This shredded King Oyster Mushroom Recipe is perfect for tacos and a variety of other dishes. It is super easy to make, nutritious, and 100% plant-based. Make it for an easy Mexican-inspired weeknight dinner with a side of beans and rice or as a filling!
King Oyster Mushroom Recipe for Tacos
What makes these tacos so unique? The type of mushroom! King oyster mushrooms have long, thick stems that shred perfectly into a meaty-like texture. Don’t expect them to taste just like meat, but do expect a great meaty texture and flavor! You can find these at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Lucky, Safeway, and most Asian markets. You can also grow them at home with a grow kit!
Make this king oyster mushroom recipe for anyone and I can almost assure you that they’ll enjoy them just as much as regular tacos. I love to use this as a meat substitute for many dishes that call for shredded meat, such as quesadillas, enchiladas, “pulled pork” sandwiches, and more. Shredded king oyster mushrooms can be a filling for so many other dishes! They are also rich in nutrients and antioxidants in case you need another reason to try them 🙂
How to Clean Oyster Mushrooms
Washing mushrooms doesn’t always have to involve water: They are porous, so they function as sponges, soaking up water, which makes it difficult to get them crispy in the cooking process. With that in mind, here are a few tips for getting your oyster mushrooms clean enough to cook:
- Use a paper towel. Wipe off the dirt with a damp paper towel or damp cloth if you find a lot of heavy residue on your mushrooms. Don’t go too heavy with the water or the pressure, as you don’t want to damage your mushrooms.
- Use a mushroom brush. Use this specialty tool to brush off any excess dirt lightly. If you don’t have a mushroom brush, a pastry brush works just as well.
- Try a quick rinse. Try to avoid rinsing your mushrooms in water unless they truly need a deep cleaning (if they are really dirty). Place them in a colander and rinse them briefly under running water if necessary.
How to Shred King Oyster Mushrooms
- Take a fork and scratch the mushroom from the bottom to the top of the stem.
- Apply a bit of pressure but not too much, you want thin shreds so shred multiple times in the same spot if needed to thin the shreds out.
- Repeat until all mushrooms have been shredded.
How to cook this King Oyster Mushroom Recipe
- I always cook this shredded king oyster mushroom recipe on a pan because it’s easy and gets the perfect texture I’m looking for.
- I recommend using an air fryer if you want to make it extra crispy. Air fry at 375 F for 8-12 minutes depending on the desired texture. Be careful not to burn them as they are easy to burn!
- King oyster mushrooms cook very quickly so spend most of your time shredding them. The finer the shreds, the better the texture!
- For the absolute best mushroom tacos, marinate with sauce for a minimum of 30 minutes but preferably a few hours.
- Add shredded mushrooms to burritos bowls, tacos, burritos, nachos, or a plate of rice and beans!
- You can substitute the mushrooms for jackfruit too! Canned green jackfruit is best.
Nutritional Value of Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a delicious way to add nutrients to your diet. They are classified as fungi but nutritionally classified with vegetables as they have a similar nutrition profile. They are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are mainly made up of water which makes them low in calories, and easy to cook with. Adding mushrooms to your diet can be easy as they taste and texture similar to meat, just like this delicious king oyster mushroom recipe. So it truly does not feel like you are eating vegetables!
My favorite types of mushrooms to cook with are king oyster, lion’s mane, portobello, and shiitake. I choose these for their meaty texture, umami flavor, and nutrition profiles. Find these mushrooms at your local Asian market or Trader Joe’s for the best value. I have also seen them at Whole Foods, Sprouts but they tend to be pricier.
The most budget-friendly way: grow them at home! You can buy many at-home grow kits such as NorthSpore Mushrooms that are very much worth it in the long run.
King Oyster Mushroom Taco Recipe
This King oyster mushroom recipe makes great tacos and is a fantastic way to enjoy the rich flavors and textures of traditional Mexican cuisine while embracing a plant-based lifestyle. As a Mexican dietitian, I appreciate how these mushrooms serve as an excellent meat replacement, offering a hearty, umami-packed bite that satisfies even the most dedicated carnivores. Their meaty texture and ability to absorb marinades make them a versatile ingredient that can be dressed up in a variety of ways, allowing you to get creative while keeping the dish both nutritious and delicious.
Whether you’re looking to reduce your meat intake or simply want to try something new, this king oyster mushroom recipe is a perfect choice. These tacos bring together the best of both worlds: the traditional essence of tacos with the health benefits of plant-based eating. Enjoy these tacos with your favorite toppings and salsas, and savor the joy of eating well without compromising on flavor or satisfaction!
More Vegan Taco Recipes
Tacos are delicious, and I hope you explore my blog’s many other plant-based taco recipes. There is a taco recipe for just about anyone. Whether you like a shredded meat texture, a chopped texture, or a ground “beef” texture, you name it! If you try any of my recipes make sure to let me know by leaving a review with your thoughts and feedback 🙂
Potato Chorizo Tacos (1-pan & super easy!)
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King Oyster Mushroom Recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 tacos 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This shredded King Oyster Mushroom Recipe is perfect for tacos and a variety of other dishes. It is super easy to make, nutritious, and 100% plant-based. Make it for an easy Mexican-inspired weeknight dinner with a side of beans and rice or as a filling!
Ingredients
- 1 pound of King Oyster Mushrooms (about 6 medium mushrooms)
For sauce:
- ½ tsp garlic powder or minced garlic
- 2 tbsp dark soy sauce, tamari or salsa maggie
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp chili powder (optional)
- 1–2 tbsp avocado oil
For tacos:
- 8–10 corn tortillas
- ½ small onion
- Cilantro
- Salsa of choice
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Use a fork to shred king oyster mushrooms.
- Add all sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk together until well combined.
- Turn a pan on medium-high heat and oil. Once the oil is hot, add shredded mushroom and cook for about 5-6 minutes. Add sauce/spices blend to the mushrooms and cook until golden brown or until the texture is to your preference.
- Warm-up tortillas on a skillet, and assemble your tacos.
Air Fryer option:
1. Follow steps 1-2 from above. Air fry for 6-8 minutes at 375 F until the desired texture is achieved.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Tacos
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: Mexican
These are AMAZING & so easy. I’ve made them several times, and my vegan-averse husband even loves these.
So glad you both loved these tacos! I hope you try a few more recipes from here. Any of the tofu recipes would be meat-lover approved too 😉
So so good! I can’t wait to make these again.
SO glad you tried them! 🙂 Hope you try a few other taco recipes on here.
The best tacos I’ve ever had!! Honestly better than meat as it’s perfectly tender and doesn’t get stuck in your teeth like meat.
So fire ! They give me that authentic taco feel!
Mejor que la carne
This was amazing!!! I made it with my husband and he loved it! We kept it in the fridge and he ate it all week. I had to use umami mushroom pack that I found at whole foods because the king mushrooms at Whole Foods didn’t look like her’s, but these did. They worked out great they shredded the same! I cook a recipe from this page once a week because nothing ever disappoints!!
Elaine this comment made my entire week! 🙂 Thank you for trying my recipes and I hope you get to make more of them for you and your husband. Mushrooms are incredible! If you have not tried the menudo recipe I highly recommend 😉
AMAZING!!! Favorite tacos I’ve ever eaten and I’m not even Vegan!!! These were fantastic!
So glad to hear you loved them! 🙂 I hope you try my other taco recipes I think you’d love!
The tacos were so delicious. I am going to be making this recipe over and over again. All I added was avocado, a squeeze of lime and homemade salsa to my tacos and they were mmm mmm delicious! Thank you for the recipe.
So glad you tried these! We make them weekly and never get tired of them 🙂 If you want to explore another type of mushroom that is equally as good, try my Lion’s Mane recipe, you can find this mushroom at Safeway!
Now they are one of my favorite tacos, too tasty and juicy!