Shiitake dashi

Shiitake dashi is a traditional type of dashi stock, prepared with shiitake mushrooms as the main ingredient. The stock is prepared by re-hydrating dried mushrooms in water. It’s rarely used on its own – instead, it’s combined with other types of dashi, or with kombu seaweed for a vegan-friendly version. Due to the fact that it’s vegetarian and vegan friendly, the stock is often used by vegans and vegetarians when preparing Japanese dishes. It’s recommended to use thick mushrooms with deep fissures on the cap because they have more flavor. The water should be cold when the mushrooms are soaking, and it’s preferable to re-hydrate the mushrooms overnight for bringing out even more flavor.