How to Fry Morel Mushrooms

Morel mushrooms are fungi that grow in the dirt in wooded areas. They have a pointed top with a bumpy, absorbent texture. Morel mushrooms have a rich taste on their own, but they also take on the flavors of any ingredients they are paired with. If you just want to enhance the flavor of the morel mushrooms on their own, you can fry them. Frying gives the mushrooms a crispy outer breading without covering up their natural taste.

Things You'll Need

• 3 large bowls
• 1 to 2 lbs. morel mushrooms
• Paper towel
• 2 eggs
• Whisk
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• Large skillet
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• Slotted spoon
• Platter
• Salt

Instructions

1. Place 1 to 2 lbs. of morel mushrooms into a large bowl. Fill the bowl with water and let the mushrooms soak for at least 15 minutes to get rid of any dirt stuck in the crevices.

2. Remove the morels from the water. Dry the mushrooms thoroughly with a paper towel.

3. Crack two eggs into a large bowl, then whisk them until they are completely smooth. Add 2 cups of all purpose flour into another large bowl.

4. Pour 3/4 cup of vegetable oil into a large skillet on your stovetop. Set your stove to "medium high" to heat the oil.

5. Place the morel mushrooms into the whisked egg, then cover them in the all purpose flour. Shake off the mushrooms to remove any excess flour, then place them in a single layer into the oil.

6. Fry the morel mushrooms for one minute, then flip them over with a slotted spoon and fry them for one minute on the other side. Line a platter with paper towel, then remove the fried morels with a slotted spoon and transfer them onto the platter.

7. Sprinkle the fried morels with salt, then let them cool until you can safely handle them. Serve the fried morels while warm for the best taste and texture.

Tips & Warnings

• Serve fried morel mushrooms with ranch dressing or marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

• Do not use olive oil to fry your morel mushrooms because it cannot handle the high temperatures required for frying and will start to smoke.

• Only fry morel mushrooms until they are just golden brown--overcooking them will make the morels tough and chewy.

References

• Bon Appetit Magazine: Morels
• Muscoda Morel Festival: Fried Morel Mushrooms