On the hunt for a vegan delicacy that will satisfy the loudest of tummy grumbles? Look no further than this fried oyster mushrooms recipe! These breaded mushrooms are chewy, delicious, and completely cruelty-free, you’re going to want to eat this on repeat.
What sounds like seafood, looks like seafood, and tastes like seafood, but is definitively plant-based? If you guessed oyster mushrooms, you’d be right on the money! Prized for their delicate, chewy texture and subtle savory flavor, oyster mushrooms manage to blur the line between fungus and fauna, all while managing to appeal to picky eater that would otherwise detest either. Once breaded, seasoned, and fried to a golden brown and crispy finish, they’re simply irresistible. No one can turn down a heaping plateful of these vegan fried mushrooms, especially with a generous dish of rémoulade for dipping on the side.
Drawing inspiration from Louisiana’s beloved flavor profiles with plant-forward ingredients, this recipe comes from The Cajun Vegan Cookbook by Krimsey Lilleth. Transforming time-honored dishes into hearty yet wholesome vegan eats, now everyone can enjoy an authentic taste of down-home southern cooking. Indulge in all your favorite Cajun classics like jambalaya, étouffée, gumbo, and hush puppies, in addition to over 130 other recipes you’ll want to eat on repeat.
Party starters: Fried food simply tastes like a celebration, no matter what, when, why, or with who. They’re great for feeding a small group of guests, and you could always multiply the
Crowd-pleasing: Who doesn’t love crispy, savory, fried treats? Young and old, adventurous and picky eaters alike will dive right in when you present this platter.
Easy, not greasy: It’s very simple to whip up this recipe, despite any misgivings you might have about deep frying oyster mushrooms. When done right, the results aren’t the least bit greasy either.
Budget-friendly: Bought at a restaurant, a comparable dish would cost at least five times as much as it does when prepared at home. Get more for your money and do it yourself!
Scoot over, fried chicken: Let the birds be, and make this oyster mushroom fried chicken instead! It may sound strange, but it has that same meaty vibe as fried chicken and works as a perfect substitute.
If you like it hot, add some extra cayenne pepper into the batter.
Fry the mushrooms in batches so they have space to brown on all sides, without risking an oil spill or splatter while you work.
The mushrooms are buoyant, which means they’ll float in the oil. Use tongs to flip and stir them occasionally, making sure they’re evenly cooked.
Battered mushrooms are best when served immediately after being cooked, while they’re still piping hot and extra crispy. However, leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated quite successfully. When you’re ready to serve, spread them out in an even layer on a baking sheet and cook in the oven at 350 for 6 – 10 minutes.
Unsweetened non-dairy milk: Rice milk is recommended here for its lighter texture and mild flavor, but any dairy-free option you prefer will work just as well.
Apple cider vinegar: A tiny splash of vinegar adds the tartness that approximates conventional buttermilk, adding complexity to the batter.
Oyster mushrooms: The star of the show, these fungi vary in size in shape, with relatively flat, delicate caps that approximate the appearance of their namesake. You can find them in most high-end grocery stores and some farmers markets.
All-purpose flour: Simple wheat flour is the foundation of the batter which turns out light, crunchy, and golden brown.
Cornmeal: Add extra flavor and texture with just a tiny bit of coarsely ground yellow cornmeal. This is a great trick to use when making pizza dough, too.
Creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy, this blushing red condiment is both a dip and a spread, perfect for smearing on sandwiches, tossing with salads, and of course, pairing with all sorts of fried foods. It has a mayo base which creates a cooling sensation, perfect for taking the burn out of fiery spice blends and cutting through the richness of crispy fried batter. In France, it leans more heavily on fresh herbs and briny capers, but in Louisianian, Creole and Cajun spices give it a distinctly reddish hue and gentle bite.
It’s a snap to whip up your own remoulade sauce using prepared vegan mayo, but for a flavorful change of pace, you could also dip your breaded mushrooms into barbecue sauce, ketchup, or tartar sauce.
Q: Can I make these in an air fryer?
A: If you have a fear of frying or just hate the idea of a bubbling vat of hot oil, it’s okay! You can totally make air fried mushrooms instead! Prepare the mushrooms as instructed in the recipe but arrange them on a foil-lined air fryer rack or bucket. Spray generously with cooking oil, to coat. Cook in a single layer at 375 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. You may need to cook in many separate batches since it’s a smaller cooking area.
Q: Do oyster mushrooms taste like meat?
Depending on how they’re cooked and seasoned ,oyster mushrooms can have a very similar taste and texture to meat products such as pork, chicken, and even fish. “Fried chicken mushrooms” might sound funny but we promise they’re delicious!
Q: Can oyster mushrooms be poisonous?
If you’re buying your oyster mushrooms from the grocery store, then you’ve got nothing to worry about! Foraging for mushrooms on your own? Just be sure to have a reliable resource such as a mushroom guide or app.
Q: Can I make the batter gluten-free?
A: Absolutely, it’s a snap to make these this fried mushroom recipe suitable for those with celiac disease. All you need to do is use your favorite gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour, and you’re good to go.
Q: Is it possible to make the recipe oil-free?
A: A little bit of fat really does wonders for the texture here, in addition to making the vitamins and minerals in the mushrooms more bioavailable (AKA, digestible.) If you don’t mind sacrificing the texture to end up with a softer, more bready coating, you can take the air fryer approach as described above and omit the spray oil.
If you try this recipe for fried oyster mushrooms, let us know what you think by leaving a comment and rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more vegan recipe inspiration.
Krimsey Lilleth was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she developed a taste for bayou’s own blend of African, French, and Spanish cuisines. She later opened Krimsey’s Cajun Kitchen restaurant in North Hollywood, California, which sadly closed in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeping the spirit of Cajun culture alive through The Cajun Vegan Cookbook, her goal is to encourage budding cooks to let the good times roll, have fun with your food, and also eat your vegetables.
This vegan oyster mushroom recipe was reprinted from The Cajun Vegan Cookbook with permission from Blue Star Press. Copyright 2022, Krimsey Lilleth. Special thanks to Lexia Cicone for her help with recipe testing! Article written with support from Hannah Kaminsky. Please note that this article may contain affiliate links which supports our work at World of Vegan.
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Nice recipe my favorite recipe
Looks super delicious
Goodbye fried chicken, hello to amazing fried-chicken-like oyster mushrooms! This is a great new spin on meatless eating with yummy taste and texture.
can’t believe how meat like they were! but i would eat a big batch myself and not feel guilty!
Yes, this oyster mushrooms are my chicken. Love it with rice, lol…
OMG yummmm! This is my new favorite snack! Sooooo tasty and super easy to make! Thank you for the recipe
This is a fantastic way to prepare mushrooms! Delicious recipe.
I hadn’t thought of frying them like that. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for checking it out!! They’re SO good fried, meat-like almost!
These sound delicious and easy too. I will definitely save this recipe to try.
i love using oyster mushrooms !!! it’s super tasty and has a good bite to it!
These were perfect! The oyster mushroom gives it the perfect meaty texture and flavor, 10/10 recipe!
These are going to be a new favorite snack! And that rémoulade sauce is simply amazing with it.
Oh my god, I am obsessed with this recipe! Such a good one!
What a brilliant idea, love these crispy mushrooms!
I can’t believe these are made out of mushrooms! What a great recipe to make for a party appetizer!
These little gems are awesome. Crunchy and flavorful… everyone will love these.
I’ve been wanting to try this out for forever! So crunchy and delicious!
My husband loves these so much!
I could eat these ALL DAY! Love fried mushrooms and the sauce is sooo good.
Oh my gooooosh these are so good! I’m not usually a big mushroom person but these are so crispy and awesome to serve up to friends who may have never tried vegan mushroom fried chicken before. Brilliant.