On October 15^th, people come together to celebrate fungi on National Mushroom Day. There are over 14,000 different varieties of mushrooms though not all are edible. We, of course, will only concern ourselves with the ones we can enjoy in our recipes – the white button mushrooms, the cremini, the Portobellos, the oyster, shiitake, and trumpet mushrooms – to name just a few.

When you want that meaty taste, that umami, mushrooms are the way to go. Their flavor is rich, earthy, and meaty, especially cremini or Portobello mushrooms. Their texture, as well as their taste, lets mushrooms replace meat in any recipe. Check out The Missing Link: How to Add Umami Flavor to Your Vegan Meals.

Mushrooms are also healthy. They are low in sodium, low in calories and filling so they can help us maintain our weight. Mushrooms are fiber-rich and can help regulate cholesterol. They are a good source of protein, potassium, B vitamins and the only plant source of vitamin D. To learn more about the health benefits of mushrooms, read Mushrooms: Health Benefits of the Humble Funghi and Recipes!

Mushrooms are also versatile. You can eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They can be sauteed, roasted, baked, grilled, stuffed or eaten raw. Mushrooms make delicious appetizers, gravies, soups, casseroles, and pasta dishes. Check out these 30 Cool Vegan Recipes Made with Mushrooms and 10 Delicious Ways to Cook With Mushrooms. Then take a look at these 21 incredible ways to enjoy all kinds of mushrooms.

1. Trumpet Mushroom ‘Calamari’

Mushrooms are an amazing substitute in recipes due to their satisfyingly “meaty” taste and texture. Here, trumpet mushrooms stand in for squid in this tasty fried Trumpet Mushroom “Calamari” dish. Serve these in lettuce wraps or enjoy them as an appetizer or snack.

2. Tempeh Marsala

This Tempeh Marsala would feel right at home on the menu of any neighborhood Italian restaurant! Tender cubes of tempeh and sliced mushrooms are simmered in a flavorful and creamy marsala wine sauce, making for a hearty meal that is sure to satisfy everyone’s appetite.

3. Tourtière (French Canadian Savory Pie)

Tourtière is a classic French Canadian savory pie that has a rich, spiced filling all wrapped up in a flaky pie crust. This plant-based version of Tourtière is simple, amazingly tasty, and filled with good ingredients. It’s a must if you’ve been invited to a vegetarian (or a traditional meat eating) family dinner! It’ll stop skeptics in their tracks, just you watch.

4. Mushroom Cauliflower Burgers With Mustard Tahini Slaw

These Mushroom Cauliflower Burgers are seriously good – cauliflower “rice” helps bind the patties together, and mushrooms give it a “meaty” bite. The mustard tahini slaw gives a tangy, fresh crunch. They’re baked so your oven does all the hard work for you.

5. Buffalo Sweet Potato Stuffed Mushrooms

Let’s say it’s Friday night and you forgot you need to make something to bring to a dinner party. Your wallet is almost empty, and you’re short on time – what can you possibly make? Enter these Buffalo Sweet Potato Stuffed Mushrooms: baby Bella mushrooms stuffed with a sweet potato and chickpea pâté that’s generously seasoned with tangy Buffalo hot sauce. They are the perfect party appetizer that will have your friends and family begging you to bring to every gathering for the rest of time.

6. Onion and Shiitake Tarts

Smoky Shiitakes and rich caramelized onions are nestled in a little puff pastry nest, making these adorable Onion and Shiitake Tarts a perfect appetizer for your next fancy party. But you shouldn’t wait that long to make them – they’re perfect for any occasion!

7. BBQ Berbere Portobello Comfort Bake

This yummy and comforting BBQ Berbere Portobello Comfort Bake could not be easier to make! Just throw these bad boys into the oven and you’ll have juicy, succulent, spicy baked Portobello caps in just 30 minutes! How’s that for an impressive weeknight meal?

8. Tangy Mushroom Skewers

Mushrooms are probably the first vegetable anyone would associate with a meat-free barbecue and for good reason. Far from being a boring cliché, mushrooms are a versatile barbecue option … if you add a little something extra to them. The marinade on these Tangy Mushrooms Skewers makes them big on flavor as well as texture!

9. Overnight Savory Breakfast Mushrooms

These Overnight Savory Breakfast Mushrooms is a great set-and-forget recipe that does not require any cooking. This is a great way to prepare a tasty breakfast dish without all the effort. It’s a simple no-cook recipe that will fill your belly with plant-based goodness and get you off to a great start to the day.

10. Chaga Mushroom Tea (Chai and Vanilla)

You probably weren’t expecting tea in a mushroom roundup, but this Chaga Mushroom Tea is great! Chaga mushrooms have amazing healing properties, and you can experience the benefits in tea form! You can also play around and create two different flavors of Chaga tea, chai, and vanilla.

11. Portobello Pâté

Whether you have to bring something to a pot luck or party or just want a delicious snack at home, this Portobello Pate is what you want. The savory, meaty Portobellos are paired with white pepper, white wine, and thyme. Get the crackers ready!

12. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms With Maple Miso Balsamic Sauce

These Italian-inspired Farro Stuffed Mushrooms look like they waltzed right off of a fancy restaurant menu, but they’re actually super easy to make! Creamy kale-radicchio pesto and umami maple miso balsamic sauce drizzled on top elevates this dish into a real work of art. And you can have it for dinner any night of the week!

13. Shiitake Cream Pasta

Mushrooms – people either love them or think they hate them. This recipe for Shiitake Cream Pasta pairs the smokiness of the shiitake with the richness of coconut cream to make a dinner that is perfect for any important holiday. But all of this fanciness only takes about 20 minutes to make so you can have it any day of the week.

14. Mushroom and Leek Flatbread Pizza

Mushrooms are one of the favorite veggie pizza toppings. Now you can enjoy them on a super simple, vegan, paleo, and gluten-free flatbread pizza crust! This Mushroom and Leek Flatbread Pizza is going to be your new go-to pizza.

15. Baked Tofu With Red Wine Mushroom Sauce

This Red Wine Mushroom Sauce is rich, warm and satisfying. The combination of the meaty mushrooms and red wine served over baked tofu will have people going for seconds and thirds.

16. Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon

If you like veganizing the classics, you’ll want to make a vegan version of Beef Bourguignon, a traditional French stew with beef and wine. This Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon is meatless and extra mushroom-y. Just swap out the bacon, beef and beef stock for mushrooms, spices, and vegan broth and voila! Same dish, happier body, happier planet, happier cows.

17. Lentil Mushroom Walnut Balls

Mushrooms and lentils come together to make these Lentil Mushroom Walnut Balls. Savory and earthy, these little balls are perfect for any party or pot luck. They will take your gathering from fun to phenomenal!

18. Thyme Socca With Bluefoot Mushrooms

Socca is an incredibly simple dish to make. The classic recipe only requires three ingredients, and it’s gluten-free. This Thyme Socca is topped with Bluefoot mushrooms and is a perfect alternative to pizza crust or substitute for bread.

19. Garlic and Thyme Pan Seared Mushrooms

If you like mushrooms, you’ll love this dish. These Garlic and Thyme Pan Seared Mushrooms are perfect served over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, toast … the list goes on. You can use any mushrooms though this recipe uses chanterelles as you see in the picture. You’ll devour these!

20. Spicy Peanut Mushroom Kale Soup

Condiments contribute to the rich, velvety texture of the broth and adds a great umami flavor to this Spicy Peanut Mushroom Kale Soup. Saute the mushrooms first and then put it all in the crockpot for an easy and delicious dinner.

21. Portobello Mushroom Steaks

This juicy Portobello Mushroom Steak will satisfy your cravings and fill you up. Sauteed with onions, balsamic vinegar, mirin, and herbs, it’s a compassionate alternative to eating our furry friends!

It’s hard to believe that there are some people who don’t like the taste of mushrooms. If you know someone like that, make them one of these delicious recipes and see if it doesn’t change their mind. We’re betting it will!

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Lead image source: Garlic and Thyme Pan Seared Mushrooms