The 5 Best Substitutes for Porcini Mushrooms

If you’re looking for an earthy, intense flavor in your food, porcini mushrooms are the perfect ingredient.

They can add flavor in sauces, risottos, or soups and taste delicious.

The flavor of porcini mushrooms can be described as strong and intense.

This is why they are often paired with lighter, more delicate flavors or add flavor to other ingredients or dishes—Porcini mushroom pairs well with chicken, truffles, and fresh herbs like thyme and parsley (Ruhlman).

The texture of these mushrooms sets them apart from other mushrooms.

Porcini mushrooms are known for their chewy texture, making porcinis perfect for meaty dishes like beef stew (Field) or chicken risotto.

Porcini mushrooms are so versatile because they have a unique flavor that enhances anything it is added to.

However, they are hard to come by and can be expensive in some places.

Luckily, there are several substitutes for porcini mushrooms that can allow you to enjoy the incredible taste of your food without breaking the bank.

What is Porcini Mushroom?

First discovered in the 16th century, porcini mushrooms, also known as boletus or ceps, is highly prized gourmet mushroom.

A member of the Boletaceae family and its close relatives, it is considered edible and delicious and can be found in many markets worldwide.

Porcini mushrooms are readily available due to commercial cultivation.

They consist of a brown tone with white pores and can be recognized by their pleasant smell, indicating that they are edible.

They were originally found in European regions such as Italy and France, where they are famous for their culinary value and have gained popularity over time.

This mushroom has also been introduced to Asian countries such as China and Taiwan, gaining great popularity.

These mushrooms can be used in a wide variety of dishes from soup to pasta, sauces, etc.

The best way to cook porcini mushrooms is to fry with a bit of salt and garlic, or they can also be roasted in the oven with a bit of olive oil.

However, it is important to note that they must be cooked before being used in other dishes since they are very tough to chew raw.

When cooking porcini, it is also good to keep the water used for washing them as this can be made into a tasty stock that can be used later on in the dish.

The 5 Best Substitutes for Porcini Mushrooms

When porcini mushrooms are not available, it is important to use substitutes.

But these substitutes need to replicate the flavor of porcini mushrooms to maintain their original taste.

Following are the five best substitutes for porcini mushrooms.

1 – Shiitake Mushrooms

When it comes to preserving a dish, shiitake mushrooms are among the best.

These mushrooms can be dried and added to other dishes for both taste and texture.

Additionally, these mushrooms’ meaty texture makes them perfect as an alternative to porcini mushrooms.

It is also available in different colors, which will alter the color of your dish.

Shiitake mushrooms come from East Asia and are also known as winter mushrooms.

They have an unusual flavor that is a little bit sweet, but they do contain a lot of glutamates.

In addition, the caps taste less bitter.

They can be found fresh or dried in most Asian grocery stores and supermarkets worldwide.

It is also possible to find it powdered or as an extract.

2 – Crimini Mushrooms

Crimini mushrooms are similar to white button mushrooms but with a brown color.

The best way to describe these mushrooms is to have the same texture as porcini mushrooms but without flavor.

Crimini mushrooms have a firmer texture and stronger flavor when compared to white button mushrooms.

In addition, they are much cheaper when compared to porcini ones.

However, it is not recommended that you use them as a replacement in dishes that require the mushroom to be cooked for a long time, such as stews.

The best way to use crimini mushrooms is to fry them in a pan with some rosemary and thyme.

They are also used in dishes cooked for short, such as pasta.

It is important to note that crimini mushrooms are becoming increasingly popular with chefs.

This is because they can be used in different types of meals and greatly improve the dish’s flavors.

3 – Button Mushrooms

Button mushrooms are the most common types of mushrooms found in grocery stores.

They are often white, but there is also a brown version that closely resembles porcini mushrooms.

Although these two varieties have different names, they are very similar.

However, button mushrooms contain less umami than porcini ones.

Although they do not contain as much flavor as porcinis, they give a dish an earthy and mild flavor.

If you cannot find porcini mushrooms, it is recommended that you use button ones.

They are a great substitute as they can be cooked for long without losing flavor.

In addition, button mushrooms have been cultivated to make them larger and tastier.

It is also possible to find white and brown versions of these mushrooms, which will alter the color of your dish.

Button mushrooms can be found easily at grocery stores and supermarkets worldwide.

They are also used in dishes cooked for a long time, such as stews, where the high water content of button mushrooms is beneficial.

4 – Portobello Mushrooms

Portobello mushrooms are a great alternative to porcini mushrooms because they have similar textures and flavors.

These large brown mushrooms often contain more moisture, which will make your dish more succulent.

These mushrooms are known for their characteristic large, dark caps, measuring up to 4 inches in diameter.

Additionally, they taste better than most white mushrooms because they contain more carbohydrates.

They can be found fresh or dried at grocery stores and supermarkets worldwide.

They come from North America and will give your dish a smoky flavor.

Portobello mushrooms are great for dishes cooked for a short amount of time, such as pasta.

It is also possible to marinate them to enhance their taste.

5 – Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are a great choice because they have the same texture as porcini ones.

They are related to shiitake but will taste slightly sweeter.

In addition, oyster mushrooms are not as expensive compared to their Boletaceae family counterparts.

They are commonly used in Asian cooking due to their umami flavor.

You can find fresh oyster mushrooms in most grocery stores around the world.

They are a great replacement for porcini ones in pasta dishes and soups, among others.

Conclusion

Porcini mushrooms are very popular in the culinary world.

They have a specific flavor and texture that gives dishes an extra kick.

However, it is impossible to find fresh porcini mushrooms at every grocery store.

For this reason, you should consider alternatives such as button, crimini, portobello, or oyster ones if you cannot find porcinis.

Each type will give your dishes a different flavor, but they are all good substitutes for porcinis which you might not be able to find.