The Best Fried Morel Mushroom Recipe

This simple, yet delicious Fried Morel Mushroom Recipe makes use of a delicious and uncommon springtime mushroom. Try serving fried morel mushrooms to as an appetizer or using them as a topping on grilled steak.

April is one of my favorite months. The weather is turning warmer and we’re headed back out into the woods for a new year of foraging for wild edibles, kicked off with hunting for the elusive Morel Mushrooms.

On one of our first dates (way back in 2000), Ray took me Mushroom Picking. Although my parents didn’t forage, my grandparents did. We joke that the outdoorsy-bug skipped a generation, skipping my parents aiming for me instead.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 20+ years that Ray and I have been picking Morel Mushrooms. I fell in love with Ray, Morels and Foraging, almost immediately. I can’t imagine a better way to spend my free time.

Where to find Morel Mushrooms

Here in Pennsylvania (and other mid-altalntic states) fresh Morel Mushrooms pop up in the spring mostly under poplar, sycamore, elm and apple trees. They come black, gray and tan varieties.

They are generally safe beginner mushroom, their only look alike is the false morel that is not hollow in the center and has a more abstract shape.

There are 2 basic ways that I recommend starting out enjoying Yellow, Tan or Black Morels:

1. Sautéed in butter. Duh. Everything is better with butter, especially mushrooms.
2. This Fried Morel Mushroom Recipe 🙂

First things first, there is no recipe needed for fresh mushrooms sautéed in butter and generally I’d say that breaded mushrooms are pretty straight forward too (aka egg coated mushrooms dredged in seasoned flour) – except there’s a wide variety of breading options and I have truly found the best.

Ok, I’m totally lying to you.

Please accept my apology.

I didn’t figure this out, Ray actually did. But I’m totally taking credit for it. So, SHHHH, don’t tell him.

Tips for Cleaning Morel Mushrooms

When it comes to cleaning fresh morels there’s generally some controversy between mushroom hunter, but that’s pretty standard with cleaning all wild picked mushrooms.. to soak or not to soak? There is no “only way” to clean mushrooms, let me explain…

My rule of thumb is to avoid soaking mushrooms IF POSSIBLE, the quality and cleanliness of the mushrooms will determine how much cleaning or soaking that is required.

The issue with soaking morels in water or salted / salt water is that although YES it can help to release excess dirt and bugs, it can also negatively affect the quality and taste of the mushrooms. Morels growing in sandy soil that you pick right after a rain, will certainly be dirty and a quick bath in shallow bowl of cold water is required. And adding salt to the water you clean any mushrooms in can definitely help to extract any creepy crawly bugs that are hiding in the creases of the mushrooms.

I also let the quality of the morel mushrooms determine how I trim them. Young, clean morels I just slice off the tip of the stem where as larger, older morels I will cut them in half lengthwise or even chop to use in another morel mushroom recipe instead of breading them.

No matter how much you clean or soak you mushrooms, it’s always important to dry them as well as possible following cleaning. The best way to dry morel mushrooms is in a salad spinner to not only dry but also to help get any debris!

The Perfect Breading for Fried Morel Mushrooms

I didn’t specifically intend for this to be a gluten-free recipe, but luckily it is! Ray has tried every flour mixture (all purpose flour and gluten-free), cracker crumbs, cornmeal, batter and breadcrumbs — Egg wash and Seasoned White Rice Flour is the clear winner for the Best Fried Morel Mushrooms.

It’s light with just a hint of texture. And doesn’t overpower the flavor of the mushrooms.

I suggest using my homemade seasoned salt in addition to the white rice flour, it contains all your favorite spices; garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, paprika, etc.

Choosing the Healthiest Fats for Frying

And even when you think that you may have the perfect breading, it can easily be ruined by the fat you are using to fry in. My preference is lard from naturally raised hogs, but tallow from grass fed beef avocado oil or palm oil are neutral flavored healthier options too. To learn more about the healthiest fat choices CLICK HERE. 

Fool Proof Frying

Then there’s just one more thing to factor in and that’s HOW you are frying. I’ve been there, done that. And while I hate having one more appliance in my kitchen, you simply cannot beat THIS EASY CLEAN fryer.

** this is NOT  a sponsored post, this is simply my own personal opinion **

Not only does it safely control the temperature of your hot oil and virtually eliminate oil splatter messes,  it also has an automatic filtering drain!

No more fussing with dirty oil. No big messes! Making fried morels just got even more enjoyable. I dare say, Fool Proof Frying is possible.

The best way is working in small batches, dip your cleaned morels into the egg wash then lightly toss in a large bowl seasoned white rice flour. Use a fork to transfer them to your deep fryer and let them get a nice golden brown color.

If you do choose to pan-fry foods on your stove top in a deep, heavy skillet (such as cast iron skillet or frying pan) or Dutch Oven or large skillet over medium-high heat, PLEASE carefully monitor your fats temperature. Never exceed 340 degrees or you will risk damaging the healthfulness of the fats.

I love to give my Breaded Morel Mushrooms a sprinkle of kosher salt and nice squeeze of lemon juice right before eating, it really brightens up the flavors. But they are also delicious dipped in my Ramp Ranch Dressing for a real spring treat!

IF you like this Morel Recipe, try these wild mushrooms recipes next:

• Pork Chops with Morel Ramp Cream Sauce
• Morel Mushroom, Ramp & Potato Chowder Recipe
• Morel Asparagus Gruyere Quiche Recipe
• Creamy Morel Mushroom Barley Soup
• Morel Mushroom and Ramp Chowder
• Chicken with Creamy Morel Mushroom Sauce
• Crispy Chicken Thighs with Morel, Ramp & Kale Cream Sauce