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There’s a craft brewery in our neighborhood that has surprisingly good food. And by good, I mean amazing. In fact, Anguel & I might like their food even more than their beers...and as I write this, I realize that might be faux pas to admit out loud, but just being honest. One of our favorite items on the menu is a delicious Pulled Mushroom Banh Mi Sandwich. After our second time eating it - in the same week - we decided we needed to do something about it. At home, we turned the pulled mushroom filling into a barbecue-sauce glazed “pulled pork” sandwich instead. Tucked in a super simple crunchy slaw, and called it a day. The combination is mouthwateringly good. But perhaps the best thing about it? Cooks in 30 minutes.
This sandwich is for the days when you want something comforting and hearty (dare we say “meaty”). It’s not shy on flavor, and because it makes a pretty serious sandwich, you’ll probably want to roll up your sleeves. We especially love making it for guests. Not only can it be prepped in advance, but it’s always been a hit. When even your most meat-loving friends proclaim they “can’t believe it’s vegan” - as they mop up every last crumb - you know you’ve hit it out of the park.
The trick to the “pulled pork” filling is to get your hands on King Oyster mushrooms. King Oyster mushrooms have thick stems, which when pulled apart with a fork, look surprisingly like pulled meat. If your local grocery store doesn’t stock them, Whole Foods usually does. Asian grocery stores almost always stock King Oyster mushrooms, and this is usually where you’ll score the best deals. If you’re lucky you can find them loose (i.e. not in packaging); otherwise check the pre-portioned containers of mushrooms. Don’t be surprised if it seems like a lot of mushrooms at the start. They shrink down significantly when cooked, and you don’t want to be short on filling.
When it comes to cooking, it’s important to give your shredded mushrooms enough time to sear in the pan. If you have a cast iron skillet pan, it’s time to whip it out. In any case, avoid over-stirring the mushrooms so they can get a good sear on each side. You’ll notice the ingredient list is short for the filling (hurray!). Tamari (or soy sauce) is one of our most-used flavoring hacks when it comes to mushrooms. It infuses a savory, salty flavor into mushrooms that’s down right delicious. Then, all it takes is just a couple spices, and a sticky barbecue sauce to infuse the rest of the flavor. We really like to use our Healthier Homemade Barbecue Sauce for this one, and strongly encourage you to give it a try. It’s naturally sweetened and devoid of a ton of added junk that most store-bought barbecue sauce are loaded with (like heaps of refined sugar, preservatives, smoke, etc.). To save yourself time, make the barbecue sauce in advance. But this is a judgement free zone, so if you want to go the store-bought route, you do you.
The rest of the sandwich comes together in a flash. While the mushrooms are searing on the pan, you can multitask and whip up the slaw. You can even toast the buns, if you wish. Then lay out lots of napkins, because you’ll probably need them!
📖 Recipe
BBQ Pulled Mushroom Sandwiches
Ingredients
Pulled Mushroom Filling
- 21 oz king oyster mushrooms (trumpet mushrooms)
- 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil, divided (or other neutral oil)
- 4 teaspoons tamari (or soy sauce)
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ cup Healthier Homemade Barbecue Sauce (or store-bought, see note 1)
Cabbage Slaw
- 2 cups shredded green cabbage
- ½ cup green apple, cut into matchsticks (or grated)
- 2 scallions/green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 to 3 tablespoons mayonnaise (more for spreading, see note 2)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon whole grain dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 4 soft buns (toasted, see note 3)
Instructions
- Shred mushrooms: Cut the tops off the mushrooms, slice as thinly as possible. Set aside. Rake a fork down the base of the mushroom stems to shred them.
- Make Cabbage Slaw: In a medium bowl, combine cabbage, green apple, scallions, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and grainy mustard. Stir well, until evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and refrigerate.
- Cook mushrooms: Heat grapeseed oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Scatter mushrooms into hot oil. Use a heatproof spatula to press the mushrooms down into a single layer, maximizing the surface area in contact with the hot pan. Let cook undisturbed until brown on the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown on the other side, about 5 minutes.
- Season mushrooms: Reduce heat to medium. Add tamari, toss to coat. Cook, stirring frequently, for another 5 minutes. Sprinkle in paprika and garlic powder. Cook until the mushrooms are crispy on the edges, about 5 minutes. Pour in barbecue sauce, stir to coat. Cook until sauce is sticky and hot, about 3 minutes.
- Assemble: Open the toasted buns, spread with mayonnaise, top with mushrooms and cabbage slaw.
Notes
- Barbecue sauce: This recipe was developed and tested with Healthier Homemade Barbecue Sauce. You could substitute with an equal amount of store-bought sauce, but if you go this route, adjust the smoked paprika and garlic powder as needed. Other BBQ sauces will vary in flavor contain liquid smoke (which, combined with the smoked paprika, might be taste too smoky). If using store-bought BBQ sauce, don't add the spices until after you add your sauce - then taste and add spices as needed.
- Mayonnaise: Use vegan mayonnaise if needed.
- Buns: Soft buns - like brioche, potato buns, or similar - are recommended. Use vegan or gluten-free buns if needed.
Andrea says
These sandwiches are AMAZING. My wife and I love making these - we even froze some extra filling and it reheated very well for an easy weeknight meal!
Brooke says
I made this a couple of days ago and it was delicious. We ate it with homemade sourdough bread. Really amazing.
Bri says
Hi Brooke! YUMM! Homemade sourdough bread sounds like an amazing combination. So glad you loved the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
xx Bri
Mia says
It is not an understatement when I say that these are the best burgers I’ve ever made !!!!! So hearty and delicious and cabbage slaw is so perfect with the mushrooms !! Have sent this to literally every person I know
Bri says
Mia!!! THANK YOU so much for these kind words! So thrilled you loved this recipe. We really appreciate you sharing it with others too. Big hugs, Bri