt and pepper
Your favorite seasonings
Cooking oil
For extra savory flavor, try adding Shroom-Mates Umami Mushroom Seasoning to your breading.
How to Make It
Step 1: Prepare the mushroom
Tear or cut the Lion's Mane into pieces similar in size to chicken tenders or nuggets.
Step 2: Set up your breading station
Use three bowls:
Flour
Beaten eggs
Seasoned breadcrumbs
Season the flour or breadcrumbs with your favorite spices.
Step 3: Bread the mushroom
Coat each piece in flour, then dip it into the egg, and finally coat it thoroughly with the breadcrumbs.
Step 4: Fry
Heat your cooking oil and carefully fry the breaded pieces until the outside is golden brown and crispy.
Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the pieces and your cooking method.
Step 5: Drain and serve
Place the fried Lion's Mane on a rack or paper towel to remove excess oil.
Serve while hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Dipping Sauce Ideas
Try fried Lion's Mane with:
Ranch
Honey mustard
BBQ sauce
Buffalo sauce
Hot sauce
Garlic aioli
Gravy
Pro tip: Add Shroom-Mates Umami Mushroom Seasoning to the breading for an extra savory flavor.
2. Garlic Butter Sautéed Lion's Mane
If you want something simpler than frying, sautéing Lion's Mane in butter is an excellent option.
Ingredients
Fresh Lion's Mane
Butter
Garlic
Salt and pepper
Optional herbs
Directions
Tear the Lion's Mane into bite-sized pieces.
Heat a skillet over medium heat and add butter.
Add the mushroom and cook until it begins to brown.
Add minced garlic and your preferred seasonings.
Continue cooking until the mushroom is tender and nicely browned.
Serve immediately.
This is one of the easiest ways to experience the natural flavor of fresh Lion's Mane.
3. Pan-Seared Lion's Mane "Steaks"
For a larger, more substantial presentation, keep the Lion's Mane in larger pieces.
Ingredients
Large piece of fresh Lion's Mane
Olive oil or butter
Salt
Black pepper
Garlic
Your favorite herbs
Directions
Heat a skillet over medium heat.
Add a small amount of oil or butter.
Place the Lion's Mane in the pan and allow it to brown.
Flip and continue cooking until both sides are nicely browned and the mushroom is tender.
You can press it gently with a spatula while cooking to create a more substantial, steak-like texture.
Finish with butter, garlic, herbs, or Umami Mushroom Seasoning.
4. Roasted Lion's Mane
Roasting is another easy way to prepare Lion's Mane.
Ingredients
Fresh Lion's Mane
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Garlic
Your favorite herbs
Directions
Preheat your oven.
Tear the Lion's Mane into medium-sized pieces.
Toss with olive oil and seasonings.
Spread the mushroom pieces on a baking sheet.
Roast until they're browned around the edges and cooked through.
Roasted Lion's Mane works well as a side dish or alongside meat and vegetables.
5. Grilled Lion's Mane
If you're already grilling dinner, throw some Lion's Mane on the grill too.
Ingredients
Fresh Lion's Mane
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Garlic or your favorite seasoning
Directions
Brush the mushroom with a small amount of oil and season it.
Place it on a preheated grill.
Cook until it develops grill marks and becomes tender.
Serve it as a side dish or use it in sandwiches, burgers, tacos, or other meals.
How to Add More Flavor to Lion's Mane
Lion's Mane has a mild flavor, which makes it easy to season.
Some of our favorite combinations include:
Garlic + Butter
A simple classic that lets the mushroom flavor come through.
Umami Mushroom Seasoning
Adds savory mushroom flavor along with garlic, onion, herbs, pepper, and other seasonings.
Shop Shroom-Mates Umami Mushroom Seasoning
Buffalo Sauce
Especially good with fried Lion's Mane.
BBQ Sauce
Great for fried or grilled Lion's Mane.
Herbs + Olive Oil
A simple option for roasting or grilling.
What to Serve With Lion's Mane
Lion's Mane can be served as a main component of a meal or used as a side dish.
Try serving it with:
French fries
Roasted potatoes
Rice
Vegetables
Salad
Pasta
Grilled meats
Sandwiches
Fried Lion's Mane can also be served just like chicken tenders with dipping sauces.
Fresh Lion's Mane vs. Lion's Mane Powder
Fresh Lion's Mane and powdered Lion's Mane serve very different purposes.
Fresh Lion's Mane is best for cooking and experiencing the mushroom's natural texture.
Lion's Mane powder is convenient for adding mushroom ingredients to coffee, tea, smoothies, soups, sauces, and other recipes.
At Shroom-Mates, we grow fresh Lion's Mane and also process some of our mushrooms into other products.
Where We Get Our Lion's Mane
At Shroom-Mates, we grow our own Lion's Mane here in Kansas.
Our Lion's Mane is grown in our mushroom operation alongside Oyster, Reishi, Shiitake, Chestnut, and Pioppino mushrooms.
When available, we sell fresh mushrooms to our wholesale customers and at farmers markets.
Some of our harvest is also dried and used in Shroom-Mates products.
If you want to learn more about how we grow our mushrooms, check out:
How We Grow Mushrooms at Shroom-Mates
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to cook Lion's Mane mushroom?
Fresh Lion's Mane is typically cooked before eating. It can be sautéed, fried, roasted, grilled, or incorporated into other recipes.
What is the best way to cook Lion's Mane?
There's no single best method. Sautéing is simple and lets you taste the mushroom itself, while breading and frying creates a completely different crispy texture.
Can you fry Lion's Mane like chicken?
Yes. Lion's Mane can be torn into pieces, breaded with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and fried until crispy.
Does Lion's Mane taste like chicken?
Lion's Mane doesn't taste exactly like chicken. However, its texture and savory character can work particularly well when it is breaded and fried like chicken.
Can you grill Lion's Mane?
Yes. Larger pieces of fresh Lion's Mane can be seasoned and grilled.
Can you sauté Lion's Mane?
Yes. Sautéing Lion's Mane with butter or oil is one of the simplest ways to prepare it.
Where can I buy fresh Lion's Mane?
Shroom-Mates grows Lion's Mane in Kansas and sells fresh mushrooms through wholesale customers and farmers markets when available.
Final Thoughts
Lion's Mane might look unusual when you first see it, but it's a surprisingly versatile culinary mushroom.
You can fry it, sauté it, roast it, grill it, or incorporate it into your favorite recipes.
If you're trying Lion's Mane for the first time, our favorite place to start is the crispy fried version. Bread it, fry it, grab your favorite dipping sauce, and give it a try.
Once you've gotten comfortable cooking it, experiment with the other methods and find your favorite way to prepare it.
