Food & Cooking Recipes Healthy Recipes Gluten-Free Recipes Balsamic Mushrooms 5.0 (1) This quick and easy vegetable side dish will round out your meal deliciously. Close Credit: Jake Sternquist Prep Time: 5 mins Total Time: 10 mins Servings: 4 Jump to recipe Ready in 10 minutes, this recipe for balsamic mushrooms is the ultimate easy side dish. Simply sauté white mushrooms until golden brown, then add balsamic vinegar and seasonings. After just a few minutes of cooking, the mushrooms develop a satisfying meaty texture. The balsamic vinegar will deepen the flavor, creating a rich umami sweetness that will complement almost any meal. The best part? The dish tastes just as good at room temperature as it does from the stove, so there's no need to worry if it's ready before your entree. It's sure to be one of your new favorite mushroom recipes. How to Clean Mushrooms the Right Way Be sure to use balsamic vinegar, not balsamic vinaigrette for this recipe. Balsamic vinegar is made of nothing but grapes, while balsamic vinaigrette is a salad dressing that contains other ingredients. It's also worth buying a bottle of high-quality balsamic vinegar. Cheaper versions often contain fillers, resulting in a product that lacks depth of flavor. Directions Credit: Jake Sternquist Cook mushrooms: Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Credit: Jake Sternquist Add vinegar and seasonings: Stir in vinegar, salt, and red-pepper flakes, and season with pepper. Cook 1 minute more. Transfer to a bowl, and serve. Credit: Jake Sternquist Variations While this recipe is delicious as is, its simplicity makes it easy to customize. Try incorporating the following ingredients: Butter: Replace half (or all) of the olive oil with butter for a richer dish. Soy sauce: Add a few teaspoons of soy sauce along with the balsamic vinegar. The saltiness will complement the vinegar's sweet tartness, creating a delightful flavor profile. Feel free to use low-sodium soy sauce or tamari for a gluten-free option. Brown sugar: The brown sugar will enhance the natural sweetness of balsamic vinegar. Whisk it with the balsamic vinegar, then add the mixture to the pan as usual. Herbs: Earthy herbs like rosemary, thyme, and oregano will balance the tanginess of balsamic vinegar. Add the herbs, either fresh or dried, at the same time as salt and pepper. Garlic: Garlic pairs well with almost every dish, and these balsamic mushrooms are no exception. Add minced garlic just before the mushrooms are ready, then cook until fragrant. Parmesan cheese: For a boost of umami, sprinkle the finished dish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. What to Serve With Balsamic Mushrooms As a side dish, these balsamic mushrooms pair can elevate simple entrees, such as grilled chicken or baked salmon. You can also serve them on top of other side dishes, including mashed potatoes or warm salads. How to Store Balsamic Mushrooms Store any leftovers of this side dish in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy within three to four days. 5 More Mushroom Recipes to Try Mushroom-and-Goat Cheese Purses French Mushroom Soup Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms With Egg Noodles Coconut-Miso Mushroom Soup Mushroom-Bacon Galette Updated by Kirsten Nunez Kirsten Nunez Kirsten Nunez is a writer who focuses on food, health, nutrition, and DIY. She has a master's degree in nutrition, and has been writing professionally for nearly 10 years for digital and print publications, such as decorvow, Shape, Real Simple, Healthline, and SELF. She also creates original recipes, which have appeared on product packaging in stores.