Umami Bomb Asian Delight (Printable version)

A stunning board with earthy mushrooms, seaweed, and tangy accents arranged for vibrant, savory enjoyment.

# What you need:

→ Mushrooms & Earthy Delights

01 - 7 oz shiitake mushrooms, sliced
02 - 5.3 oz king oyster mushrooms, sliced
03 - 3.5 oz enoki mushrooms, trimmed
04 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
05 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
06 - 1 teaspoon mirin (optional)

→ Seaweed & Ocean Flavors

07 - 8–10 sheets roasted seaweed snacks
08 - 1.8 oz seasoned seaweed salad
09 - 1 sheet nori, cut into strips

→ Umami Accents

10 - 3.5 oz pickled daikon radish, sliced
11 - 3.5 oz pickled ginger
12 - 2.1 oz edamame, shelled and steamed
13 - 1.4 oz black garlic cloves, peeled
14 - 1.4 oz fermented black beans, rinsed and drained

→ Crunch & Garnish

15 - 2.8 oz roasted cashews or peanuts
16 - 1.4 oz fried shallots
17 - 1 small bunch fresh coriander, leaves picked
18 - 1 small bunch chives, finely chopped
19 - 1 red chili, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Dipping Sauces

20 - 2 fl oz ponzu sauce
21 - 2 fl oz spicy sesame dressing

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat sesame oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add shiitake and king oyster mushrooms. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until golden. Add soy sauce and mirin, toss, and cook for 1 minute more. Remove from heat and let cool.
02 - Blanch enoki mushrooms in boiling water for 30 seconds; drain and let cool.
03 - Arrange all mushrooms in overlapping fan shapes on a large serving board or platter.
04 - Create additional fans on the board using roasted seaweed snacks, nori strips, and seaweed salad.
05 - Fill spaces with pickled daikon, pickled ginger, edamame, black garlic, and fermented black beans to add depth of flavor.
06 - Scatter roasted cashews or peanuts, fried shallots, coriander leaves, chopped chives, and red chili slices over the board to enhance texture and vibrancy.
07 - Place ponzu sauce and spicy sesame dressing in small bowls nestled on the board for easy dipping.
08 - Serve immediately, encouraging guests to combine flavors and dip as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that takes just 40 minutes, making you look like a culinary genius without the stress.
  • Every bite explodes with layers of umami—that savory magic that makes your taste buds sing and keeps people coming back for more.
  • It's naturally vegetarian, easy to customize, and everyone at the table gets to be a flavor architect, mixing and matching to their heart's content.
02 -
  • Don't overcook those mushrooms—they'll release all their water and become limp. You want them kissed by heat, not drowned in it. A golden sear is everything.
  • Arrange everything as close to serving time as possible. Fresh ingredients are what make this board sing, and wilting seaweed is the enemy of drama.
03 -
  • The board is most stunning and fresh when assembled no more than 15 minutes before serving—think of it as you would sushi. Freshness is everything.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, cook your mushrooms and prepare your components in advance, but do the actual arranging at the last possible moment for maximum visual impact and flavor integrity.
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