Fried Oyster mushrooms (Vegan fried chicken)

Plate of crispy fried oyster mushrooms with two dipping sauces, one red and one creamy, on a white plate with a black and white checkered napkin beside it.

Ingredients

  • Oyster mushrooms are the star of the show! They’re so pretty and a delicate mushroom with a subtle taste, which allows them to be seasoned and absorb any flavor you add

  • Flour is used for the batter. I’ve used plain all purpose flour to make both the dry and wet batter. Whole-wheat flour can also work. I haven't personally tried gluten free flour for this recipe but I think they should be fine too!

  • Spices are used to enhance flavour and colour into the beautiful oyster mushrooms. You can use a mix of paprika, tumeric, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper

  • Oil for frying - make sure to use a neutral oil with a high smoke point when frying food. I’ve used canola oil but some other options are avocado oil, sunflower oil, grape seed oil and even vegetable oil

    Sauces to dip into:

  • Creamy BBQ, mix equal parts of mayonnaise with bbq sauce and a dash of apple cider vinegar

  • Sriracha (hot sauce)

  • Ketchup

  • Honey mustard

Steps to make Fried Oyster Mushrooms

  1. Clean Mushrooms
    Wipe oyster mushrooms with a damp paper towel to remove any dirt

  2. Prepare spice mix
    In a large bowl, add the flour and all the spices, salt and black pepper. Mix together until well combined

  3. Prepare batter
    In a second bowl, take ⅓ cup flour from the mixture and add with ¾ cups of water. Whisk together until to achieve a smooth batter consistency

  4. Coat mushrooms in batter
    Dip each mushroom into the wet batter mixture then into the dry batter. Double coat each mushroom back into the wet batter and then back in the flour mixture, making sure the mushrooms are fully coated in flour

  5. Time to fry
    Heat oil in a pot over high heat and carefully drop mushrooms into the oil one at a time in batches. Don't overcrowd the pot, you can fry a few at a time depending on how large your pot is. Let them fry for a few minutes until nice and golden brown

  6. Remove and place on paper towels to remove excess oil, then place on a cooling rack to keep crispy until the rest is done. Enjoy with your favourite dipping sauce!