Mushrooms are one of the quintessential pizza toppings. They are great with peppers and olives or sausage and onions. Mushrooms are key to three classic Italian pizzas prosciutto e fungi (ham and mushroom), mare e monte (sea and land), and the capdricciosa.
Mare e monte pizza has shrimp from the sea and mushrooms from the mountains, and capricciosa is topped with ham, artichokes, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
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If you want to recreate these classic Italian pizzas or make your own creation, we have a list of the best mushrooms to buy online for homemade pizza.
What Are Mushrooms? A First Look Explanation
Mushrooms seem to be getting a moment right now. With a popular documentary on Netflix called Fantastic Fungi is about how the magical world of fungi. And the exciting drama series The Last of Us on HBO is a fictional look at a post-apocalyptic world after a fungi outbreak takes over.
While we highly recommend both mushroom-related shows, we are more concerned with mushrooms on our favorite food, pizza.
So what exactly are mushrooms, well they are, according to Wikipedia, “the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source.”
You are probably most familiar with white, crimini, and portobello mushrooms which you can find in any supermarket, but there are a lot of other types of mushrooms that are excellent on pizza.
Edible mushrooms grow in the USA, and many adventurers forage for mushrooms as a hobby. But if foraging isn’t your thing, then you can check out our list of the best mushrooms to buy online for homemade pizza from the comfort of your own home, no hiking boots or rain jacket required.
And no, we won’t tell you our favorite foraging spots in Minnesota. They are highly guarded secrets so no steals our wild mushrooms!
How to Use Mushrooms on Homemade Pizza
The three top ways to use mushrooms on pizza are just to slice fresh mushrooms and add them as a topping. They will cook as the pizza cooks. Or you can slice them and saute them with garlic and olive oil before adding them to the pizza.
Sautéing them gives them a richer umami flavor and chewier texture. Or if you get dehydrated mushrooms which is a common way to buy them, especially wild mushrooms, then you need to rehydrate them in hot water for ten minutes and then either add them to the pizza or sauté them and use them.
If you follow a low-carb or keto diet, then using a large portobello cap as a pizza crust is a great way to make use of these unique fungi. We like to make mini pizza stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer to bring to parties and potlucks too.
Best Mushrooms to Buy Online for Homemade Pizza
Wild Morel Mushrooms from Adam’s Mushrooms
Morel mushrooms are coveted among chefs. These earthy nutty tasting mushrooms only grow in the wild, have an extremely short growing season, and are highly perishable.
So they are quite elusive, but when you do get your hands on some, you will know why many chefs have turned into mushroom foragers to get their fresh morels. These morels are dried, and once rehydrated, you can use them on your favorite pizza.
These specific morels come from the Pacific Northwest, which is full of all kinds of edible mushrooms. Because they grow in the Spring, they pair well with other Spring vegetables.
Try a Morel Pizza with Asparagus, Sausage, and Fontina
Wild Chanterelle from West Coast Wild Foods
Chanterelle mushrooms are one of the most widely known wild edible mushrooms. They have a unique funnel shape and range in color from bright yellow to orange to white. They have a fruit-like, slightly peppery taste and are great on homemade pizza.
While they are the most common wild edible mushroom, foragers should be aware that there are false chanterelles that are poisonous. So unless you are an experienced forager, stick to these wild chanterelles foraged in British Columbia.
Try a Chanterelle Pizza with Sage and Proscuitto
Dried Porcini from Sanniti
Porcini mushrooms are popular in Italian cuisine. You can find them in pasta, soup, or, you guessed it, on a piping hot pizza pie. Porcini mushrooms have a nutty, earthy taste and are quite meaty and often used in place of meat. These ones are grown in Italy.
Try a Porcini Pizza with Pesto and Provolone
Oyster Mushrooms from Terra Dolce
Oyster mushrooms have a delicate, almost briny flavor with a velvety texture. They have a taste that is reminiscent of seafood but not as strong. When they are cooked, they have a hint of anise flavor.
Try an Oyster Mushroom Pizza with Garlic, Arugula, and Pine Nuts
Maitake Mushrooms from Mycological
Maitake mushrooms, go by several names, hen-of-the-woods or ram’s head. They are a mushroom usually associated with Asian cuisine. They have a strong earthy flavor with a touch of spice.
Try a Maitake Mushroom Pizza with Chicken, Basil, and Hot Peppers
Portobello Mushrooms from Life Gourmet Shop
Portobello mushrooms are large with a meaty texture. They are often used to replace meat, like in burgers, because of their dense texture. They have a rich earthy aroma and soak up aromatics. We love them with roasted garlic.
Try a Portobello Mushroom Pizza with Artichokes, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Roasted Garlic, and Goat Cheese
Dried Shiitake
Shiitake mushrooms are common in Asian cuisine and are used in stir-fries, soups, and sauces. They are excellent on pizza and have a smoky, earthy flavor.
Try a Shiitake Mushroom Pizza with Scallions, Shredded Carrots, Bok Choy, and Peanut Sauce.
Wild Candy Cap Mushrooms from West Coast Wild Foods
Candy cap mushrooms are wild mushrooms with a sweet flavor similar to maple syrup. This unique mushroom is a delicacy and is often used in desserts like Blondies, chocolates, cookies, and even ice cream. But we love the sweet vs. smoky flavors on pizza, so that’s how we suggest using them on pizza.
Try a Candy Cap Pizza with Canadian Bacon, Pineapple, and Red Onions
Pickled Hot Garlic Mushrooms from Jack and Amos
These marinated mushrooms are amazing. They are hot with enough garlic to keep a legion of vampires away. Just take them out of the jar and slice them up for a hot garlic mushroom pizza. Sometimes we even skip the pizza altogether and just eat them as a snack they are so good.
Try a Hot Garlic Mushroom Pizza with Roasted Red Peppers and Italian Sausage.
What are your favorite mushrooms to buy online for homemade pizza?
