Lion’s Mane Crab Cakes

Crab cake mound on a round white plate with a square ramekin of pale yellow sauce, a lemon wedge and some parsley.

How Can You Make a Crab Cake without Crab?

If you don’t know about this mushroom, the Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium Erinaceus),  is a choice edible mushroom, it has major health benefits, and has a similar taste and texture as crab meat. This is why it makes a wonderful substitute for these fabulous faux Crab Cakes. Now, I said similar, so don’t expect it to taste exactly the same.  

Size DOES Matter!

Caucasian woman looking astonished and pointing to a large lion's mane mushroom growing out of a stump.

We went to see if we were going to “get lucky”? in the woods. This Lion’s Mane mushroom has been growing over and over in the same place for several years now, but we never know for sure when it’s going to come out and play. As we walked around the tree in anticipation, my hubby was the first to see it. His eyes got huge and he gasped with amazement, but I thought he was just teasing me as usual. I squealed with delight when I saw how huge it was! This is the biggest we’ve ever found. 2300g, over 5.5 pounds.  We left the smaller one behind and will check on it in a few days or a week.

Shhh… I’m Hunting for Lions

Poor little Pepé was so worried because he thought we were going to hunt for a lion, so he was quite relieved when we came back with this spectacular Lion’s Mane Mushroom instead.

Very large white lion's mane mushroom growing on a dead stump.

Books about Foraging for Mushrooms

Several books can be found here.

Lion’s Mane Kits for Sale 

Meanwhile, if you’re not a forager, you can grow your own with one of these kits. 

Brain Health & Other Medicinal Uses for Lion’s Mane

  • Could Protect Against Dementia
  • Helps Relieve Mild Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
  • May Speed Recovery from Nervous System Injuries
  • Protects Against Ulcers in the Digestive Tract
  • Reduces Heart Disease Risk
  • Helps Manage Diabetes Symptoms
  • May Help Fight Cancer
  • Reduces Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
  • Boosts the Immune System

More information can be found here at Healthline.com

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Crab cake mound on a round white plate with a square ramekin of pale yellow sauce, a lemon wedge and some parsley. There's a nutcracker in the background who looks like a chef.

Crab cake mound on a round white plate with a square ramekin of pale yellow sauce, a lemon wedge and some parsley. There's a nutcracker in the foreground who looks like a chef.

Lion’s Mane Crab Cakes

Stacey Mincoff
This is a really great use for Lion's Mane Mushrooms. The taste and texture are so similar to crab. Serve as an appetizer or main entrée.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 130 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 12 Ounces Lion’s Mane Mushrooms cooked – see note below
  • 4 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley
  • 4 Tablespoons Mayonnaise
  • 1 Teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning or other creole seasoning
  • 2 Teaspoons Dijon Mustard
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C/Gas Mark7
  • With your hands, mix the cooled mushroom pieces and all other ingredients in a bowl and divide into fourths (about 100g/3.5oz each).
  • Form a mound and place on a parchment lined sheet pan.
  • Bake for about 10 minutes and serve with lemon wedges and our Creole Remoulade.

Notes

Notes: To cook pieces before making crab cakes:
Tear mushroom into small pieces that resemble crab meat.
Heat skillet on med/high to high, melt approximately 1 Tablespoon of butter (or oil) per batch in large skillet and add a single layer the mushroom pieces. Season with salt and sauté on both sides until slightly browned and about half of their moisture has been released and reduced (about 10 minutes). Let cool.

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 128mgPotassium: 290mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 361IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

On With The Show – Step by step instructions

Brush away any debris from your mushrooms, and try not to submerge into water unless they’re very dirty. If you do submerge in water, you can squeeze the water out like a sponge and the mushrooms should be fine because they’re more durable than they look. 

Tear mushroom into small pieces that resemble crab meat. 

A large mound of lion's mane mushroom pieces on a wood board with another large chunk behind the pile. There also a nutcracker who looks like a chef in the background.

Heat skillet on med/high to high, melt approximately 1 Tablespoon of butter (or oil) in skillet and add a single layer the mushroom pieces. Season with salt and sauté on both sides until slightly browned and about half of their moisture has been released and reduced (about 10 minutes). Let cool. 

Skillet filled with lion's mane mushroom pieces in a single layer. There's a nutcracker in the foreground who looks like a chef.
Before.
Skillet filled with slightly browned lion's mane mushroom pieces in a single layer. There's a nutcracker in the foreground who looks like a chef.
After.

Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C/Gas Mark7

Lion's Mane mushroom pieces, parsley, mayo and seasoning in a clear glass bowl.

With your hands, mix the cooled mushroom pieces and all other ingredients in a bowl and divide into fourths (about 100g/3.5oz each).

Four mounds of lion's mane "mock" crab cakes on a parchment lined sheet pan. There's a nutcracker in the foreground who looks like a chef.

Form a mound and place on a parchment lined sheet pan.

Crab cake mound on a round white plate with a square ramekin of pale yellow sauce, a lemon wedge and some parsley.

Bake for about 10 minutes and serve with lemon wedges and this Creole Rémoulade.

Check Out Some Other Recipes from Foraged Foods You Might Like

Chanterelle Mushroom and Phyllo Tart

Rustic chanterelle tart with ruffled filo dough crust sitting on a round wood pedestal that has bark around the edge. There are a few raw, whole chanterelles and some fresh thyme on the board for garnish and a nutcracker who looks like a chef in the background.

Chanterelle Risotto

Seared scallops on a bed of a chanterelle and saffron risotto, sautéed asparagus in a white bowl with a nutcracker that looks like a chef

Stinging Nettle Pesto

A swirled pile of linguini coated with green stinging nettle pesto sauce and a few shavings of parmesan cheese on a white plate with a fork. And a nutcracker who looks like a chef in the foreground.

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