Mushrooms....榎

I always said growing up that I did not like mushrooms...

only to find out later that I love fresh mushrooms (it's just the canned fungi that I dislike).

It's very good that I do like mushrooms here, because there is an array to make your mouth water.  One of the most popular kinds is the Enoki mushrooms (the long white ones below and the short yellow ones....). They are mostly flavorless and fit into most dishes well (and are accordingly added to a lot of dishes - both in my home and by native Japanese people). 

Not only are mushrooms a sight to behold and a delight to eat, they also are surprisingly nutritious. 

A low calorie food with fiber, protein, antioxidants as well as several vitamins an minerals. And, in Japan, they are cheap and easy to find.

http://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-enoki-mushroom/

The golden ones are my favorite to look at, but my least favorite to cook with. Their caps are extremely sticky and when they are cooked seemed a little (not much, but a little) slimy to me. My favorite so far to eat are the long, white enoki in the first picture. 

I know that you can get some of these mushrooms in Asian stores in the States, but I never bought there. I did not try cooking with them until coming here (because I saw them in almost every home-cooked dish that I was served). 

Yum!

Happy Eating, Everyone!