• Cover Shiitake in lukewarm water or milk and it will reconstitute to normal size

• Soak for 30 minutes

• The Shiitake will return to normal size

• Strain the liquid. This can be used in soups or stock – smoky flavour

• Dry Shiitakes with paper towel

• Your Shiitake can now be used as you use any mushroom

• Use Fresh whole Shiitake – the bigger the better

• Cover Shiitake Mushrooms with mixture of Olive Oil, Black Pepper corns and Salt (use Sharlebel Stock Powder which will enhance the Shiitake flavor)

• Leave for half an hour

• Put on grid (medium heat coals)

• Braai 3-5 minutes on each side

• With Shiitake gills up, cover with Gorgonzola cheese

• Cover with foil and leave until cheese is melted

• Dried Shiitake or freshly sliced Shiitake

• Heat 2 tbsp of Olive Oil in pan

• Add Shiitake and cook and toss occasionally for about 7-10 minutes over medium heat

• It must be tender and golden brown

• When ready you can season with salt and pepper and fry it for another 30 seconds

• If you do not use salt, you can also mix Shiitake with balsamic vinegar, soya sauce or oyster sauce for a different taste

• Dried Shiitake or freshly sliced Shiitake

• To stretch your Shiitake mushroom add button/brown mushrooms as it will take on the Shiitake flavor

• In a large pan heat 2 tbsp of butter

• Add Sharlebel Stock Powder which will enhance the Shiitake flavor

• Add the sliced mushrooms

• Add Salt and pepper to taste

• Sauté for 4 -5 minutes

• Add full cream

• Heat until hot and cooked through

• Use with your braai

• Serve with Shiitake Breadsticks

         Use as a dip with breadsticks

• Pasta Salad

        Mix cherry tomatoes, olives, capers, mozzarella cheese with cold pasta. Add Shiitake

        Pesto and mix through

•  Shiitake Pesto mayonnaise

        Stir Shiitake Pesto into mayonnaise.  It just spices up your chicken sandwich

• Spice up your dip

        Add Shiitake pesto to cottage cheese, yoghurt, cream cheese or avo

• For the dull sandwich

       Mix Shiitake Pesto with butter and spread on your toast or sandwich

• Salad Dressing

       Add olive oil to pesto for a lovely salad dressing

• Marinate your chicken

       Spread Shiitake Pesto on chicken and leave an hour to marinate

• Garnish

        Use Shiitake Pesto as garnish on soup

• Skip the butter and cream on baked potato

        Put Shiitake Pesto on your baked potato

• Shiitake Pesto over pizza

        Spread Shiitakee Pesto on you pizza

• New taste to focaccia bread

        Add sliced mozzarella cheese on focaccia.  Drizzle with Shiitake Pesto