10.07.2021
Spotlight: Morel Mushrooms
How to rehydrate, cook, and use dried morel mushrooms. Soak ratio, broth tips, and quick serving ideas for rich, earthy flavor.
- Morels are wild-foraged, spring mushrooms prized for their earthy, meaty flavor and are usually dried to enjoy year-round.
- Rehydrate 1 ounce dried morels in 1 cup hot water for 30 minutes, discard sediment, and save the flavorful broth for sauces or soups.
- Sauté rehydrated morels in butter with shallots or garlic, or add them to omelettes, risotto, pasta, cream sauces, and soups.
In the late spring, honeycomb-shaped mushrooms can be seen emerging from the leaf littered forest floor. This is a morel mushroom. Morels are prized by chefs, foragers, and mushroom enthusiasts for their earthy, nutty, and meaty flavor. All you need is a frying pan, a pat of butter, and a pinch of salt to enjoy this elusive delicacy.
Morel mushrooms evade domestication and are predominantly wild-foraged. The morel growing season is a fleeting gift, often lasting just a few short weeks between April and May. Luckily, The Spice House has friends who wander the forests and dry their mushroom harvests, allowing us to enjoy this rare treat year-round. Our morel mushrooms are sourced from the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington in specific. We are delighted to offer you these premium, dried morel mushrooms for all your culinary adventures.
How to Cook with Dried Morel Mushrooms
Dried mushrooms can be reawakened with a quick soak in hot water. For every ounce of dried mushrooms, we recommend soaking them in one cup of hot water. You want to use just enough water to cover them. This keeps their flavor as concentrated as possible.
Place the morels in a small bowl, cover with hot water, and soak for 30 minutes—turning them every so often. Be sure to discard any sediment from the bottom of the soaking liquid, as this is a natural product. The broth can be saved for soups and sauces.
Like a fresh morel, these rehydrated mushrooms could simply be sautéed in butter as an accompaniment to steak. Julienned shallots, minced garlic, or sliced chives would be a welcome addition to the sauté pan alongside the mushrooms. The sauteéd mushrooms would be an excellent topping for homemade pizza, or a fancy herb cheese canapé.
The rich and earthy flavor of these mushrooms lends itself well to hearty, rustic dishes. Try incorporating these mushrooms with recipes for omelettes, risottos, pasta dishes, cream sauces, and soups. Below you will find a few of our favorite ways to cook with these special mushrooms. If you have a special way to use morel mushrooms, please tell us about it in the comments.
Recipes for Morel Mushrooms
Creamy Morel Mushroom Pasta
Vegan Morel Bisque
Morel Madeira Cream Sauce
Morel Mushroom Risotto
Frequently Asked Questions
What are morel mushrooms and when are they in season?
Morels are honeycomb-shaped wild mushrooms with an earthy, nutty, meaty flavor. They appear in late spring, typically a few weeks between April and May, and are mainly wild-foraged rather than farmed.
Where do The Spice House morels come from?
The Spice House sources premium dried morels from the Pacific Northwest, specifically from Oregon and Washington. These are harvested wild and then dried so you can enjoy them year-round.
How do I rehydrate dried morel mushrooms?
Use about 1 cup of hot water for every ounce of dried morels so they are just covered. Soak in a small bowl for 30 minutes, turn them occasionally, then drain. Discard any sediment from the bottom of the soaking liquid.
Can I use the soaking liquid from dried morels?
Yes. After removing and discarding any sediment, the soaking liquid is a concentrated mushroom broth that works great in soups, sauces, risottos, or to boost pan sauces.
What is the easiest way to cook rehydrated morels?
Pat the rehydrated morels dry, then sauté in butter. Add julienned shallots, minced garlic, or sliced chives for extra flavor. They make a great topping for steak, pizza, or a garnish for pasta and soups.
Which dishes work best with morel mushrooms?
Morels pair well with creamy and rustic dishes. Try them in omelettes, risottos, creamy pasta, cream sauces, bisques, or hearty soups to highlight their deep, earthy flavor.
How should I store dried morel mushrooms?
Keep dried morels in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place. Properly stored, they keep their flavor for many months; for best taste, use them within one to two years.
What are morel mushrooms and when are they in season?
Morels are honeycomb-shaped wild mushrooms with an earthy, nutty, meaty flavor. They appear in late spring, typically a few weeks between April and May, and are mainly wild-foraged rather than farmed.
Where do The Spice House morels come from?
The Spice House sources premium dried morels from the Pacific Northwest, specifically from Oregon and Washington. These are harvested wild and then dried so you can enjoy them year-round.
How do I rehydrate dried morel mushrooms?
Use about 1 cup of hot water for every ounce of dried morels so they are just covered. Soak in a small bowl for 30 minutes, turn them occasionally, then drain. Discard any sediment from the bottom of the soaking liquid.
Can I use the soaking liquid from dried morels?
Yes. After removing and discarding any sediment, the soaking liquid is a concentrated mushroom broth that works great in soups, sauces, risottos, or to boost pan sauces.
What is the easiest way to cook rehydrated morels?
Pat the rehydrated morels dry, then sauté in butter. Add julienned shallots, minced garlic, or sliced chives for extra flavor. They make a great topping for steak, pizza, or a garnish for pasta and soups.
Which dishes work best with morel mushrooms?
Morels pair well with creamy and rustic dishes. Try them in omelettes, risottos, creamy pasta, cream sauces, bisques, or hearty soups to highlight their deep, earthy flavor.
How should I store dried morel mushrooms?
Keep dried morels in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place. Properly stored, they keep their flavor for many months; for best taste, use them within one to two years.
Hi Victoria,
Like spices, dried mushrooms will last indefinitely when stored in a cool, dry place away from light.
We recommend using your dried mushrooms within a year, but hopefully sooner!
What is the shelf life of a dried morel mushroom?
Do they lose flavor if stored on a shelf? vs used immediately?
Many thanks