Make Like Super Mario with the Power of Mushrooms!

In the Super Mario series of video games, the mustachioed hero gets superpowers every time he gobbles up a “Super Mushroom.” Now, you may not need to rescue princesses and throw fireballs on a regular basis, but gobbling up the mushrooms you buy at the supermarket can work wonders for your health.

The tender little gems are full of vitamins that help make red blood cells, keep your nervous system healthy, and help your body use energy from food. Mushrooms are also an important source of minerals, which do everything from controlling blood pressure to strengthening your immune system.

Lose weight, stay healthy, save money

Mushrooms also contain lots of fibre. Research shows that fibre helps you maintain a healthy body weight by making meals more satisfying and, in turn, reducing portion sizes.

Smaller portions save you money, as does the meat-extending power of mushrooms. Simply replace half the meat in a meal with fresh mushrooms, and voila! You’ll get the same meaty taste while spending less on dishes like burgers, lasagna and tacos.

Is all this why the creators of Super Mario used mushrooms for power-ups? Maybe they just loved the delicious taste of this wonder food, which is the key ingredient in this easy-to-prepare and easy-to-follow recipe.

Balsamic Mushrooms with Herbs

This recipe feeds two people, so double the ingredients if you want to feed 4, or if you want some leftovers to add to steamed rice or salad greens for lunch the next day.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of canola oil or olive oil
• 6 ounces of button mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon of chopped herbs such as thyme, rosemary and parsley

STEP 1: Heat canola oil or olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat.

STEP 2: Wash and add mushrooms.

STEP 3: Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.

STEP 4: Add butter and balsamic vinegar.

STEP 5: Drizzle with honey and sauté until a glaze forms, about 1 minute.

STEP 6: Remove the pan from the heat, season the mushrooms to taste with salt and pepper, and add chopped herbs.

Now, it’s time to cook up some mushrooms; tell us about your favourite mushroom recipes in the comments below…and maybe launch a few fireballs while you’re at it!