Crispy Delights: Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Mushrooms (Vegan + Gluten-Free Recipe)

Certainly! Here’s the revised version without the “AD” markers:

“These Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Mushrooms are a vegan twist on the beloved popcorn chicken often savored in Taiwan’s vibrant night markets and bubble tea spots.

Crafted from fresh oyster mushrooms, this recipe embodies the essence of Taiwanese street food, a cuisine I dearly miss. I reminisce about navigating Taipei’s bustling night markets, tantalized by the aroma of diverse culinary offerings and faced with the delightful challenge of choosing what to indulge in.

Taiwanese-Style Crispy Popcorn Mushrooms | Vegan Asian Recipe

POPULARITY OF MUSHROOMS
This vegan rendition of popcorn mushrooms is my take on the popcorn chicken that I once enjoyed as a late-night treat in night markets or alongside a tall glass of fruit tea in bubble tea shops.

There’s a specific food stall in Jiufen that offers various fried dishes, including fried king oyster mushrooms with basil and the option to sprinkle on different seasonings afterward.

Both times I ascended those stairs to Old Street in Jiufen, I was compelled to acquire those mushrooms, complemented by fruit tea as the ultimate snack for replenishment.

These are oyster mushrooms, fried until crisp with basil leaves, and seasoned with salt.

OYSTER MUSHROOMS AND BASIL
This recipe calls for fresh white oyster mushrooms, which, in my opinion, provide the ideal texture compared to king oyster or shiitake mushrooms.

Oyster mushrooms feature a somewhat ridged texture and, following frying, become delectably crisp, while salt and seasonings easily penetrate these ridges. These mushrooms are the perfect fit for this popcorn mushrooms recipe!

Basil
I enjoy frying basil with this recipe for its additional crunch and flavor. I typically use either Thai or sweet basil, which thrives abundantly at home.

Before frying basil, ensure it’s thoroughly dried after washing to prevent splashing in the oil!

COATING AND FRYING THE MUSHROOMS
The coating primarily consists of starch (potato or corn starch) with added seasonings, making preparation effortless!

Just toss the mushrooms to evenly coat them in the starch!

FRY THE MUSHROOMS UNTIL THEY’RE GOLDEN BROWN AND CRISP!
To achieve a crisp texture without excessive oil absorption, ensure the oil is very hot. Once the mushrooms turn golden brown and crisp, remove them from the oil to drain excess oil!

Frying Basil
The basil leaves will be ready when they become translucent!

ENJOY YOUR POPCORN MUSHROOMS!
I finish these mushrooms with a sprinkle of onion salt (or regular salt!) and occasionally add more five-spice powder.

I genuinely miss Taiwanese cuisine, but for now, this recipe is likely the closest I’ll come to savoring its remarkable offerings!

I also share a blog post about the foods I’ve experienced during my trips to Taiwan in this blog post.

In any case, you’ll need just seven ingredients for this incredibly flavorful vegan snack that’s sure to be addictive!

Here’s a close-up of these popcorn mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms offer an amazing texture and are particularly delightful when fried to a crisp!

Here is the complete recipe!

Additionally, consider trying this Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken recipe that’s reminiscent of the Popcorn Mushrooms recipe. However, it’s made with soy chunks to deliver a more meat-like texture!

You may enjoy these other vegan recipes:

Filipino Lumpiang Gulay or Fried Vegetable Spring Rolls
Japanese Chahan or Fried Rice
Crispy Eggplant Katsu
Scalloped Potatoes in Creamy Lemon Dill Sauce
Chili Garlic and Black Bean Eggplant Noodles
Easy Sweet, Spicy, and Saucy Noodles
Stir-Fried Tofu and Basil Noodles
Pan-Fried Tofu Cakes
Tofu ‘McNuggets’

Looking for more vegan recipes? Consider my latest Vegan Kitchen eBook, featuring over 95 recipes (including an entire section dedicated to Asian cuisine!) that boast simple, readily available ingredients! With each eBook download, two trees (rather than just one!) are planted through the nonprofit organization One Tree Planted.?

Learn more about my efforts to reforest here.

Should you prepare this recipe, remember to tag me on Facebook or Instagram, and use the hashtag #thefoodietakesflight 🙂

Crispy Taiwanese-Style Popcorn Mushrooms

Crispy mushroom bits covered in salt, pepper, and highly aromatic Chinese five-spice. This is a very snack with only 7 ingredients that has been inspired by the Taiwanese popcorn chicken which is usually enjoyed in bubble tea shops, night markets, or food stalls in Taiwan. Enjoy!