Classic Morel Recipes

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Consider this page as your own personal Morel Mushroom Cookbook. So head for the kitchen, grab the butter, heat up the skillet, or fire up the grill. The Great Morel wishes to thank everyone who has contributed to this cookbook, which contains some of the finest morel recipes you may ever find.

From good old fashion “eggs and crackers” to “wine and pasta” you’ll find there is something here that’ll satisfy all your taste-buds! The Great Morel receives lots of requests for various ways to preserve these tasty morsels, hence the creation of a page for those creative preserving ideas. Check out some interesting ways of preserving your morels in the Preserving section of the cookbook along with The Complete Guide to Preserving Morels and the article on Health Benefits of Morel Mushrooms.
Morels in the Kitchen

Photo courtesy of Jeannie D

Recipe Quick Index



Wood Family Favorite in a butter entrée

Courtesy of renowned Ohio morel hunters, Dave and Dan Wood
This recipe has been the Wood family favorite for many years. It is probably known as one of the more traditional morel recipe for many morel hunters. You can substitute the crackers with flour if so desired.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Equipment

  • skillet (cast iron preferred)
  • 2 mixing bowls
  • tongs

Ingredients
  

  • 1 big haul of fresh morel mushrooms rinsed, halved and/or quartered
  • 2 lbs real butter or margarine
  • 1 doz eggs
  • 1 box saltine crackers (salted or unsalted crackers or use flower)

Instructions
 

  • Mushroom Preparation – Wash and cut fresh mushrooms into quarters, slicing long way. Rinse the morels to rid of dirt and critters that may be in your morels. You can soak in large bowl of slightly salted water to remove and kill all those little pesky critters as well, but go easy on the salt and then leave soak in refrigerator for a couple of hours.
    Note: if you are not going to cook your shrooms within the next day two after picking them, make sure to drain the excess water and keep covered with damp paper towel and refrigerate. This prevents your mushrooms from getting soggy and mushy. Drain excess water and lay on cookie sheet.
  • Preparing the Feast - Preheat skillet (cast iron preferred) and about 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium low heat. Crack eggs into large bowl and beat till blended well. Place a large amount of crackers into a zip lock bag and roll with a roller to finely crushed crumbs and place in large mixing bowl.
  • Cooking - Place a hand full of cut and cleaned mushrooms into egg batter and coat real good. Individually cover mushrooms in cracker crumbs. Place in pre-heated skillet (cast iron preferred) and butter. Saute in butter for approx 5 minutes over medium heat turning as needed until golden in color.
  • Serving Suggestions - You can eat’m as fast as the cook can cook them. The Wood family typically feasts with burgers and fresh vegee’s. Good company and shroom’n stories of the day’s hunt top off this great feast! It truly does not get any better than this!

Notes

Note: add more butter as needed when frying, and be careful not to over heat the butter. Also, you may want to use unsalted crackers and unsalted butter, and season to taste after they are cooked.

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King of the Plate (Morels with Flour)

Courtesy of Jim from Imperial
I can't for the life of me figure why anyone would ruin a perfectly good morel mushroom with saltine crackers!!
I have introduced a dozen people to the mighty morel with this tried and true recipe -- which lets the mushroom be king of the plate. All of them have become converts and a few reported a nearly religious experience! Serve the mushrooms with homemade bread (warm) with butter and you have a meal better than any that has ever been served to royalty.
There is no better use of a morel then when it is covered in flour and sauteed in butter and eaten. I wouldn't have them any other way!!!!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Equipment

  • Frying Pan (non-stick is good...iron skillet is better)
  • Tongs or fork

Ingredients
  

  • Morels a bunch of them (sliced)
  • 1/2 cup Flour (or more)
  • 4 tbsp Butter or margarine
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Instructions
 

Preperation

  • Coat Morels in flour (either in gallon zip lock bag that has flour in it or using a plate covered in flour)
  • Melt butter/margarine in frying pan over medium heat (don’t overheat it!!!!!)

Cooking

  • Saute mushrooms (gently) in butter/margarine. Turning when needed.
  • Remove from skillet and salt and pepper to taste.
    Eat.

Notes

Serve the mushrooms with homemade bread (warm) with butter and you have a meal better than any that has ever been served to royalty.
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Pan Fried Morels

Courtesy of Tiffany
Yes. Finally. Spring is here. Red Buds are blooming, the crickets are chirping and the morel mushrooms are popping up like crazy. After going a few years without any I was lucky enough to grab me some. If you have never tried or don’t know much about the odd little morel mushroom you can learn all you need to know here on The Great Morel. I personally like to batter and pan fry these guys. Its a good thing they only show up for a short while during the year or my fitness plan and diet would be in major trouble.
Here’s my process for a crunchy breading that actually stays put!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes

Equipment

  • 3 large mixing bowls
  • Skillet/frying pan
  • tongs

Ingredients
  

  • Morel mushrooms of coarse
  • 2 cups Organic Flour
  • ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper Powder
  • ¼ tsp Onion Powder
  • Plenty of Sea salt for brine
  • 2 Eggs
  • ½ cup Milk
  • 1 Stick Butter or Ghee

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • First you will brine your morels in a cool salt water bath using water and salt. Your brine should be as salty as the ocean to properly do its job and you will need to let them soak for 30 minutes. Don’t be squeamish if this is your first time prepping morels, there will be little critters emerging from your mushrooms. This totally natural, the brine brings them out and with a quick rinse you will have nothing to worry about.
  • Mix your egg and milk in a bowl.
  • Mix your flour and spices in a bowl.
  • Melt your butter (or frying oil of choice) in a pan on Med/Low heat.
  • Now you will begin by dipping your morels in the egg and milk mix and then rolling in your flour. I like to repeat this process a second time to create a nice crispy batter.

Cooking

  • Fry the morels slowly to ensure they get the proper steam to develop that lovely flavor and keep the stomach woes at bay. I like to aim for at least 6 mins each side. If your oil gets too hot remove the pan from your broiler and reduce the heat placing the pan back on the broiler once desired temperature is reached.
    Salt to taste and enjoy natures bounty!!!

Notes

This recipe is courtesy of Tiffany who won the 2017 Recipe of the Month Contest.
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fried morels in butter

Photo and recipe courtesy of Tiffany

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Half Rice Flour and Half Wheat Flour

Courtesy of Bob F. in Indiana
Here is a tip you might try.
I recently saw a recipe that won the best fish & chips in Great Britain. The secret was using half rice flour and half wheat flour. They made the batter using beer/vodka along with baking soda. Scientifically speaking, I guess the alcohol dissolves the "sticky" gluten in wheat flour, and rice flour doesn't have much gluten to begin with. It was more of a tempura style crunchy.
Anyway, I tried dusting my morels with rice flour, and then frying in butter. Seemed to be much crisper without having to cook them too long.
Prep Time 10 minutes

Equipment

  • skillet

Ingredients
  

  • morels
  • rice flour
  • wheat flour
  • 4 sticks butter
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions
 

  • Anyway, I tried dusting my morels with rice flour, and then frying in butter. Seemed to be much crisper without having to cook them too long.

Notes

Also, one of my friends said that when he is pining for morels in the winter, he just uses Portobellas. Actually pretty good if you cut them in 1/4" strips and fry them the same way as morels. I added some nut flour made in the coffee grinder for that "woody, nutty" taste that is unique to morels. Not a bad substitute.
 
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Morel Mushroom Sauce

Courtesy of Jim Baymiller, Memphis TN.
Sautee in a few tablespoons hot butter ’til done: 4 each of: Boneless chicken breasts, butterflied or Walleye filet, Pheasant breast or Veal cutlets, pounded thin. Keep warm and ladle sauce over, using heated plates-BON APPETITE!!!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • 12" non-stick skillet
  • tongs
  • heated plates (not required)

Ingredients
  

  • 4 Boneless Chicken Breast substitute with butterflied walleye fish, pheasant breasts, or veal cutlets
  • 3 tbsp butter (no substitute)
  • 3 cups morels (sliced 1" long)
  • ½ tbs dried parsley
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • ¼ cup green onion (thinly sliced)
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 2 cups whipping cream
  • 1 tsp Lawrey's salt
  • ½ tsp Dijon mustard

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Chop morels into small slices not more than 1 inch long
    chop green onions into thin slices
    finely chop parsley if using fresh parsley

Cooking

  • Chicken (or substitute)
    Sautee boneless chicken breasts in a few tablespoons hot butter ’til done. Keep warm until sauce is finished.
  • Sauce
    In a 12″ non-stick skillet, heat 3 Tbs. butter (no substitute) over med.-high heat until foaming.
    Add 3 Cups small gray morels - for larger morels cut into slices no more than 1″ long.
    Sautee, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 min. until slightly crispy.
    Add 1/4 C. thinly sliced green onion tops, 1/2 Tbs. dried parsley, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg, 1/4 tsp. pepper, 1 tsp. Lawrey’s salt, and cook for a few minutes.
    Turn heat to higher and add 1/2 C. dry white wine and reduce to almost a glaze.
    Turn heat to med. and add 2 C. whipping cream and 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard.
    Reduce slightly over slow boil until thickened- about 10-12 min.
    Plate and serve sauce over chicken and enjoy!.

Notes

Recipe for 4 persons. To make these really grand dishes, add 20-24 nice-sized boiled shrimp to sauce before serving.
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Morels in Wine Sauce

A simple classic morel wine sauce.
Prep Time 10 minutes
15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Equipment

  • large skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups re-hydrated morels
  • 1 cup scallions or garlic
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ½ cup white wine
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley

Instructions
 

  • Over medium heat, gently sautè scallions and/or garlic with re-hydrated morels in a combination of oil and butter, until morels are lightly browned and have absorbed the butter and oil.
    Remove the morels and de-glaze pan with white wine.
    Reduce by half, then return morels with freshly chopped parsley.
    Simmer a few more minutes.
    Serve on toast with freshly ground pepper.

Notes

To rehydrate, simply place in warm water or cooking liquid for one hour until plump.
Keyword morel wine sauce
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Grilled Shrooms

Courtesy of Mark & Susan ...somewhere in Illinois
Last night my husband put them on the barbecue grill. I did not know if I would like this but, they where delicious. He seasoned them with seasoning salt, just a bit and cooked them with our hamburgers.

Equipment

  • Grill
  • tongs

Ingredients
  

  • mess of morels
  • seasoning salt

Instructions
 

  • Slice morels and throw them on the grill
    seasoned them with seasoning salt just a bit and cook them with your hamburgers.

Notes

I like them battered in egg and milk and deep fried myself.
 

 

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Less is More...

Courtesy of Michael Hall - Goodland, Indiana
I know that many people prefer to eat these with some kind of coating, i.e.. flour, crackers, etc. In my opinion, Less is More! I usually serve morels with a Red Meat dish. Nothing like Morels and a big fat juicy steak off the grill!
I use an Iron Skillet and melt as much butter as needed to cover what shrooms I have. I season the morels with salt and pepper only, maybe season salt if my tastes buds desire, but that is all. Sautee' the mushrooms, over medium heat, until desired doneness and enjoy! I feel if you doctor them up too much you are really taking away the true flavor of these magnificent jewels of the forest.
Thanks and see you in the woods.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Equipment

  • Iron Skillet

Ingredients
  

  • morels
  • 4 sticks butter
  • salt (substitute seasoning salt)
  • pepper fresh ground
  • steaks (chefs choice)

Instructions
 

  • in iron skillet, melt as much butter as needed to cover morels
    season the morels with salt and pepper only
    optional - use seasoning salt if taste buds desire
    Sautee' the mushrooms, over medium heat, turning occasionally until desired doneness
    serve with grilled steaks

Notes

(Note from The Great Morel - it might not get any better than this)
Keyword morels in butter
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Simple Recipe with corn flakes

From someone long ago
I've been hunting morels in NE Iowa now for over 20 years and I still think this is the best tasting (simple) recipe. Delicious!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Equipment

  • skillet
  • 2 mixing bowls
  • tongs

Ingredients
  

  • morels plenty of them
  • 2-3 eggs
  • 2-3 cups Kellogg's Corn Flake Crumbs (not the cereal, the Crumbs.)
  • 4 sticks butter
  • salt Kosher preferred

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Whisk eggs in bowl until well mixed.
  • Fill another bowl with the Corn Flake Crumbs.
  • Add a pinch of salt if desired. (I prefer Kosher salt for more flavor, but use less.)

Cooking

  • Dip morels into egg mixture
    Lightly coat both sides of morel with Kellogg's Corn Flake Crumbs.
    Fry in lots of butter and flip when light brown.
    Add more butter as necessary until done.
    Delicious!
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Pati's Best Morel Recipe

Courtesy of PTO - (Added March 2010)
Here is my DELICIOUS user-friendly recipe...
Get plenty of rest to be ready to hunt for more the next day!!
Bon Appettit!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Equipment

  • skillet (cast iron preferred)
  • 2 mixing bowls
  • tongs
  • shallow pan or casserole bowl
  • paper towels

Ingredients
  

  • fresh morels sliced lengthwise
  • cooking oil
  • 1 box Saltine crackers
  • 3 eggs
  • salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp Lawry's seasoning
  • 1 cup flour
  • cup water

Instructions
 

Preperation

  • Lightly wash and slice mushrooms lengthwise in half. Pre-soak in Salted water. (Preferably overnight). This helps to neutralize the acid…to avoid "digestive" issues.
  • Preheat app 1/3" of cooking oil in a 10" cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
  • Prepare paper towels to drain excess oil from cooked mushrooms.
  • Rinse & Drain mushrooms well in a large colander.
  • Empty (2) inner packages of Saltine crackers into a 1-Gallon Ziploc Bag. Crush with a rolling pin to a fine crumbly consistency.
  • Add 1 C Flour, 1/2 Tbsp Lowry's seasoning salt, and 1 tsp each of Pepper and Paprika. Shake together and place in a shallow pan or casserole bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whip 3 eggs.
  • Add approximately 1/3 C water, 1/2 tsp of Lawry's & Pepper and mix well.
  • With one hand, dip mushrooms into egg-wash, allowing excess to drip off. Toss into cracker mix.
  • With other hand, immediately toss more cracker mix on top to cover entire mushroom. Shake off excess to avoid scorching in pan.

Cooking

  • Place into heated oil…split-side down. Continue until pan is full.
  • Cook until lightly golden. Turn over w/tongs and cook other side until golden brown. Flip them back over for a bit to allow excess oil from underside to drain better.
  • Place onto paper towels…split side down. May salt lightly, but NOT necessary. Don't want to bury the mushroom flavor…Good idea to taste-test first.
  • Continue until all mushrooms are cooked…May need to fend off eager consumers.

Notes

Get plenty of rest to be ready to hunt for more the next day!! Bon Appettit!
Keyword classic morel recipe
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Simple Recipe with potato chips

Courtesy of Becky Wolfe, in Ohio
This is a recipe I use to make what I call Crispy-Crunchie Mushrooms.
Prep Time 6 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes

Equipment

  • skillet
  • Rolling Pin
  • mixing bowls

Ingredients
  

  • morels
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 bag potato chips
  • 2 tbsp garlic salt

Instructions
 

  • Melt 1 stick of butter in a heavy skillet
  • Use a rolling pin and crunch a bag of potato chips.
  • Dip mushrooms in butter and roll in crunched potato chips.
  • Fry till golden brown and top with a sprinkle of garlic salt.
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Ritz Crackers and Parmesan Cheese

Courtesy of Chuck Partak - Coal City, IL
I am basically a new shroomer but still a shroomer nevertheless. My neighbor down the street is what I'd call a professional shroomer. He and his wonderful wife let me in on this delicious recipe. Pretty simple. Adjust recipe depending on your number of table guests or personal gluttony.
After tasting these I thought I'd died and gone to Heaven.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes

Equipment

  • skillet
  • tongs
  • mixing bowls

Ingredients
  

  • 8-10 Morels 2-3 inch morels (halved)
  • One extra large egg beaten
  • 2 cups Ritz crackers crushed fine
  • Real Butter unsalted
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese shaker style
  • 2 tbsp black crushed pepper

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Melt butter medium to high heat.
  • Halve and wash the morels in cold water, use NO salt.
  • Mix the crushed Ritz crackers and Parmesan cheese in a bowl (optional - add black pepper)
  • Bathe them in the beaten egg, turning and making sure every nook and cranny is coated with egg.
  • Slightly with black pepper (optional-mix the black pepper with the dredge mixture).
  • Dredge through the cheese and cracker mixture until coated well.

Cooking

  • Drop coated morels into the hot skillet with real unsalted butter
  • Turn once and/or until golden brown
  • Serve hot -Enjoy the bounty
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morels with bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese

Bread Crumbs and Parmesan Cheese

Courtesy of Timmy - Graham, Washington
I forgot to tell you what I made with some of the morels I had found.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes

Equipment

  • skillet
  • mixing bowls (2)
  • cookie sheet

Ingredients
  

  • 15-20 medium sized morels washed and halved
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • 1 tbs crushed black pepper
  • 1 tbs crushed sea salt
  • 3 tbs Parmesan cheese fine grated
  • 3-4 thick slices medium cheddar
  • 1 egg for egg wash
  • 4 sticks butter

Instructions
 

Preperation

  • Mix all dry ingredients in a shallow bowl. (bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper)
  • Warm healthy amount of butter in small frying pan.
  • Beat egg and place in separate shallow bowl.

Cooking

  • Dip shrooms in egg wash and dredge into breadcrumb mixture, immediately place into hot butter. Fry until crispy golden brown.
  • remove from skillet and arrange shrooms on small cookie sheet, placing a 1/4 inch strip of cheddar in the middle of each one.
  • Place into a preheated 375° degree oven for about 4-6 minutes, or until cheese melts.
  • Remove, let cool, and enjoy.

Notes

Try with any of your favorite cheeses or spice up the breadcrumbs with some cayenne pepper and minced garlic.
 
Photo courtesy of Scott H (Sidney, OH) who claimed this was "excellent"
Keyword classic morel recipe, morels in butter
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pan fried morels

A Grandmother's Morel Recipe

Courtesy of Laurie L
Prep Time 14 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes

Equipment

  • wide shallow bowl
  • large cast iron skillet
  • thick paper bag

Ingredients
  

  • a batch of Morels halved, cleaned & soaked
  • 2 cups cornmeal
  • ¼ milk
  • 1 country egg
  • 1 cup bacon grease
  • 1 tbsp black pepper

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • One batch of Morels, halved, cleaned & soaked "a while" or overnight in salt water with a heavy plate weighing them down in the water, then rinsed well & drained at cooking time.
  • In a wide shallow bowl: mix 1 Country Egg with 1/4 c. milk
  • In a thick paper bag: add 2 c. cornmeal with 1 t. black pepper mixed in.
  • In a deep well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, melt bacon grease 1" deep.
    Get it good and hot but not smoking.
  • Now dip your mushrooms in the milk and egg mixture and let them soak a little while your grease is heating.
  • Pick a handful out of the bowl and shake them a little to get off some of the liquid excess then drop them in the bag of cornmeal.
  • Hold your hand on the bottom of the bag so  it doesn't break, and gently shake.
  • Add more mushrooms, shaking gently after each addition.

Cooking

  • When they are all coated very well, start laying them in a single layer in the hot skillet.
  • Try to only turn them once, that way your coating stays on better.
  • Don't salt, bacon grease is salty.
  • When golden, drain on paper and serve.

Notes

Being lazy, I gently dump the coated morels in a colander set in a larger bowl. This lets the loose stuff fall off and if you need to touch up any bare spots your coating is right there.
My husband's family uses cracker crumbs and they made a production line out of it for extra family fun. It truly doesn't get any better than this, and if there aren't Morels in Heaven, I'm not sure I want to go there!
 
Keyword bacon grease, classic morel recipe

 

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Olive oil and garlic …

The all time morel recipe in our family is to take your find of the day and sautee the morels in pure olive oil, fresh garlic, and add a little marsala wine. Very scrumptious!

Courtesy of Carla G

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Another breading, oil and garlic

Courtesy of Steve and Carla G
I noticed your website and found some of the recipes quite tempting. I can hardly wait for the season to come in so I can try them. Here is a recipe of ours... Soak the morel mushrooms in milk to coat, then roll in a mixture of half flour/half cornmeal. Salt/Pepper or use season salt. Add to a hot skillet of olive or canola oil with minced garlic or shallots. Tastes great as a side or top of a steak with them.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Equipment

  • skillet

Ingredients
  

  • fresh morels sliced or halved
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 cup milk
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 cup olive oil or canola oil
  • 1 clove garlic (optional)
  • ½ shallots (optional)

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Soak the morel mushrooms in milk to coat
  • roll morels in a mixture of half flour/half cornmeal
  • Salt/Pepper or use seasoning salt

Cooking

  • Add to a hot skillet of olive or canola oil with minced garlic or shallots
  • cook over medium-high heat until golden brown
  • Serve

Notes

Tastes great as a side or top of a steak with them.
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courtesy of Bern and Jen Ruse, Rock County Wisconsin

 

pan fried morels

Yet another tempting breaded variation

Courtesy of Jeb Reed, Warfordsburg, PA.
I absolutely love this site! Keep up the good work and also to all the shroomers out there, keep the recipes coming!
Now on to one of my favorites.
After cleaning and soaking in salt water, take a couple of eggs and whip together. Dip morels in egg, completely coating the morel, then roll in whole wheat flour and fry in bacon grease, butter also is very good too.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes

Equipment

  • skillet
  • mixing bowls

Ingredients
  

  • morels fresh from the woods (halved or quarter)
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup bacon grease - substitute butter
  • pepper
  • lemon optional
  • garlic seasoning - substitute fresh garlic

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Clean and soak morels in salt water
  • whip eggs

Cooking

  • Dip morels in egg, completely coating the morel, then roll in whole wheat flour
  • Right after putting morels in frying pan, sprinkle to your taste with Lemon and Pepper and/or a good garlic seasoning
  • fry until golden brown on both sides
  • Throw some on a couple slices of bread for one killer mushroom sandwich w/mayo if you like, or just eat with your dinner.
  • Very good either way! Enjoy!
Keyword classic morel recipe
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