Rinse the lobster mushrooms under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Trim any tough stems and slice the mushrooms into thin strips.
Thinly slice the onion, mince the garlic cloves, and julienne the red bell pepper. Slice the green onions for garnish.
Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and swirl it around to coat the pan evenly.
Add the onion and garlic to the skillet, and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned.
Add the lobster mushrooms and red bell pepper to the skillet, and stir-fry for another 5 minutes until the mushrooms have softened and the bell pepper is slightly tender.
In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil. Pour the sauce over the mushrooms and bell pepper, stirring well to coat evenly.
Continue to stir-fry for an additional 2 minutes or until the sauce has thickened slightly and coats the vegetables.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the sliced green onions, reserving some for garnish.
Remove the skillet from heat and serve the lobster mushroom stir-fry over a bed of cooked rice.
Lobster mushrooms are not actually a type of mushroom, but rather a unique parasitic fungus that grows on other mushrooms. They get their name from their vibrant red and orange color, which resembles the shell of a cooked lobster (their aroma can also be quite oceany when dried). Lobster mushrooms can be found in forests around the world, often growing on other fungi such as Russula or Lactarius species. Despite not being a mushroom themselves, lobster mushrooms are popular among foragers and chefs for their firm texture and rich umami flavor, which is said to resemble that of seafood.
Lobster mushrooms, despite their name, do not taste like lobster (although they do have a seafood-like aroma when dried). Some compare the taste to that of cooked lobster, while others find it closer to a combination of mushrooms and seafood. The texture of lobster mushrooms is also distinct, with a firm and slightly chewy consistency that adds a pleasant mouthfeel to dishes. Overall, lobster mushrooms offer a delightful culinary experience, making them a popular choice among mushroom enthusiasts and chefs alike.
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Read more here about lobster mushrooms.