Buttermilk Fried Mushrooms
This Buttermilk Fried Mushrooms recipe is about to revolutionize your vegetarian cooking. With air fried oyster mushrooms and a crunchy coating, it tastes just like fried chicken!
If I’m being honest, I really wasn’t sure this recipe would work. I mean to make vegetarian fried “chicken” with mushrooms is one thing. But to nix the frying completely in lieu of air frying? It shouldn’t have worked. But oooh did it work.
There are a few tricks that make it work. We’ll briefly marinate the oyster mushrooms in buttermilk to infuse them with tangy flavor. Then we’ll bread them in a spiced flour mixture plus more buttermilk. Finally, we’ll throw them into the air fryer! Air frying these mushrooms gives them that distinctly crunchy, fried texture (with way, way less fat).
Love Air Frying? Here’s how to air fry any veggie!
Ingredients for Buttermilk Fried Mushrooms
- Oyster Mushrooms: Oyster mushrooms have a distinct shape and texture that makes them a great substitute for meat.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk is used to tenderize the meat in traditional fried chicken recipes. We’ll use it for it’s flavor to help mimic fried chicken! You can veganize this recipe by making vegan buttermilk (see recipe notes below).
- Flour + Spices: A quick blend of flour and spices will give the crunchy texture and loads of flavor. Adjust the spices to what you like!
Okay but how do you turn mushrooms into fried “chicken”?
To transform the humble oyster mushroom into vegetarian fried “chicken”, we’ll dip the mushrooms in buttermilk, then into our flour/spice blend. Shake off the excess then repeat the process once more for a nice thick coating. The distinct shape of oyster mushrooms helps lots of flour and spice cling to the surface, meaning more crispiness in the end!
At this point you could deep fry them, but I use an air fryer instead! Grease the bottom of the pan well then set your soon-to-be fried mushrooms in the air fry pan. Cook until they begin to dry out and turn golden, then brush with a little bit of oil (this is optional but I found it helps them to get that classic deep golden color). Let cool slightly (they’ll be piping hot) then dig in!
Buttermilk Fried Mushrooms
INGREDIENTS
- 2 heaping cups oyster mushrooms
- 1 cup buttermilk 240 mL, see notes for vegan substitute
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 200 g
- 1 tsp each salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin
- 1 Tbsp oil*
INSTRUCTIONS
- Marinate: Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F (190 C). Clean mushrooms then toss together with buttermilk in a large bowl. Let marinate for 15 minutes.
- Breading: In a large bowl combine flour and spices. Spoon mushrooms out of the buttermilk (save the buttermilk). Dip each mushroom in the flour mixture, shake off excess flour, dip once more in the buttermilk, then once more in the flour (in short: wet > dry > wet > dry).
- Cook: Grease the bottom of your air fry pan well, then place mushrooms in a single layer, leaving space between mushrooms. Cook for 5 minutes, then roughly brush all sides with a little oil to promote browning. Continue cooking 5 to 10 more minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
NOTES
- Make vegan buttermilk by combining 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice + 1 1/2 cups plain soy milk.
- *Alternatively, spritz with cooking spray for even coverage and less overall oil.
NUTRITION
More Air Fryer Recipes
Here are a few more air fryer recipes you'll love (find all of our vegetarian air fryer recipes here).
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How to Air Fry Any Vegetable
How to air fry virtually any vegetable into perfectly cooked, healthy deliciousness.
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Sounds yummy!!! Can’t wait to try it!!!
Beverly
Ah would love to hear how it goes, Bev! 😀
Could you use white mushroom if you can’t get oyster mushrooms?
Hi Tommy! The batter won’t stick as well to round mushrooms but it’s worth a shot! Try looking in an Asian supermarket though, they almost always carry oyster mushrooms 😀
When you say grease the pan, does that mean the mesh where the food goes or the outerpan that collects all the stuff that falls off? I hope in explaining that well enough.
If it is the other pan, what is the purpose of greasing it? Cleanup or cooking aid of some sort.
Great question! Just grease the part of the pan that will be touching the mushrooms 😀
I LOVE this recipe. Any time my partner and I go out and a restaurant has fried mushrooms, I always have to order them. I dunno why, but they’re one of my fave foods. The only downside is they’re usually little pockets of grease that make my stomach feel pretty ill later on, but not these! We bought an air fryer about a year ago and kept trying to find reasons to use it and this soon became one of our top go-tos. It’s easier than it looks AND satisfies my odd craving.
SO AWESOME! I was worried people might find this one a bit too labor intensive, although the results are so worth it. Happy you liked it!
This sounds amazing but I do not own an air fryer. Can this be made in an oven maybe with a baking rack over a sheet pan? If so, what temperature and time for cooking would you recommend? Would appreciate this modification, thank you!
Hi Stanya! I haven’t tried this recipe in an oven yet so I’m not entirely sure. I know it can be deep fried! But for the oven, you might try 400 to 425 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes, but again I haven’t had the chance to try it so I’m not positive it will have the same effect (air fryers cook food quite differently). Best of luck!
This looks great! Can this be made with almond flour (my husband is gluten free)?
While I haven’t tried this, I think it could work! 😀 Would love to hear how it goes if you try out a GF option!
Hi Sarah, pls I dont really understand what butter milk is made of. Thanks
Buttermilk is typically the liquid that is left after you make butter. You can find it fresh in the milk section, or dried in the baking section. But if you can’t find it, you could use a watered down yogurt (just needs to be a little sour for the flavor!)
Hi Sarah, saw your recipe some weeks ago and decided to try it but it was not coming out like yours. Used home made soy milk plus lemon juice to make my buttermilk but didnt turnout golden and crispy. I have an analogue air fryer so what temperature should I use and at what time. What can I serve the buttermilk fried mushroom with?
Thanks
Hi Chisom! Try brushing a little oil all over the outside to help them brown better. Time and temp should be the same listed here 😀
And I love serving this with a hearty salad, like Chickpea Salad or Zucchini Corn Salad. Enjoy! 😀