Protein-packed shiitake mushrooms can be used as a meat substitute.You can replace the meat in your diet with the protein from shiitake mushrooms.
Once a staple of Native American medicine, the shiitake mushroom is now the third most commonly grown mushroom worldwide, according to the University of Maryland Extension website. Its delicate flavor makes it ideal for gourmet dishes and it boasts considerable health benefits, according to the website, which also says shiitake mushrooms have antiviral properties, can lower your cholesterol level and contain more protein than soybean--making them a viable meat replacement option. You can take advantage of the benefits offered by shiitake mushrooms by growing and harvesting them yourself at home.
Instructions
1. Mushroom are grown on logs, so locate a suitable tree from which to cut your shiitake mushroom logs. While oak trees are a common choice, beech, pecan, cottonwood, chestnut, sweetgum and alder trees also will support shiitake mushroom growth. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service notes that the ideal diameter of the tree's trunk should be between 3 and 6 inches.
2. Cut the tree into 3- to 5-foot long logs with an axe or chainsaw.
3. Drill holes into the tree for the shiitake mushroom spawn. If you are using plug spawn, drill holes 5/16 inch in diameter and 3/4 to 1 inch deep. If you are using sawdust spawn, your holes should measure 3/8 inch in diameter and 1 to 1¼ inches deep. Space your holes out evenly across each log, roughly 1½ to 2 inches apart from one another.
4. Place one shiitake mushroom plug into each hole. Hammer the plug until its tip is flush with the wood. Smear wax over each mushroom plug to lock in the wood's natural moisture.
5. Stack the logs closely together in a semi-shady spot for two months. Check the logs periodically for moisture. If the logs dry out, saturate them with water from the garden hose. Shiitake mushroom logs should be moist at all times.
6. Harvest your shiitake mushrooms once they fruit. On average, shiitake mushrooms spawn within 90 days, but the time frame varies by climate and the moisture content and condition of your shiitake logs.
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