An old favorite of those following a paleo or vegan diet, porcini mushroom is now eaten almost all over the world, thanks to its distinctive taste and rich nutrient composition. But what if you cannot find porcini mushrooms at your nearest grocery store or just in general?
Are you going to drop your pasta or soup recipe? You don’t really have to! You can substitute porcini mushrooms with these other amazing alternatives as mentioned below. Let’s take a look.
Porcini Mushroom Substitutes
The many amazing porcini mushroom substitutes include shiitake mushrooms, dried porcini mushrooms, truffle oil, and more.
Shiitake Mushrooms
The closest alternative to porcini mushroom, shiitake mushrooms have a slightly less earthy or strong flavor but a similar texture. They are more readily available than shiitake mushrooms and are also less expensive, thereby becoming an easy alternative. You may also use dried shiitake mushrooms and steep them in water to add extra depth to your recipe. They can be used in pasta and soup recipes, as a topping on pizzas, and as a side dish with beef, chicken, and fish. [1]
Porcini mushrooms have an earthy flavor. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Dried Porcini Mushrooms
A good substitute for porcini mushrooms is the dried porcini mushrooms as they are easily available and also less expensive. They may also hold most of the nutrients of fresh porcini mushrooms and mimic their taste efficiently. Just steep these dried mushrooms in water for twenty minutes and they are ready to use. You can also use the steeping water in your recipe for additional flavor. [2]
Regular Mushrooms
You can also substitute porcini mushrooms with regular mushrooms such as button or brown, although the taste will differ slightly, it will retain the same texture as porcinis. [3]
Truffle Oil
A longer lasting substitute for porcini mushrooms, truffle oil can be availed for cheap. Although it does not deliver the same taste as porcinis, truffle oil can give your dish a good texture and some added flavor.
Truffle oil is best used when drizzled over soup, risotto, or seared fish. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Others
There are also many other less popular substitutes that can help in place of porcini mushrooms, these include the following:
While the flavor of mushrooms does vary considerably, mushrooms are also known for soaking up nearby flavors and are often included more for their texture than a bold flavor. Don’t be afraid to mix and match mushrooms either when substituting for porcinis.
