Dried Shiitake Mushroom

The Asian cooking staple has an intense flavour and loaded with health benefits. Place the dried shiitake mushrooms in a bowl and rehydrate using hot or boiling water. Pour the water until it covers the mushrooms and let them soak until mushroom caps are tender. Squeeze the excess water from the mushrooms, discard tough stems and use the caps in cooking. Don't throw away the water as it is a tasty bonus ingredient that you can use in chicken broth or as a sauce base.