Chicken Fried Mushrooms with Gravy (Print View)

Crispy breaded mushrooms with creamy peppery gravy for comforting Southern-style vegetarian dining.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Fried Mushrooms

01 - 1 lb large mushrooms (cremini or button), cleaned and stems trimmed
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - ¼ cup milk
09 - 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
10 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ For the Gravy

11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
13 - 1½ cups whole milk
14 - ½ teaspoon salt
15 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
16 - ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
17 - Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

# Method:

01 - Pat mushrooms dry with paper towels. If large, halve or quarter them to create bite-size pieces.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: first with flour mixed with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper; second with beaten eggs and milk whisked together; third with breadcrumbs.
03 - Dredge each mushroom in seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Dip into egg mixture, then press firmly into breadcrumbs to coat thoroughly. Place on a tray.
04 - Pour about 1 inch of vegetable oil into a deep skillet. Heat to 350°F.
05 - Fry mushrooms in batches for 3 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
06 - In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until bubbly and fragrant.
07 - Slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne. Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, whisking constantly, until thickened. Adjust seasoning to taste.
08 - Arrange fried mushrooms on plates and ladle warm gravy generously over the top.

# Insider Tips:

01 -
  • The satisfying crunch of chicken fried steak without any meat involved
  • That creamy gravy ties everything together like a warm embrace
  • Perfect for convincing skeptics that vegetarian food can be seriously comforting
02 -
  • Overcrowding the pan drops the oil temperature and makes everything soggy
  • Let the fried mushrooms rest on a wire rack instead of paper towels for maximum crunch
  • The gravy thickens as it sits, so stop slightly earlier than you think is needed
03 -
  • Use a kitchen spider or slotted spoon for easy mushroom retrieval
  • Check oil temperature between batches and adjust heat as needed
  • Season with a pinch more salt right after frying while hot

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