Shiitake - the royal mushroom of Asian cuisine

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is an edible mushroom native to East Asia, where it has been cultivated on oak logs for over a thousand years. It is the second most cultivated mushroom in the world after button mushrooms. It features a pronounced umami flavor and meaty texture. In Japanese cuisine, it is used in miso soup, ramen, and nabemono. Dried shiitake have an even more intense flavor, and their broth forms the base of traditional dashi. They contain lentinan, a polysaccharide that supports immunity.