Did you know that Crimini’s are baby portabellas?
Crimini mushrooms are an excellent source of many minerals including selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc. They are also an excellent source of B vitamins including vitamin B2, pantothenic acid and niacin. In addition, crimini mushrooms are a very good source of vitamin B1, vitamin B6 , zinc, manganese and protein.
Coffee colored and richer in flavor and nutrients than the more common white button mushroom, crimini mushrooms are available throughout the year. While often thought of as a vegetable and prepared like one, mushrooms are actually a fungus, a special type of living organism that has no roots, leaves, flowers or seeds. While mushroom can be cultivated, they can also be found growing wild in many regions of the world.
Mushrooms Found to be Top Food Source of Potent Antioxidant
L-ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant, has been discovered in mushrooms, thanks to a new analytical method capable of identifying this antioxidant in plant material. In research presented at the 2005 American Chemical Society meeting in Washington, D.C., an American research team revealed that mushrooms contain higher concentrations L-ergothioneine than either of the two dietary sources previously believed to contain the most: chicken liver and wheat germ. Of the most commonly consumed mushrooms, portabellas and criminis have the most L-ergothioneine.
Zinc for Optimal Immune Function
As if the above health benefits were not enough, crimini mushrooms were also determined to be a very good source of zinc. Zinc affects many fundamental processes, perhaps the most important of which is immune function. If one mineral was singled out for its beneficial effects on the immune system, zinc would lead the pack. A cofactor in a wide variety of enzymatic reactions, zinc is critical not only to immune function, but to wound healing, and normal cell division. Zinc also helps stabilize blood sugar levels and the body’s metabolic rate, is necessary for an optimal sense of smell and taste, has been shown to prevent the blood vessel damage that can occur in atherosclerosis, and may help to reduce the painful inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis. A strong immune system depends on adequate zinc levels, so the zinc in crimini mushrooms may also help to prevent illnesses such as recurrent colds and ear infections, and even some of the serious infections seen in patients with advanced or long-standing diabetes. Five ounces of crimini mushrooms provide 10.4% of the daily value for zinc.
Mushroom Trivia – Did you know mushrooms are 80 to 90 percent water?
How to Select and Store
Look for mushrooms that are firm, plump and clean. Those that are wrinkled or have wet slimy spots should be avoided. Since mushrooms darken as they age, choose those that are either creamy white or tan, depending upon whether you are purchasing white or Crimini mushrooms. If your recipe calls for caps only, choose mushrooms that have short stems to avoid waste. Fresh mushrooms are available throughout the year.
Tips for Preparing Mushrooms
Mushrooms are so porous that if they are exposed to too much water, they will quickly absorb it and become soggy. Therefore, the best way to clean mushrooms without sacrificing their texture and taste is to clean them using minimal, if any, water. To do this, simply wipe them with a slightly damp paper towel or kitchen cloth. You could also use a mushroom brush, available at most kitchenware stores.
If using the whole mushroom in a recipe, simply slice off the very bottom of the stem, which is usually a bit spongy. If your recipe only calls for the caps, gently break off the stems with your hands and discard (or save for making soup stock).
Let’s prepare something using this fabulous mushroom!
Creme a la mushroom from Alive in Five
Makes 3 servings
This soup is delightful, flavorful, and easy to make
1 cup whole cremini mushrooms
2 cups nut milk (your choice, but make sure it is unsweetened, so just soaked nuts and water, then strained.
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon raw nut butter
1 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1 teaspoon extra-virgin unfiltered cold pressed olive oil
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black paper
Clean the mushrooms, and place them into a blender whole. Add the remaining ingredients, and process until smooth.