Crispy Oyster Mushroom Tacos

❤️ Why you’ll love it

I am always amazed by the spongy texture of oyster mushrooms, which soaks up the marinade perfectly, and they become super crispy, just like traditional chicken or beef strips.

This is one of the things that make this recipe special. The incredible texture of the mushrooms mimics real meat, and the best part is that it is entirely vegan and easy to make.

Sauteeing the marinated oyster mushrooms until they are nice and crispy is what takes this recipe to the next level. The result is a filling that is full of flavor with the ideal texture.

🧾 Key ingredients

This oyster mushroom taco recipe uses ingredients that are simple and easy to find at your local grocery store. You might even have some of them in your kitchen already.

Oyster mushrooms are the star of this dish. They have a unique, savory flavor and a meaty texture that makes them a perfect substitute for meat in vegan tacos.

Small tortillas are the vessel for all of the delicious ingredients in these tacos. You can use flour or corn tortillas, whichever you prefer.

Avocado and vegan sour cream add a creamy, cool element to the tacos, balancing out the heat from the salsa and the spices. s.

Sweet corn and black beans add a touch of sweetness and a hearty, satisfying element to the tacos. You can use canned corn and beans for convenience, but you can also cook them from dried if you prefer.

Chunky salsa sauce is a quick and easy way to add a ton of flavor to these tacos. You can use store-bought salsa or make your own if you have the ingredients on hand.

🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

🥘 Equipment

To make these delicious oyster mushroom tacos, the most crucial piece of equipment you will need is a good quality skillet. I use a non-stick ceramic skillet, which is perfect for sautéeing the oyster mushrooms to crispy perfection.

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Preparing the ingredients

STEP 1
Start by preparing your pearl oyster mushrooms. Simply cut off the end of the stem, and then tear both the cap and stem into shreds with your hands.

STEP 2
Next, prepare the marinade for the mushrooms. In a bowl, combine olive oil, taco seasoning mix, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix these ingredients well to make the marinade.

STEP 3
Now, add the oyster mushroom strips to the marinade and ensure they are well coated. Let the mushrooms marinate in this mixture for about 5-10 minutes.

Making the oyster mushroom tacos

STEP 1
Heat a skillet to high heat. Once hot, add the marinated oyster mushrooms to the skillet in a single layer. If you are making a large batch, work in batches to ensure the mushrooms are in a single layer.

STEP 2
Saute the mushrooms in the skillet, stirring them with a spatula. Continue to do this until the mushrooms are crispy. This should take about 10-15 minutes. If the mushrooms start to feel too dry, add a teaspoon of olive oil to the skillet.

STEP 3
While the mushrooms are cooking, prepare the other components of the tacos. Saute some corn in the same skillet, without seasoning, after the mushrooms are done.

STEP 4
Once the mushrooms and corn are ready, it is time to assemble the tacos. Take a small tortilla and add the sautéeed mushrooms and pan-seared corn. Then, add some black beans and slices of avocado.

STEP 5
To finish off the tacos, add a spoonful of chunky salsa sauce and a dollop of dairy-free sour cream. Your oyster mushroom tacos are now ready to serve.

💡 Expert tip

The key to achieving the perfect, crispy texture for your oyster mushroom tacos is to sauté the marinated mushrooms on high heat. This process allows the moisture to evaporate quickly, ensuring that the mushrooms become crispy rather than soft. If you cook them on low heat, they will release their liquid and end up soft instead of crispy.

🔄 Variations

You can try using a different seasoning mix. Make it spicier by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or add smoky paprika for a smokier flavor. Or try our easy, homemade fajita sauce.

There are 11 ways to cook oyster mushrooms, but for the crispiest result, opt for pan-frying. However, these tacos can also be baked like my vegan gyros. Place parchment paper in a sheet pan. Spread the shredded oyster mushrooms, preferably in one layer. Preheat oven to 425 Fahrenheit and bake them for 40 minutes or until crispy on the edges. 

Feel free to use other types of oyster mushrooms for a change in flavor. There are also a handful substitutes that will give you similar texture and taste.

🥣 Serving ideas

Oyster mushroom tacos are a versatile, delicious, and healthy meal that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. One of my favorite ways to enjoy them is with a side of fresh, homemade guacamole. It is also delicious with fajita veggies or chipotle veggies.

You can also make a DIY taco bowl by adding cilantro lime rice, sweet potato rice, corn salsa, vegan nacho cheese sauce, or vegan queso dip. It results in a hearty, satisfying meal for the entire family.

If you are a fan of Mexican street corn, consider adding some elote-inspired toppings to your tacos. A dollop of vegan sour cream, a sprinkle of chili powder, and a squeeze of lime juice will give your tacos a burst of flavor and a hint of heat, perfect for a summer cookout or a casual dinner with friends.

🤔 FAQs

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Crispy Oyster Mushroom Tacos

Nandor Barta

These oyster mushroom tacos are the best vegan alternative to meat strips. They are easy, meatless, and packed with flavor, making them the perfect choice for a meatless Taco Tuesday.

5 from 7 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Servings 4 servings

Calories 143kcal

Equipment

• Non-stick frying pan (10.5 inch / 26 cm)
• our Cast-iron Skillet by UnoCasa

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 7 oz Oyster mushrooms
• ▢ 4 Tbsp Olive oil
• ▢ 1 + ½ Tbsp Taco seasoning mix
• ▢ ¼ tsp Onion powder
• ▢ ¼ tsp Garlic powder
• ▢ ⅛ tsp Black pepper
• ▢ ⅛ tsp Salt

Other taco add-ins

• ▢ 4 Small tortillas
• ▢ ½ Avocado
• ▢ 4 Tbsp Vegan sour cream
• ▢ 8 Tbsp Sweet corn (canned)
• ▢ 8 Tbsp Black beans
• ▢ 8 Tbsp Chunky salsa sauce

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Instructions

 

Marinate

• Take your pearl oyster mushrooms. Cut the end of the stem off. Tear both cap and stem with your hand into shreds.
• Take a bowl and make the marinade by mixing olive oil, taco seasoning mix, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
• Mix this marinade with the oyster mushrooms strips. Leave it for 5-10 minutes.

Sautee

• Take a skillet and heat it to high heat. Add the marinated oyster mushrooms in one layer (work in batches if you plan to make more servings).
• Stir with a spatula and fry them until nice and crispy. It took us about 10-15 minutes tops. Add a dash of (1 tsp) olive oil if the oyster mushroom feels too dry.
• Alternatively, you can bake them in the oven as we did in our vegan gyros recipe. Place parchment paper in a sheet pan. Spread the shredded oyster mushrooms, preferably in one layer. Preheat oven to 425 Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius) and bake them for 40 minutes or until crispy on the edges. Watch how it progresses. Check it after 20 minutes it may already be done if you shredded them thinner than ours in the above picture! Baking time largely depends on the size of the strips. Flip occasionally to make sure all sides are nicely baked and crispy.

Assemble

• Take a small tortilla and add sauteed mushrooms, pan-seared corn (we just sauteed them after the mushrooms in the skillet without seasoning), black beans, avocado slices, chunky salsa sauce, and dairy-free sour cream. More serving ideas are in the Notes section.

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Notes

You can make a DIY taco or taco bowl to match your taste with ingredients like:

• other canned beans
• fajita veggies (bell pepper and onions),
• jalapeno peppers or other hot peppers
• sweet potato rice,
• cilantro lime rice,
• chopped tomatoes,
• Chipotle corn salsa,
• hot salsa,
• shredded lettuce,
• guacamole,
• vegan nacho cheese sauce,
• vegan queso dip,
• shredded vegan cheese,
• spring onion, chives, cilantro,
• lime
• tortilla chips
• flourless tortilla

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Crispy Oyster Mushroom Tacos

Amount Per Serving (1 serving of oyster mushroom meat)

Calories 143 Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Sodium 158mg7%

Potassium 213mg6%

Carbohydrates 4g1%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 112IU2%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 3mg0%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.