1. Heat a large cast iron pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the grapeseed oil.

To prepare the maitakes, use our Wicked Healthy pressing technique:

1. Add the whole maitake clusters to the heated cast iron pan.
2. Cook for 1 minute, weighing it down with additional pan or tinfoil wrapped brick to create a press. Cook for 2 minutes.
3. Flip over, repeating this process a few times, lightly seasoning with salt and pepper, until mushrooms are condensed into golden brown steaks with minimal liquid in the pan.

Note: Depending on the mushroom size (because they’re all different), liquid will leach out at different rates.

1. Once fully pressed, remove the maitakes from the pan, allow to cool, then marinate in 1 cup of the coconut milk and 1/2 cup of the Marshall’s Haute Sauce until ready to fry.

To fry the maitakes once pressed:

1. In a deep fryer or a medium cast iron pan, (if using a cast iron pan, add just enough oil so that it is 2 inches deep from the bottom).
2. Heat the oil to 350-375 degrees.
3. While the oil is heating up, create your breading station with two separate bowls.
4. Add the chickpea flour to one bowl, and combine the rice flour, poultry seasoning, granulated onion, remaining Haute Sauce and coconut milk and 2 cups of cold water to the other bowl to create a thick tempura batter.
5. Dip each pressed and cooled maitake into the first bowl of chickpea flour, tapping off any excess, then dip into the second bowl of tempura batter, allowing any excess batter to drip off before adding it to the hot oil.
6. Fry each piece for several minutes on each side until golden brown, then transfer to paper towels. Salt lightly immediately so it adheres well the batter.
7. Serve immediately with any sauce you’d like to create a killer shroom sandwich!