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    Recipes » Appetizers, Snacks & Sides

    Fried Morels & Lemon Crema (How to Fry Morel Mushrooms)

    Published: Jun 22, 2021 · Modified: Oct 25, 2022 by foodworthfeed

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Fried Morel Mushrooms are as delicious as they sound and make for a lovely Springtime snack or appetizer!

    A levitation shot of fried morel mushrooms falling into a big bowl while a lemon wedge is squeezed over top

    This recipe features fresh morels that are dredged in seasoned flour, pan-fried and served with a tangy Lemon Crema for dipping! It's one of the simplest mushroom recipes ever! It's our new favorite way to indulge in this delicious Spring mushroom! So good!

    Morel mushrooms are one of nature's most elite Springtime treasures. These delicacies are foraged in wooded areas all over the Northern hemisphere. Here, in Colorado, we are lucky to have morel mushrooms throughout the Spring season. While not many of these mushrooms make it to the grocery store, we are able to find them in farmer's markets or, as in this case, directly through a mushroom hunter.

    If you are a fan of unique mushroom recipe, try our Matsutake Pasta with Miso Butter!

    Jump to:
    • Everything You Need To Make This Recipe
    • How To Clean Morel Mushrooms
    • How To Fry Morels
    • When I Dip, You Dip, We Dip: Lemon Crema Edition
    • Share Your Success!
    • More Spring Recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Everything You Need To Make This Recipe

    Fried Morels and Lemon Crema are quick and easy to make! Here's what you'll need:

    ingredients to make fried morels mushrooms with a Lemon Crema
    Ingredient quantities can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    How To Clean Morel Mushrooms

    Hooray! You've scored some delicious fresh morel mushrooms! Now what? Well, first things first. Before you jump into making these Fried Morels, they will need to be cleaned. While that distinctive honeycomb pattern is beautiful, all those nooks and crannies make perfect pockets for dirt, debris and, sometimes, tiny bugs. Generally speaking, we would recommend cleaning mushrooms with a damp paper towel. However, that method just doesn't cut it for fresh morels. Instead, we recommend swishing the morels in cold water. Here's the best way we have found to clean morel mushrooms:

    1. First, cut any large mushrooms in half lengthwise. Smaller mushrooms can remain whole. If there are large clumps of dirt clinging to your mushrooms, start by gently shaking or using a dry pastry brush to brush the mushrooms clean.
    2. Then, fill a large bowl with cold water. Add your morels to the water and gently swish them around for a few seconds. Dirt and grit will be released from the morel's crevices. If the water becomes excessively dirty, repeat this step with fresh water a couple of times until the mushrooms are thoroughly cleaned. Do not leave or soak the mushrooms in the water! Morels are like tiny sponges that will absorb the water and dull their delicious flavor.
    3. Once cleaned, transfer the mushrooms to a clean, dry kitchen towel, while shaking off extra water. Thoroughly dry the morel mushrooms one by one in the towel. Proceed to the frying process as soon as morel mushrooms have been cleaned. (Cleaning these mushrooms before ready to use can promote mold growth!)
    close up macro shot of fresh morel mushrooms

    How To Fry Morels

    Once your morel mushrooms are cleaned and dried, it is time to fry the morels! We tested several different ways for frying morel mushrooms. We tried tempura batters, egg washes and breadcrumb breaded mushrooms but, ultimately, the best Fried Morel Mushrooms were the easiest. Plus, who doesn't love an ultra simple recipe?

    For this recipe, the fresh mushrooms are dredged first in buttermilk and then coated in seasoned flour. You can season the all-purpose flour mixture however you would like. We recommend complimenting the flavor of the mushrooms with a little garlic powder, onion powder, ground thyme, salt, black pepper and a pinch of cayenne. Meanwhile, while you are dredging the mushrooms, heat vegetable oil in a large skillet. Once the oil is hot, add your coated mushrooms in small batches and fry, flipping once, until golden brown and delicious. It's that easy!

    Please be careful to ensure that morel mushrooms are thoroughly cooked before consuming. Like many mushrooms, raw morels are toxic and need to be fully cooked for six, or more, minutes.

    When I Dip, You Dip, We Dip: Lemon Crema Edition

    Truth be told, this morel mushroom recipe is so good, a sprinkle of salt and squeeze of lemon is all you really need. That being said, we never say no to a dip! This Lemon Crema is made from crème fraîche seasoned with freshly-squeezed lemon juice. That's it! It's tangy, creamy, lemon-y and so tasty with Fried Morels!

    a fried morel mushroom being dipped into lemon Crema

    Share Your Success!

    We can't wait for you to taste this recipe! Fried Morels & Lemon Crema are such a delicious Spring appetizer! When this recipe makes its way to your table, be sure to drop us a star rating! And, as always, mention @foodworthfeed or tag #foodworthfeed in your Instagram posts and stories! We’d love to feature you on social! We love having a seat at your table, you’ll always have one at ours. Cheers! 

    More Spring Recipes

    Find just what you're looking for in our entire collection of food and beverage recipes.

    • Mini Mushroom Pies with Thyme
    • Green Pea Pasta with Burrata
    • Raclette Grilled Cheese with Mushrooms and Thyme
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    Recipe

    holding a fried morel mushroom that was dipped in a lemon Crema

    Fried Morels & Lemon Crema (How to Fry Morel Mushrooms)

    These Fried Morel Mushrooms with Lemon Crema are perfect for celebrating a bountiful Spring forage!
    4.86 from 7 votes
    Rate This Recipe
    Print Pin
    Course: Appetizer, Snacks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 Appetizer Servings
    Author: foodworthfeed
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    Special Equipment

    • Instant-Read Thermometer (Optional)

    Ingredients

    Fried Morels

    • ½ pound fresh morel mushrooms cleaned (For more information, See How To Clean Morel Mushrooms text above)
    • About 1½ Cups vegetable oil (for frying) about ½ inch (1+ centimeters) of oil in the pan
    • 1½ Cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 Tablespoon fine kosher salt* plus more for sesoning
    • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1½ teaspoons onion powder
    • 1½ teaspoons ground thyme
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne optional
    • 1 Cup buttermilk
    • Lemon wedges optional

    Lemon Crema

    • 6 ounces crème fraîche
    • Freshly-squeezed lemon juice to taste
    • fine kosher salt* to taste
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Fried Morels

    • Gather, measure and prepare the Fried Morels ingredients as listed.
    • In a large, deep skillet, heat oil ½ inch (1+ centimeter) of oil over high heat. Heat oil to 350° Fahrenheit (180° celsius). We recommend using an instant-read thermometer to ensure your oil is at the correct temperature for frying.
    • Meanwhile, in a shallow bowl, combine flour, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, pepper and cayenne (if using). Whisk to combine and set aside.
    • Add buttermilk to a seperate bowl. Then, drop clean morel mushrooms in buttermilk and toss to coat. With one hand (your "wet" hand) remove morels from buttermilk, shaking off any excess. Add wet morel mushrooms directly to the flour mixture. Using your other hand (your "dry" hand) toss the mushrooms to coat generously in seasoned flour.
    • Once the oil is hot, carefully drop mushrooms into the oil in batches. Do not overcrowd the pan. Fry mushrooms for three or more minutes before flipping. Fry the morels for an additional three or more minutes or until golden brown and fully cooked. Cut into a larger mushroom to test for doneness. Raw morel mushrooms are toxic and must be fully cooked through before consuming.
    • Transfer Fried Morels to a paper towel lined plate to drain off any excess oil. Season with salt, to taste, immediately. Fry remaining mushrooms in batches. Serve immediately with lemon wedges and/or Lemon Crema.

    Lemon Crema

    • Gather, measure and prepare the Lemon Crema ingredients as listed.
    • Place creme fraiche in a small serving bowl. Add lemon juice to taste and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt. Keep chilled until ready to serve with Fried Morel Mushrooms.

    *Unless otherwise noted, foodworthfeed recipes are developed using Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt. If using iodized or table salt, reduce quantities by about half.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 637kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 57g | Saturated Fat: 46g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 1232mg | Potassium: 274mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 114IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 7mg
    Did You Try This Recipe?Please leave a star rating! Then snap a pic & mention @foodworthfeed or tag #foodworthfeed to be featured on our Instagram stories!

    More Appetizers, Snacks & Sides

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. monica witherell

      May 17, 2022 at 2:21 pm

      Can dried morels soaked in water be used for this recipe?

      Reply
      • foodworthfeed

        May 17, 2022 at 6:45 pm

        No, sorry! We do not recommend using dried morel mushrooms for this recipe.

        Reply

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