Sub 4 our fungi friends?

[jenalynh]

In dishes that require 1cup or more of mushrooms I usually have trouble with. My husband is against mushrooms like a hollywood is with Bush. What can I do or use in substitution for mushrooms? I usually add more meat but my husband doesn't need more than the pound he "requires" at dinner, and I hate good food going to waste.

Thanks in advance,
Jena

[laughsandlaughs]

It'd be easier to answer this if we knew the recipe we were considering. Onions or chopped red peppers perhaps, or even leaving them out altogether? You may end up with a little more sauce in some recipes, but that's always a good thing in my family. Let us know if there's something specific we can take a look at.

[Vicanddi]

Jena, my DH does not like mushrooms, as well as most other veggies. So, when I make a recipe that calls for mushrooms, I just omit them. If the recipe really needs the mushrooms to be good, I skip the recipe, or just make it for myself.

[jenalynh]

Thank you both. Most recipes with fungi included I have tried preparing include Chicken Marsala, Lo Mein & other oriental dishes, some stews and sauces. Usually when I omit the mushrooms there seems to be something "missing".

[sneezles]

You can sub tofu for mushrooms but if texture is the reason your DH is against them, probably not a good idea.
You could soak some dried mushrooms and then filter (coffee filter in wire mesh basket) the water and use the "mushroom broth" and leave the mushrooms rather large so you can remove before you serve your DH.

[Vicanddi]

It depends how anti-mushroom your DH is. Can you make a dish with just a small amount of mushrooms in it, and have him shove them to the side, and still eat the rest of the dish? (My DH won't eat anything with mushrooms in it, that's why I say it depends how much he hates those fungi!)

I mostly skip those recipes with mushroom gravy as well.

As far as the dish missing something without the mushrooms, maybe you can try adding other veggies to make up for it, like sauteed or caramelized onions. When you make a dish that calls for mushrooms and omit them, does your DH feel that something is missing, or do you?

[hannah_phi]

My DBF is anti mushroom as well, but he is a vegetarian, so a lot of recipes are missing major substance without mushrooms. I tend to sub eggplant for mushrooms since the texture is similar. This works for us, but may not work for others. The only problem is that I absolutely love mushrooms and I've gotten a bit sick of eggplant. What can ya do?;)

[scout1222]

In recipes where it wouldn't seem out of place, I generally use zucchini instead. It works well in Italian dishes and stir fries.