Vegan Mushroom "Jerky" (Slow-Roasted Mushroom Strips)

Author Notes

On first inspection, there’s pretty much no food that could be less amenable to vegan interpretation than jerky. It's just not possible. Right?

Wrong—at least if you’re willing to have a somewhat roomy interpretation of what jerky is. These portobello mushroom slices, which are cooked at low oven temperatures until they dry out slightly and intensify in flavor, are a very good, very creative spin on the idea of jerky. You'll have to give them a try for yourself before making any judgments!

These mushrooms are great for snacking, but the way I really like to use them is stuffed into wraps, layered on sandwiches, or chopped and sprinkled onto salads. They add flavor and umami, and they’re an easy item to keep stored in the fridge for when you want to give dishes a bit of a kick. You'll reach for them more often than you'd think.

Word to the wise: The mushroom slices are good and salty. I offer 2 to 3 tablespoons of tamari here; I love salty flavor, so I usually use 3 tablespoons, but if you’d like a milder mushroom, simply try 2 instead.

Once you make the slices, you can store them in a mason jar (or another airtight container) in the fridge, waiting to break them out as needed. An added bonus? The mushrooms will also work as a handy vegan substitute for bacon (so you may want to throw a bunch in your next tofu scramble). —Gena Hamshaw