Straw Mushrooms

These are so named because they are cultivated on beds of straw. They are actually shaped like little helmets, and have a delicate, sweet flavor. They are the most widely used mushroom in traditional Chinese cooking, and are added to soups, curries, stir-fries, and more. Fresh straw mushrooms can be hard to find in the United States, but the canned variety should be available at most Asian markets.