Lions Mane Mushroom “Crab” Cakes

I love to frequent Farmers Markets and to meet local farmers. Any time I see a table of mushrooms, I run over to see if they have Lions Mane. It is the most beautiful, most delicious mushroom and it is so good for your brain and nervous system. I normally just sautee it with a lot of grass fed butter, fresh herbs, and garlic but Space Barn Mushroom Farm turned me on to this fabulous recipe. I was shocked at how much the mushrooms resembled crab. (I do not eat pork or shellfish for health reasons but love the taste of it so this was a great substitution).

This recipe was modified from and can be found on Space Barn Mushroom Farm’s website: https://thespacebarn.com/lions-mane-crab-cakes/

Mushrooms

• 1 lb lions mane or other Hericium mushrooms
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons water

Cake mix

• ¼ cup minced scallion
• ¼ cup minced red bell pepper
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup high fat mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons chopped herbs like cilantro tarragon, or Italian parsley
• 1 tablespoon worcesterchire or similar I use mushroom ketchup
• 1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning optional, a mix of paprika, cayenne, and extra salt can be substituted
• 1 large egg
• Kosher salt to taste

Serving

• Almond flour for dredging
• Avocado oil for cooking the cakes
• Fresh green salad
• Dollop of spicy mayonnaise optional
• Fresh cut chives optional
• Lemon wedges

Instructions

Wilt the mushrooms and remove the water

• Pick the lions mane mushrooms into pieces to resemble crab meat. Put the mushrooms in a pan with the water and salt, cover and bring to a simmer, stir, cover, and cook for a few minutes until the mushrooms are wilted and have given up their juice.
• Allow the mushrooms to cool, then squeeze out as much water as you possibly can. This step is important as mushrooms, unlike crab, contain lots of water.

Mix with the crab cake mix

• Combine the mushrooms with the cake ingredients and mix well. Taste a bit of the mixture (you can cook it if raw egg weirds you out) adjust the seasoning for salt and anything else you’re looking for, then allow the crab cake mix to rest for at least 15 minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to hydrate, which will make forming the cakes easier. In a perfect world, you’ll let it sit overnight.

Cooking

• To cook the cakes, form 4 oz patties of the mixture (it will be delicate, don’t worry—the egg will set as they cook). For the most refined look, form the cakes using a ring mold.
• Heat a pan with a few tablespoons of oil.
• Heat an oven to 350F. Meanwhile, gently dredge the cakes in flour on both sides, tap off the excess, and brown gently on medium heat. When one side of the cakes are golden brown, gently flip the cakes and transfer the pan to the oven and cook until hot throughout, about 10 minutes.

Serving

• Remove the cakes to a plate with a fresh green salad, top with a dollop of spicy mayonnaise or aioli if using, sprinkle with chives and serve with lemon wedges on the side. The cakes are also excellent served on a bun like you would a burger.