Make the Best Fried Mushrooms!
When I was growing up, it was a huge treat to go to the local diner. Once in awhile my parents would splurge and buy and order of fried mushrooms. There were four of us, and we would all argue over who would get the last one. A few years ago I went back to my hometown and discovered they no longer served these delicious fried mushrooms. I asked the manager why, and she said the local food service place charged too much, and they wouldn’t make enough of a profit. I was disappointed, so I decided to make my own fried mushrooms at home. After trying out a few recipes I created the best fried mushrooms recipe.
Just a forewarning, this recipe is very rich, and not too healthy (but mushrooms are good for you, right?). It is definitely one of my favorite comfort/guilty pleasure foods. Please enjoy this recipe, but eat sparingly!
This recipe is perfect for a big game, an appetizer, or party food!
Ingredients For the Best Fried Mushrooms
Mushrooms of course are the most important component. You can use white button mushrooms, or cremini (baby bella) mushrooms. Cremini mushrooms are more meaty, and have a little bit stronger of a flavor. White button mushrooms are lighter and contain more water so they may shrink in size. Both types of mushrooms go great with this recipe. A local grocery store sells both cremini and white button mushrooms for $2.99 a lb. I rarely see mushrooms on sale, so pick a store that sells them for the best price.
The next important ingredient is pancake mix. I chose buttermilk pancake mix because I found a huge box on clearance for $1. You can make your own, but it may not be cheaper. I also frequently see pancake mix in the bulk section for fairly cheap. If your local grocery store has a bulk section, check to see if they have pancake or baking mix.
I used buttermilk as the wet component to the batter. You can choose to use water if you are on a tight budget. I just bought a small cup size carton of buttermilk at the grocery store.
I chose to use spices that I had on hand. I love garlic so I put it in everything. If you are not a huge fan, leave it out. I would recommend at least using salt and pepper to add flavor to the batter.
The last important ingredient is italian breadcrumbs. Italian breadcrumbs really add a texture and flavor to the breaded fried mushrooms that is unbeatable. I purchased the breadcrumbs in bulk at a local grocery store. You can purchase them in boxes, but it was cheaper for me to purchase this in bulk.
Directions for the Best Fried Mushrooms
Preheat deep fryer to 350°. If you choose to pan fry heat oil to medium high heat (so it reaches about 350°) right before you are ready to fry.
Wash mushrooms really well and pat them dry. It is very important that they are really dry so the batter sticks to them. Once they are dry, cut them in half or quarters. Make sure they are all about the same size.
Next, you want to make the batter. Take the pancake mix and the seasonings and mix them together. Once they are mixed stir in the buttermilk slowly. Continue to mix in the buttermilk until you achieve a batter like consistency.
If the batter is too thin, stir in more pancake mix. If the batter is too thick, stir in more buttermilk or water.
Taste the batter to make sure the flavor is good. If it tastes too bland, add a little more salt, pepper, or Tony’s. Since this recipe does not use eggs, it is perfectly safe to taste.
One of the most important aspects of cooking is making sure each element tastes good. It is important to try each component as you cook.
Now is the time to start coating the mushrooms with the batter. I usually put a few mushrooms in the bowl, and spoon them out one at a time onto a plate. I make sure each mushroom is coated evenly, and I try to remove the excess batter.
Once all of your mushrooms are coated with batter, add bread crumbs. Roll them in a bowl of breadcrumbs and make sure each mushroom is covered evenly.
Now is the time to fry! Put your mushrooms in the oil in batches. Make sure each mushroom as enough space to fry evenly. Fry them for roughly 3-5 minutes until they are golden brown.
Remove the mushrooms from the oil, once they are golden brown, and put onto a plate lined with paper towels.
Pat excess oil from the mushrooms and allow them to cool down for a few minutes.
Serve with ranch or chipotle ranch dressing.
Enjoy the most delicious fried mushrooms ever!
Make the Best Fried Mushrooms!
| Ingredient | Amount | Price | Price Breakdown |
| Mushrooms (Button or Cremini) | 1 lb | $2.99 | Local grocery store offers mushrooms for $2.99 a lb |
| Buttermilk dry pancake mix | 1 Cup | $0.25 | I purchased an entire box of dry pancake mix for $1.00 in the clearance section |
| Buttermilk | 1 Cup | $1.29 | Regular price at local grocery store |
| Italian Bread Crumbs | 1 Cup | $0.50 | Purchased in bulk in a discount grocery store, it was approximately $0.50 for 1 cup |
| Vegetable oil | 2 cups | $0.84 | I buy generic vegetable oil in bulk. 1 gallon is 6.69 |
| Garlic salt | 1 tsp | $0.03 | I buy this in bulk, it is very inexpensive |
| Granulated Garlic | 1 tsp (more to taste if you love garlic) | $0.03 | I also buy this in bulk and it is very inexpensive |
| Tony’s Creole Seasoning | ½ Tbsp | $0.10 | Local big box stores sell this for $2.68 for a 17 oz bottle |
| Smoked Paprika | T tsp | $0.07 | I purchase this seasoning in bulk, it is slightly more expensive than garlic powder. |
| Black Pepper | To taste | $0.02 | Sprinkle desired amount |
Total Cost: $6.12
Feeds: 4-6 People
| Directions |
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I created a free printable PDF recipe to help you save this recipe more easily! Feel free to download to your computer or mobile device!
The Best Fried Mushrooms Recipe PDF
If you have any questions about the recipe, the ingredients, or the technique feel free to ask! I believe everyone should have good, quality food at great prices!
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What are some of your favorite fried or guilty pleasure foods?
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