King Oyster Mushroom Scallops with Asian-Inspired Sauce

Scallops are one of my favorite things to make when I was still a meat eater. However, when I became a vegan, I missed the texture and flavor of scallops. I found the king oyster mushroom has a texture like a scallop. Most of the recipes for scallops use butter, garlic, and lemon. This is the classic combination of making scallops. I will use this combination for the king oyster mushroom. I will add some of my Asian flares to this recipe to make the sauce more Asian-style. Anyway, the king oyster is a type of mushroom and will not have the same flavor as scallops, but, if you are vegan like me, you will enjoy this recipe. King oyster mushrooms make a delightful vegan alternative to scallops. Their texture is remarkably similar, and when paired with a blend of Asian flavors, you'll find this dish to be a true culinary delight.

Ingredients:

3 king oyster mushrooms

2 tablespoons of vegan butter or olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced.

Seasoning ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of sugar

1/8 teaspoon of black pepper

Asian-Inspired Sauce ingredients:

1 tsp lemon juice and zest

1 tablespoon of light soy sauce (ensure its vegan)

1 teaspoon of mushroom seasoning

2 tablespoons of water

Garnish:

Chopped chives

Directions:

Begin by preparing the king oyster mushrooms. Trim the bottom and the top, leaving the central stem. Slice the mushrooms into sections, about 3 or 4 pieces per mushroom, depending on their size. Use a knife to gently score both sides of each mushroom. Sprinkle them evenly with the salt, sugar, and black pepper, then set them aside for 20 minutes to marinate.

Heat a nonstick sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the vegan butter and olive oil. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the marinated king oyster mushrooms in the pan. Sear both sides until they turn a beautiful golden-brown color.

While the mushrooms are cooking, prepare the Asian-inspired sauce. Combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, light soy sauce, mushroom seasoning, and water in a small bowl. Mix well to create a flavorful sauce.

Once the mushrooms are perfectly seared, pour the sauce in the pan. Let the mushrooms absorb the flavors of the sauce. Adjust the seasoning to your taste preferences.

Turn off the heat and add the chopped chives as a garnish. These fresh herbs will add color and flavor to your dish.

Serve your King Oyster Mushroom Scallops over a bed of simple stir-fried noodles with garlic sauce or a plain bowl of fragrant Jasmine rice. Enjoy your delicious and cruelty-free alternative to traditional scallops!