This is my take on Vegan Fried Chicken with Fried Oyster Mushrooms. They are super crispy with a double batter and so easy to make!
You will be amazed when you try these crispy Fried Oyster Mushrooms.
It’s crazy to say it, but they totally look and taste like fried chicken except Vegan! Anthony thought I had bought him KFC when he saw the tray haha!
I can’t deny it, I’ve always loved fried chicken. It’s one of the only foods I still crave since becoming mostly plant based. These are a great substitute and are my take on vegan fried chicken. The texture of the mushrooms are so similar it’s crazy!
Some other vegan versions of popular dishes you must try are my Vegan Bolognese, Rice Paper Dumplings and Crab Rangoons.
Jump to:
These Fried Oyster Mushrooms turn out super crispy with a double batter and are so easy to make!
Perfect for those nights when you feel like something crunchy and fried. They also make a great appetizer for a get together or on game day too.
I rarely eat or cook fried foods, but these are one of those exceptions that I can’t say no to!
Ingredients to make Fried Oyster Mushrooms
- Oyster mushrooms are the star of the show! They’re so pretty and a delicate mushroom with a subtle taste, which allows them to be seasoned and absorb any flavor you add
- Flour is used for the batter. I’ve used plain all purpose flour to make both the dry and wet batter. Whole-wheat flour can also work. I haven't personally tried gluten free flour for this recipe but I think they should be fine too!
- Spices are used to enhance flavour and colour into the beautiful oyster mushrooms. I’ve used a mix of paprika, tumeric, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper
- Oil for frying - make sure to use a neutral oil with a high smoke point when frying food. I’ve used canola oil but some other options are avocado oil, sunflower oil, grape seed oil and even vegetable oil
Sauces to dip into:
- Creamy BBQ, mix equal parts of mayonnaise with bbq sauce and a dash of apple cider vinegar
- Sriracha (hot sauce)
- Ketchup
- Honey mustard
How to make Fried Oyster Mushrooms
Time needed: 20 minutes.
- Clean mushrooms
Wipe oyster mushrooms with a damp paper towel to remove any dirt
- Prepare spice mix
In a large bowl, add the flour and all the spices, salt and black pepper. Mix together until well combined
- Prepare batter
In a second bowl, take ⅓ cup flour from the mixture and add with ¾ cups of water. Whisk together until to achieve a smooth batter consistency
- Coat mushrooms in batter
Dip each mushroom into the wet batter mixture then into the dry batter. Double coat each mushroom back into the wet batter and then back in the flour mixture, making sure the mushrooms are fully coated in flour
- Time to fry
Heat oil in a pot over high heat and carefully drop mushrooms into the oil one at a time in batches. Don't overcrowd the pot, you can fry a few at a time depending on how large your pot is. Let them fry for a few minutes until nice and golden brown
Remove and place on paper towels to remove excess oil, then place on a cooling rack to keep crispy until the rest is done. Enjoy with your favourite dipping sauce!
Tips for Fried Oyster Mushroom Recipe
- Don't wash mushrooms with water, this will make them watery and mushy. Instead, use a damp paper towel to clean them and remove any dirt
- Double coat mushrooms to make them super crispy! Just make sure you get all the corners of the mushrooms so they're fully coated for the ultimate crunch
- Create more batter if needed. If you run out of the wet batter when coating the mushrooms, add more of the flour mixture with water to create more batter
- Test the oil is ready before frying. Do this by dropping a pinch of flour into the oil. If it starts to bubble, its ready!
- Don't overcrowd the pot. You can fry a few at a time in batches depending how large your pot is.
- Remove excess oil with paper towels and place on a cooling rack. After removing the excess oil place on a cooling rack until all the mushrooms are done. This will keep them crispy until you're ready to eat
FAQs
They have a very subtle taste with a delicate earthy flavour, which allows them to be seasoned and absorb any flavor you add
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an air tight container for up to 3-4 days. It’s best to reheat using an airfryer or in the oven to make them nice and crispy again. Avoid using a microwave as it will make them very soggy
Oyster mushrooms are full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients. They’re also low in carbohydrates. Source
For a lighter and healthier alternative, you can use an air fryer instead. It won’t be as crispy of course. I personally haven’t tried this method to know the exact cook time. Ensure to spray all sides well with oil spray
More Mushroom Recipes
- Mushroom Tart
- Pappardelle Pasta with Mushrooms
- Shiitake Mushroom Soup
- Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions
- Creamy Mushroom Toast
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to tag @cookingwithayeh and share your Fried Oyster Mushrooms photo on Instagram so I can share the love.
Recipe
Fried Oyster Mushrooms (Vegan Fried Chicken)
Ingredients
- 150 g oyster mushrooms
- 1 ½ cups plain flour
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (add more or less depending on how spicy you like it)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Cracked pepper
- Oil for frying, ive used canola oil
Dipping Sauces
- Creamy BBQ - mix equal parts of mayonnaise with bbq sauce and a dash of apple cider vinegar
- Sriracha
Instructions
- Wipe oyster mushrooms with a damp paper towel to remove any dirt
- In a large bowl, add the flour and all the spices. Mix together until well combined
- In a second bowl, add ⅓ cup of the flour mixture with ¾ cups of water. Whisk together until to achieve a smooth batter consistency
- Dip each mushroom into the wet batter mixture then into the flour mixture. Double coat each mushroom back into the wet batter and then back in the flour mixture, making sure the mushrooms are fully coated in flour
- Heat oil in a pot over high heat and carefully drop mushrooms into the oil one at a time in batches. Don't overcrowd the pot, you can fry a few at a time depending how large your pot is. Let them fry for a few minutes until nice and golden on all sides
- Remove and place on paper towels to remove excess oil, then place on a cooling rack to keep crispy until the rest is done. Enjoy with your favourite dipping sauce!
Video
Notes
- The information on the nutritional table is based on the mushrooms being “uncooked” so the frying oil is not included. This will vary on the type of oil that’s being used
Sandra Coxon
Hi ayeh
Where would I buy the oyster mushrooms from please?
Ayeh
Hi Sandra, most supermarkets sell them, or also Asian grocers have a great mushroom range 🙂
Keisha
This was a super easy recipe to make! Yummy and crunchy and tried it with chicken too. Thank you Ayeh
Ayeh
Oh Yay! great to hear Keisha! xxx
Alice Pennamon
This recipe was really easy to fix. It was delicious.
Ayeh
So glad you loved them Alice x
Jim
At a farmers market too!
Shakiba
Tried the crispy tofu today and it was a real crisp! Will try this recipe for the next meal
Ayeh
Wonderful so happy to hear lovely! Cant wait to see it xx
Marta
Sunflower oil is good for salads. For frying better is colza oil.
Melissa
So easy to make and the results were amazing! So crispy and so much flavour in the batter Definitely making again and will try some different vegetables I think also.
Ayeh
Great idea Melissa, I have to try it with other veggies too 🙂
Sarah
Absolutely incredible! Had family members who dislike mushrooms say it tastes like a chicken thigh piece. Delicious vegetarian alternative.
Ayeh never disappoints.
Ayeh
Hehe yay love this!!! Yours looked amazing and so much like chicken hehe xx
Annie
Thank you Ayeh for this supper easy and tasteful recipe It was my first time frying mushrooms. Loved the texture and the taste . Will definitely make it again.
Ayeh
So glad to hear this Annie , they're so yummy right!
Katherine
WOW! What a fantastic recipe! Not only was it so so easy to make, it's delicious! Awesome way to get those crunchy fried cravings without meat! Definitely adding this to my recipe book. Thank you for such a fab recipe!
Ayeh
You are so welcome Katherine! So happy you liked these so much too and yours looked fab!
Divya
I LOVEEED THE RECIPE❤️❤️
Ayeh
Awww so happy Divya! Your mushies looked so good! xxx
Melli
It's very good ❤️ , a must try on that one for everyone of you
Ayeh
So glad you loved them Melli 🙂
Niamh
Made and absolutely loved these. Thank you so much for this recipe. I went PB over a year ago but only lasted 9 months. Biggest problem? My family love chicken wings with franks. I got sucked back in but this is a game changer. I am back on track and very happy with this new fried chicken sub. ❤
Ayeh Manfre
Hehe yes I totally felt the same! So happy you can enjoy this recipe and still get your "chicken" craving in too 🙂
Vicky
Hello, the 387 calories is for all the recipe? Thank you
Ayeh
Hi Vicky, there are 2 servings in this recipe so the calories are for one serving 🙂
Carmen
First time I do one of your recipes. It was so good. The batter was great that I had an eggplant and used the same batter. It was a hit with my family! Ready to try more of your recipes.
Ayeh
Oh yum I need to try the same with eggplants too yum! So happy to hear lovely x
Shenetha
I have never liked mushrooms of any kind. But, I've heard so many good things about fried oyster mushrooms that I wanted to try them at least once. I came across this recipe and OMG it was delicious!!. I am sold! This recipe will be added to my rotation.
Ayeh
Hehe love this Shenetha! Such a fun dish right 🙂
Jim
This was much easier to make than I thought it would be!
Ayeh Manfre
Lovely to hear Jim!! 🙂
Emilio
Hi! Can these be air-fried? Looks incredible.
Ayeh Manfre
They can but they dont have the exact same texture or crunch. Make sure to spray a generous amount of oil 🙂
Anna
Very tasty. I somehow ran low on the batter so I made the last half of my mushrooms with just one coating of batter and flour and I liked that a lot because it was lighter. I think I'll try this recipe with chickpea flour and see how it comes out.
Ayeh Manfre
So glad you liked it Anna! Yes you can totally make it with one coating too, the crunch just wont be as strong. Let me know how you go with chickpea flour, I havnt tested that yet 🙂
Holly
This turned out perfect! I don't even fry, so used grapeseed oil in my shallow cast iron pan, and it still works great. Super recipe and tips.!
Ayeh Manfre
Love that Holly!!