Cooking Hen Of The Woods

Hen of the woods mushrooms have an earthy, savory flavor that's delicious sautéed and roasted! Here's a recipe and info about this variety.

Here's a delightful mushroom variety that's got feathery, delicate clusters that look like a fluffed up chicken: it's Hen of the Woods! This tasty mushroom is also known as the Maitake mushroom, and it's been capturing hearts and minds for centuries. Here at A Couple Cooks, we've been cooking through all the types of mushrooms: and this one's become a favorite. The feathery shape and savory, earthy flavor is absolutely irresistible: especially warm and crispy out of the oven. Here's more about this type of fungi and a recipe for how to cook them up so everyone will be begging for more.

What are hen of the woods mushrooms?

Hen of the woods mushrooms are worth grabbing if you see them in the store or at a market! Their beautiful shape makes delightfully crunchy bites when roasted, and they're fantastic sautéed as well. Here's what you need to know this unique type of mushroom:

Hen of the woods mushrooms (Grifola frondosa) is an edible mushroom that grows at the base of trees. It's light brown and grows in feathery clusters, hence the name. It's also known as the maitake mushroom. Hen of the woods is native to North America, Europe and China. It's been consumed for centuries in China and Japan; in fact,maitakemeans "dancing mushroom" in Japanese.
Where to find it?Find it at some grocery stores or health food stores and farmer's markets. You can also forage for it, but be very careful about hen of the woods look alikes (please consult expert guidance when it comes to mushroom foraging!).
Are there health benefits?There might be. Some studies have shown the hen of the woods mushroom may be better than other fungi at preventing or treating cancer (source). This variety is also rich in antioxidants, vitamin B and C, and fiber, among other nutrients.
What do hen of the woods mushrooms taste like? They have a strong savory, earthy flavor with a peppery finish. They are best served cooked.

How to store and clean them

What to do once you get ahold of this unique variety of mushroom? Here are the best practices for storing and cleaning hen of the woods mushrooms:

Store the mushrooms in a paper bag in the refrigerator (not the produce drawer).You can leave this mushroom in the package it comes in, but the best way to store them is in a paper bag. A bag allows them to breathe, which plastic does not. Another best practice: avoid the produce drawer! Leave them in the main part of the refrigerator so they get good airflow.
Clean them with a quick rinse. Typically hen of the woods mushrooms don't come with a lot of dirt, since they grow on trees. For good measure, give the mushrooms a quick rinse. Just don't soak them or they can become soggy.

Hen of the woods recipe: try them roasted!

Hen of the woods mushrooms have an earthy, almost peppery flavor that's best when it's cooked. It's great sauteed and fabulous roasted. Roasting the hen of the woods mushrooms makes the edges get crispy, which makes each bite irresistible. For this preparation, we used Mediterranean-style flavors. If you're looking for Japanese-style flavors, go to our Sauteed Maitake Mushrooms recipe! Here are the basic steps for roasting this type of mushroom (or jump to the recipe):

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use your fingers to pull them into 3-inch slices, discarding the bottom stem.You don't need to slice hen of the woods mushrooms. Just pull them apart with your fingers, which preserves their shape. Discard the bottom stem that holds them together.
Mix with olive oil, salt and seasonings. Head to the recipe below for quantities.
Roast about 20 minutes, until tender and lightly crispy at the edges.

Ways to serve hen of the woods mushrooms

Once you've roasted up your hen of the woods mushrooms, there's so much to do with them! Here are a few options:

Side dish with dipping sauce: Try them on their own, or dipped into pesto aioli sauce.
Pasta: Add them to creamy white sauce pasta.
Pizza: Top them on a mushroom pizza.
Ramen: Use them for a big bowl of mushroom ramen.

This hen of the woods mushroom recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Description

Hen of the woods mushrooms have an earthy, savory flavor that's delicious sautéed and roasted! Savor each warm and crispy bite.

1 pound hen of the woods mushrooms
3 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rinse the mushrooms (if you see dirt) and pat them dry. Use your fingers to pull them into 3-inch pieces, discarding the bottom stem.
Toss the mushrooms in a bowl with the olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, and salt. Place them a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes until browned and crispy. Serve as is, or with a dipping sauce like pesto aioli.

Category: Side dish
Method: Roasted
Cuisine: Mushrooms

Keywords: Hen of the woods, Hen of the woods mushrooms

More types of mushrooms

There are so many types of fungi to try! Here are all the mushrooms we've found at our local grocery stores and recipes for how to cook each one:

Button Mushrooms are the most common with a mild, neutral flavor
Cremini Mushrooms (aka baby bella) are great stuffed, in soups, pizza, pasta & more
Portobello Mushrooms are a treat stuffed, grilled or dolled up as a burger
Shiitake Mushrooms are one of the most umami-packed and delicious you'll find!
Oyster Mushrooms and King Oyster Mushrooms have delicate flavor and are great sautéed
Lions Mane Mushrooms are ultra meaty and great for adding fried to a sandwich
Enoki Mushrooms are great for sauteeing or using to top ramen or a hot pot
Beech Mushrooms are small and delicate, with a beautiful savory flavor

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.