This is my favorite way to cook mushrooms. Use any variety for this recipe. When cooking the mushrooms, make sure they are spread into one layer in the pan and not crowded so they brown instead of steam. You can make this easy mushroom recipe with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Or, for more flavor, add the butter, thyme, and lemon.
8 ounces mushrooms such as cremini, shiitake or Portobello (2 ½ cups chopped)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt or more to taste
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 tablespoon butter, optional
1 garlic clove, minced, optional
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried, optional
1 tablespoon fresh grated lemon zest, optional
Juice of half a lemon, optional
Using a damp paper towel, brush off dirt from the mushrooms. Cut away and discard any hard stems. Chop into 1/4-inch slices or, if the mushrooms are larger, like portobello, cut into 1/4-inch cubes.
Heat the olive oil in a large, wide skillet over medium heat.
Add the mushrooms and spread into one layer. Then cook, without moving, until browned on one side, 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir then cook another 3 to 5 minutes or until mostly golden brown on all sides. Stir in the salt and pepper.
For lemon garlic mushrooms, stir in the butter, garlic, thyme, and lemon zest. Cook until the garlic is fragrant and the butter absorbs into the mushrooms, about 2 minutes.
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in lemon juice.