Name: Bang Bang King Oyster Mushrooms
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1½ pounds (700 g) king oyster mushrooms, tough ends removed and discarded; ¼ tsp. salt; ¼ cup (60 ml) light soy sauce; 2 Tbsp. Chinese sesame paste (or unsweetened natural peanut butter or tahini); 2 Tbsp. Chili Oil, or to taste, plus more if needed; 1½ Tbsp. Chinkiang vinegar; 4 tsp. sugar; 2 cloves garlic, grated; 2 tsp. grated ginger; ½ tsp. freshly ground Sichuan peppercorns; 1 small cucumber, julienned; Chopped scallions, for garnishing

Photo by Maggie Zhu

For this vegan dish, shredded king oyster mushrooms are steamed and then mixed with a savory, nutty, spicy sauce with tangy and sweet notes. Not only an appetizer, these Bang Bang Oyster Mushrooms make a perfect noodle topping, too.

This recipe was excerpted from 'Chinese Homestyle' by Maggie Zhu. Buy the full book on Amazon.

Cooks' Note

I steamed the mushrooms in this recipe because it’s faster to make and does not use any oil. If you do not have a steamer or want to develop even more flavor, toss the mushrooms with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then increase the temperature to 475°F to cook for another 5 minutes.

Recipe information

Total Time
25 minutes
Yield
4 servings

Ingredients

1½ pounds (700 g) king oyster mushrooms, tough ends removed and discarded

¼ tsp. salt

¼ cup (60 ml) light soy sauce

2 Tbsp. Chinese sesame paste (or unsweetened natural peanut butter or tahini)

2 Tbsp. Chili Oil, or to taste, plus more if needed

1½ Tbsp. Chinkiang vinegar

4 tsp. sugar

2 cloves garlic, grated

2 tsp. grated ginger

½ tsp. freshly ground Sichuan peppercorns

1 small cucumber, julienned

Chopped scallions, for garnishing

Preparation

Step 1
Prepare a steamer by bringing 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) of water to a boil in the pot.
Step 2
Shred the mushrooms by first using a fork to carefully score deep grooves along the length of the stems (the grooves will make it easier to pull the mushroom apart by hand). Pull them by hand until they’re mostly thin strips.
Step 3
Place the shredded mushrooms on a plate that can fit into the steamer. Sprinkle with the salt and toss a few times to mix well. Place the plate inside the bamboo steamer or on the steamer rack, then place onto the pot of water. Steam, covered, for 8 minutes, or until just cooked through. Remove the steamer from the heat immediately. Carefully uncover the steamer and let the steam out. Use oven mitts to remove the plate from the steamer.
Step 4
In a large bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame paste, chili oil, vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, and Sichuan pepper for the sauce. Whisk to mix well. Taste and add more chili oil, if desired.
Step 5
Place the cooked mushrooms in a separate large bowl or deep plate. Let them cool to room temperature. Pat dry with paper towels.
Step 6
Add the cucumber to the mushrooms, drizzle the sauce on top, and toss to mix well. Garnish with the scallions and serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.