Shiitake Mushrooms

What Do Shiitake Mushrooms Have In Common with Bananas?

Everyone knows bananas are famous for potassium (one banana delivers 450 mg of potassium), but did you know eating 4 ounces of Shiitake mushrooms delivers a whopping 2,500 mg of this essential “super” mineral?

Studies have shown increased potassium intake can actually decrease the incidence of some forms of arterial aging (arterial aging not only ages you on the inside but on the outside as well—the younger you can keep your arteries the younger you will look and be!).

As an electrolyte, potassium specifically helps in carrying an electrical charge to help a nerve or muscle contact, and it helps regulate blood pressure and allows your heart and kidneys to function properly. So, you want to continue eating your bananas...but you might want to add Shiitakes to the bunch too!

Add Shiitake Mushrooms to Soups or a vegetable stir fry. Yummmm.


PHO Soup

Seasoning Mix:
1 tablespoon each:

coriander seeds
cloves
cardamon pods
cinnamon sticks
fennel
raw sugar
celtic salt
star anise (1 star)

In a coffee grinder or blender grind to a coarse powder. Store in a dry container.

Put 1 Tablespoon mix in a in teapot with 1 cup water. Let steep for at least 10 minutes. Strain the tea.

Soup:
2 Qt. chicken broth
1 oz. galanka
5 lime leaves
Dried or fresh Shiitake Mushrooms
chicken pieces
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup Pho "tea" (see above)

Boil soup until flavors are blended (about an hour). A few minutes before done, add Bak choy, carrots, celery (any favorite vegetable). Add seasoning “tea” to soup. Break rice sticks into a soup bowl. Ladle soup over noodles. Garnish with cilantro and chili.