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Shimeji

life science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Shimeji are a group of tasty mushrooms.

Asian mushrooms
Asian mushrooms

They grow in East Asia and northern Europe. Many kinds are sold in markets today.

Some shimeji are saprotrophs. This means they get food from decaying matter. One kind is the buna-shimeji. It is also called the brown beech mushroom. Another kind is the white beech mushroom. We call this bunapi-shimeji.

Japanese Hokto Bunapie 2
Japanese Hokto Bunapie 2

One type, the hon-shimeji, is different. It is a mycorrhizal fungus. This means it lives near tree roots. It is hard for people to grow.

These mushrooms are very healthy. They have minerals like zinc and copper. They also have compounds that may help the body. Some parts may help lower blood pressure.

Lyophyllum shimeji
Lyophyllum shimeji

You should always cook shimeji mushrooms. Raw mushrooms can taste bitter. Cooking makes the bitter taste go away. It also makes them easy to digest. Cooked shimeji have a nutty flavor. They are also a bit crunchy. You can use them in soups or stews. They also taste good in stir-fry foods.

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File:Asian mushrooms.jpg
Asian mushrooms.jpg
File:Lyophyllum shimeji.jpg
Lyophyllum shimeji.jpg
File:Japanese_Hokto_Bunapie_2.JPG
Japanese_Hokto_Bunapie_2.JPG
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