10 Delicious Mushroom Recipes for Kids

Meatless Mondays don’t have to be boring for kids. By adding mushrooms to their lunch or dinner, you can make their meals super tasty that they won’t ever refuse to eat. Your kids will crave more and stay healthy, too. According to Harvard, mushrooms are neither animal food nor a plant; instead, they are a type of fungus that comes in both edible and non-edible (poisonous) varieties (1). Toddlerhood is an ideal time to introduce mushrooms so that they can explore different textures and decide whether or not they like them. If you want to make some tasty mushroom recipes for your kids but are out of ideas, then try these mushroom recipes for toddlers mentioned below.

Health Benefits of Mushrooms for Children

Mushrooms offer a host of health benefits to children and young adults. Here is a list of the most prominent ones.

• Mushrooms prevent high cholesterol by balancing the LDL and HDL Levels.
• They provide up to 90% of the RDA of iron and prevent anaemia (2).
• Mushrooms are a fantastic source of plant-based calcium and improve bone health.
• Mushrooms are also rich in antioxidants, like ergothioneine and lower the risk of cancer (3).
• Mushrooms contain specific enzymes which regulate insulin production in the body.
• Mushrooms promote healthy bowel movement and good digestive health.
• Mushrooms are a good source of Vitamin D and boost immunity (1) (4) (5).

Kids-friendly Mushroom Recipes

Try out these recipes mentioned below at home, and your kid will fall in love with mushrooms.

1. The Crispy Mushroom Recipe

This kid-friendly mushroom recipe is pretty easy to make. It will get your kids feasting during snack times. Here’s how you make it.

What You Need

• 5 tsp rice flour
• 1/2 tsp chilli Powder
• 2 tsp corn Flour
• 1/4 tsp garam masala
• A pinch of salt
• 150 ml water
• 6-8 small-sized mushrooms
• Olive oil
• 200-300 mg of breadcrumbs

How To Make 

Take rice flour in a bowl, add corn flour, chilli powder, garam masala, salt, and water to it and mix well. Add small-sized mushrooms to the mixture and let it sit for a minute. Pour olive oil in a saucepan and heat it on a low flame. Coat the mushrooms with breadcrumbs and fry it in the saucepan. Serve hot.

Things To Consider 

It’s easy to make but packs a lot of calories. If you want a filling evening treat, try this recipe to delight your kids.

2. Cream of Mushroom Soup

Cream of mushroom soup is a tasty dish that your kids will surely love. It’s super easy to make and doesn’t take a lot of time. Here’s how you can start.

What You Need 

• 5 cups of crimini mushrooms
• 2 cups of finely chopped onions
• 6 finely chopped small cloves of garlic
• 2 tbsp of whole wheat flour
• 3 tsp of salt
• 2 tbsp ghee or butter
• 1 tsp pepper powder
• 1/4 to 3/4 cups of whole milk
• Fresh cream or grated cheese

How To Make

Rinse the mushrooms and peel the outer layer and stems. Heat some butter in a saucepan, and sauté chopped onions and garlic for two minutes. Pour the mushrooms and wheat flour and fry until the water goes away (that’ll take another 3-4 minutes). Add whole milk, pepper powder, and salt and let it boil on a medium flame until the cream looks thick. Garnish with grated cheese, mix, boil for another two minutes and serve hot.

Things To Consider 

This recipe will serve three people. You can consider grinding the mushrooms if your kid doesn’t enjoy eating them whole. You can add Italian herbs and spices to add a twist to the dish.

3. Mushroom Popcorn

Do your kids crave popcorn? Then it’s time to infuse them with the goodness of mushrooms with this recipe. Check it out.

What You Need

• 300 grams of button mushrooms
• A cup of panko-dried breadcrumbs
• A cup of popcorn
• A cup of dried oregano
• Olive oil
• Half a lemon zest
• 1 tbsp of sesame seeds
• 1 tbsp of honey
• 2 tbsp of soy sauce

How To Make 

Put the mushrooms in a bowl. Add oregano, sesame seeds, soy sauce, honey, and lemon zest, and let it marinate. Coat the marinated mushrooms in breadcrumbs and bake them in a preheated oven. Serve hot.

Things To Consider 

Use sweet chilli sauce or mix the honey and soy sauce to create a tasty dip for the serving. Make sure to serve in a popcorn box if it’s a movie night at home!

4. Delicious Gravy With Roasted Mushrooms

Mushrooms and gravies go hand-in-hand. Try this recipe, and don’t just take our word for it.

What You Need 

• 1/2 pounds of shiitake mushrooms
• 1/2 pounds of button mushrooms
• 2 pounds of sliced sweet potatoes
• 1/2 cup to 1 cup chopped onions
• 3-4 garlic cloves
• A cup of dried rosemary
• 3 tbsp of olive oil
• 1/4 cup chicken stock

How To Make

Chop the mushrooms well after roasting them nicely. Roast the veggies on a pan for 30 minutes until they turn tender. You can blend the veggies in a blender for a smooth texture. Turn the sweet potato into a puree and add roasted mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes and serve fresh.

Things To Consider 

This recipe works well with other mushroom varieties too.

5. Portabella Mushroom Caps

Portabella mushroom caps are designed to satiate your kid’s appetite. Here’s how to make it.

What You Need

• Portabella mushrooms
• 1/3 cup of olive oil
• Salt and black pepper
• 120 gms of grated cheddar cheese
• A cup of fresh basil leaves (chopped)

How To Make 

Glaze the mushroom caps with olive oil and layer them on a baking sheet. Add grated cheese, black pepper, and top the mushrooms with any veggies of your choice. Let it bake for 15 minutes and garnish with chives for a tasty treat. Serve hot.

Things To Consider 

You can substitute the cheddar cheese with Swiss cheese or anything else for a different flavour.

6. Grilled Mushroom Sandwich

Old-school and tasty. Here’s how you can make a grilled mushroom sandwich.

What You Need 

• 2 bread slices
• 1 cup of button mushrooms
• 1-2 green chillies
• Chopped coriander leaves
• A pinch of salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp butter
• 1 tsp of olive oil

How To Make 

Add olive oil to a sauce-pan on medium flame and saute the mushrooms for a while. After the water leaves, add chillies, salt, pepper, and mix them well. Once it’s cooked to perfection, turn off the flame. Spread butter on the bread slices and then spread the mixture on them. Cover them with other bread slices and grill them using a sandwich maker.

Things To Consider 

It’s best served with dips and works well for lunches. You can add herbs like oregano for extra seasoning.

7. Mushroom and Barley Soup

We love soup so much that we decided to make the last recipe especially soupy. Here’s the process.

What You Need

• Olive oil
• 3/4 pounds of white button mushrooms
• Sliced garlic cloves
• 1/2 cups of barley
• Fresh thyme
• 1 cup of chopped carrots
• Any broth
• Salt
• Pepper
• Parsley

How To Make 

In a pan, bring 3 cups of water and barley to a boil. Let it simmer till the barley turns soft. In a saucepan, take oil and let it heat. Once it heats, add all the ingredients, except the broth and barley. Let it cook for ten minutes (making sure that mushrooms are cooked properly). Add the barley and broth. Cook until tender. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.

Things To Consider

It’s really quick to whip up and won’t take much of your time. Adding melted cheese is optional.

8. Button Mushrooms With Garlic

A classic and a crowd-favourite. Need we say more?

What You Need 

• 2 pounds of button mushrooms
• 2-3 tbsp of olive oil
• 1 cup of bell peppers
• 1 clove of crushed garlic
• 1./4 cups of chicken stock
• 2 to 3 ounces of grated cheese
• 2 tbsp of dry bread crumbs

How To Make 

De-stem the mushrooms and glaze the caps with olive oil. Sauté stems in olive oil and add red pepper and garlic to it. Cook chicken stock for 2 minutes while stirring. Remove the dish and transfer to another bowl. Add cheese, breadcrumbs, and add the mixture to the mushroom caps. Bake and serve hot.

Things To Consider 

You might have to add more stuffing if the button mushrooms are too big.

9. Mozzarella and Musheroom Aracini Balls

Here is a simple musheroom aracini balls in mozzarella cheese recipe.

 What You Need 

• 100-120 grams mushroom risotto
• 8 cubes mozzarella
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp butter
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg (beaten)
• oil (for frying)

How To Make 

Prepare mushroom risotto, and once cooked, spread it out onto a tray or large plate and let it cool completely. With damp hands, shape the risotto into 8 balls, each containing a cube of mozzarella in the centre. Dip each ball in a beaten egg, then coat them in breadcrumbs. Deep fry the balls until they turn golden and are heated through. Serve alongside a fresh salad for a delicious meal.

Things To Consider 

Add chopped mushrooms to the risotto so there are no big chunks of it standing out in the arancini balls along with mozzarella and rice.

10. Chicken and Mushroom Risotto

A perfect amalgamation of protein, fibre, carbs, and minerals, chicken and mushroom risotto is a tasty and nutritious recipe.

What You Need 

• 300 g arborio rice
• 180 g mushrooms
• 300 g chicken breast
• 100 g cheddar cheese
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 brown onion
• Some baby spinach
• 1 tsp garlic
• 1 tsp thyme leaves
• 2 cups water

How To Make 

Start by chopping the chicken into small pieces and cooking them in a saucepan with a bit of olive oil until they’re fully done. While that’s cooking, simmer some stock and water in another pot. Peel and chop onions finely. Rinse and chop mushrooms, and then do the same with spinach leaves and herbs. After the chicken is cooked, pulse it in the food processor until it’s finely crumbled, then mix it with the chopped mushrooms. In the same saucepan used for the chicken, cook the onions, herbs, and garlic until softened, then add rice and cook briefly. Start adding hot stock gradually to the rice, stirring until absorbed each time, until the rice is nearly cooked. Stir in the chicken-mushroom mix and spinach, continuing to add stock until the rice is fully cooked. Finally, take it off the heat, stir in cheese, and let it sit for a bit before serving. Top with parmesan cheese, pepper, and salt as desired.

Things To Consider 

For this recipe, it is ideal to finely chop onions and mushrooms. If you can’t finely chop them manually, you can also use a food processor.

FAQs

1. At what age should I introduce mushrooms to my baby?

You can introduce mushrooms to your baby once they are one year and above. Make sure to rule out any allergies.

2. Can children have as many mushrooms as they want?

The best way for children to have mushrooms is in moderation. Overeating can lead to undesirable health consequences.

3. Can children have raw mushrooms?

Mushrooms should not in any way be eaten raw by children or adults as there could be a risk of toxicity. It could lead to mushroom poisoning (!).

Whipping up tasty mushroom treats for kids isn’t hard, and the recipes above prove just that. Set aside sometime during the evenings and watch your kids’ faces glow with amazement after they dig in and enjoy a scrumptious meal.

References/Resources:

1. Mushrooms; Harvard T.H. Chan; https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/mushrooms/

2. Cultivating an urban mushroom garden; University of Michigan-Dearborn; https://umdearborn.edu/news/cultivating-urban-mushroom-garden

3. Jo Feeney. M, Miller. A. M, Roupas. P; Mushrooms-Biologically Distinct and Nutritionally Unique: Exploring a “Third Food Kingdom”; Nutr Today.; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4244211/; November 2014

4. Zhang. J. J, Li. Y, et al.; Bioactivities and Health Benefits of Mushrooms Mainly from China; Molecules.; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6274515/; July 2016

5. Ren. Z, Guo. Z, et al.; White button mushroom enhances maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and their antigen presenting function in mice; J Nutr.; PubMed; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18287364/; March 2008

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