Yellow oyster mushrooms offer a mild cashew-like flavor and delicate silky texture perfect for frying to crispy perfection. Found on decaying hardwoods like elm trees, yellow oysters contain powerful antioxidants and have been studied for their ability to decrease blood sugar and lower lipid levels.
These Bloomin’ Yellow Oyster Bouquets take the elegant natural shelf structure of the fungi and elevate it with a light rice flour beer batter to make delightfully crispy dippers for any sauce. Try them with your favorite sesame-tamari dressing or garlicky, lemony fresh herb vinaigrette--or, for the traditionalist, any classic fry sauce would do the trick.
A note: If you choose to concoct your own dipping sauce(s), mixing them up before starting on the batter allows the sauce ingredients to really get to know each other and begin synergistic flavor development. In fact, they’re even more harmoniously delectable after a night together in the cool refuge of a refrigerator, if you have the time to give.
For 1lb of Yellow Oyster Mushroom bouquets:
Batter:
½ cup rice flour
¼+ cup cold sparkling water (unflavored) OR beer (lager is our preference)
¼ tsp salt
1-2 cups vegetable oil
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp white pepper
In a deep saucepan, warm oil on stove to 350° over medium-high heat.
In a medium bowl, mix rice flour, salt, and spice powders. Add very cold sparkling water or beer and whisk to combine. (Get the liquid as cold as possible before combining--sticking it in the freezer for a few minutes is a good idea.)
If it’s a bit too sticky, add more beer or sparkling water until the batter can drip slowly and smoothly off a spoon.
Test oil temp by dripping some batter into the saucepan. If it immediately bubbles, you’re ready to fry!
Dip your first oyster mushroom bouquet into the batter. Gently shake off excess.
Lay the battered bouquet in the hot oil and fry 2-5 minutes, until golden brown. (Flip once if bouquet isn’t completely submerged.)
Once golden brown, move fried bouquet to paper-lined plate to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining yellow oyster bouquets!
Bloomin’ Yellow Oyster Bouquets are best enjoyed fresh by plucking & dipping small bites at a time. Enjoy!