Garden giant

Garden giant
Flickr

Reaching a height of about 200mm and a width of 300mm, these large mushrooms are also called King Stropharia.

Rich and meaty, they’re perfect for stuffing and also make tasty soups.

You can buy an outdoor kit that comes with spawn and grow them in a shady spot in the garden.

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Exotic varieties - Oyster

Exotic varieties - Oyster
Flickr

Very popular in Asia, oyster mushrooms have a delicate, mild flavour and a distinctive shape and texture.

They’re great for stir-fries and go well with seafood, chicken or pork.

You can choose from pink oyster, golden oyster and pearl oyster mushrooms.

Shiitake

Shiitake
Thinkstock

Reputed to have many health-giving properties, shiitake mushrooms are a good source of iron, protein and fibre.

The rich, woody flavour is ideal for pasta and casseroles or they can be thrown on the barbie.

Remove the hard stems before cooking and use them to flavour soup or stock.

What to do with all these mushrooms? Try his stroganoff

What to do with all these mushrooms? Try his stroganoff
Family Handyman

A fan of a hearty beef stroganoff? Try this twist on a classic recipe. A lighter but just as comforting version, this dish includes beetroot for added flavour and an extra serve of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Preparation time 15 mins

Cooking time 17 mins

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 large onion
350g button mushrooms
400g lean frying steak
250g cooked beetroot
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard
120g plain yoghurt
2 tablespoons fresh thyme

Step 1.

Finely slice the onion and mushrooms and cut the steak and beetroot into 2cm strips. Heat half the oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Fry the onion for 5 minutes or until beginning to brown. Add the mushroom and fry for a further 5 minutes or until softened. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the mustard.

Step 2.

Add the remaining oil to the pan and fry the steak over high heat for 3 minutes. Reduce the heat slightly, if beginning to burn, and continue to cook for 3 minutes or until browned. Any juices should have evaporated, leaving the meat moist.

Step 3.

Stir in the beetroot and cook for 1 minute. Season to taste, gently stir in the mushroom mixture and add 60g of the yoghurt. Remove the pan from the heat and stir. Sprinkle with thyme leaves, then divide among four plates. Drizzle with a little of the remaining yoghurt to serve.

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