Mushrooms give a meaty heartiness and deep, savory flavor to dishes in a healthful way. You might be surprised to discover just how healthful.
The fungi don’t make it onto most typical produce top 10 lists because those tend to focus on vitamins A and C and the rainbow colors. But that omission is the fault of the yardstick, not the subject.
Mushrooms shine brightly as nutritional stars in many other areas. Just six medium-size white button mushrooms have more riboflavin (a B vitamin) than a cup of milk and nearly as much potassium as a small banana. Mushrooms are loaded with essential minerals including selenium, copper and zinc. Plus, varieties such as shiitake and maitake have multiple anti-cancer and immune-boosting properties.
Feel free to bring up those fun facts at dinner to break the pleasure-induced silence that is sure to grace your table as everyone digs into this sumptuous pasta dish.