40+ Puffball Mushroom Recipes

Puffball mushrooms are a common sight for many, but few know these large to smaller-sized mushrooms are actually edible. From pasta recipes to Asian stir-fries, puffball mushrooms are a versatile ingredient to be enjoyed in many ways.

When people think of puffball mushrooms, they likely think of the giant puffball mushroom (Calvatia gigantea). But there are actually several varieties of puffball mushrooms, many of which are smaller and just as edible.

While giant puffball mushrooms are easier to identify, smaller puffball mushrooms can be discovered as well. Check out this guide on foraging puffball mushrooms for more info, as there are a few varieties of toxic puffballs to avoid, but they are easily identifiable.

Giant puffball mushrooms are found in both Europe and North America, often growing in grassy fields, meadows and lawns in late summer and early fall. They grow out of the ground, not wood or trees, and can occasionally be found in deciduous forests.

Choosing the Best Puffball Mushroom

When you’ve located a patch of mushrooms you believe to be puffballs, be sure to slice a few open. Puffball mushrooms should be completely white on the inside with no gills. If the color is yellow or green on the inside, these mushrooms may still be the edible variety of puffball, but they are past their harvest season and have started to spore. These mushrooms cannot be used and should be left behind to spread their spores for the next season.

Select mushrooms that are firm and white inside, devoid of bugs and any yellow, green, or other nonwhite coloring. If you are new to foraging mushrooms be sure to consult an expert to ensure the mushrooms you are picking are puffballs.

Check the bottoms of picked mushrooms for insects as larvae and worms will enter puffball mushrooms from the bottom. If the mushroom has only a few bugs, you may be able to get away with slicing off the bottom to save the rest. If there are many bugs though you should just discard it.

Puffball Mushroom Recipes

Once home, you can finish cleaning and processing the mushrooms. Refrigerate puffball mushrooms as soon as possible, as puffballs deteriorate quickly – in a matter of days in fact if left at room temperature. It is best to use puffballs as soon as possible or simply preserve them.

Some people choose to peel the skin from puffballs as it can be tough. This isn’t necessary but can be done by hand or with a knife. Leaving the skin on until cooking is recommended to keep the mushrooms moist inside. Whether you cook with the skin on or not is a matter of personal choice – many people actually enjoy the contrasting texture to the inside of the mushroom. If leaving the skin on be sure to clean it well, removing any dirt or debris with a clean brush before cooking.

Puffball mushrooms are distinct from other earthier, woodier-flavored mushrooms. They taste mild and delicate with a flavor sometimes compared to tofu or mild cheese. Their flavor can be subtly sweet as well, pairing well with a variety of soups, snacks and savory recipes.

Fresh Puffball Mushroom Recipes

There are a variety of recipes to use up those fresh puffballs before they go bad. Large puffballs can be sliced and grilled, simply brush with seasoned oil and grill on each side for three to four minutes. Fresh puffballs of all sizes can be cubed, cooked in a skillet and tossed with pumpkin seeds and miso dressing to serve over a bed of greens. Puffball mushrooms can be used to make creamy soups or marinated and served over bruschetta with corn salsa.

Fresh mushrooms can also be sauteed with fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary for a wonderful side dish to serve with steak or chicken. Puffball mushrooms of any size can be made into a curry-style sauce made with white wine and Worcester to be served alongside main courses. One last way to use up those fresh puffballs in caramelized puree – it can be added to soups, sauces and compound butter.

Puffball Mushroom Breakfast Recipes

Puffball mushrooms are a welcome addition to morning meals and are easily added to many common dishes. Puffballs can be diced along with green onion to add to scrambled eggs – top with your favorite cheese for added flavor. Additionally, puffball mushrooms can be incorporated into a sweet French “toast” used in place of bread given their semi-sweet, mild flavor.

Puffball mushrooms can also be breaded in a seasoned coating of breadcrumbs, turmeric, paprika and oregano. Serve with fried eggs and chorizo and sprinkle with feta for a sensational brunch idea. Puffball fritters and bacon are another similar take on the idea. For larger breakfast dishes, consider a puffball frittata or a quiche-like crustless puffball pie.

Puffball Mushroom Savory Main Courses

When dinner time rolls around, puffball mushrooms will gladly help embellish the meal. Large puffball mushrooms can be used to make meat-free veggie burgers. Puffball mushrooms can also be used as chicken in this faux-chicken parmesan recipe. Large puffballs can even be used in place of pizza crust for a low-carb pizza layered with tomato sauce, cheese and your favorite toppings.

Smaller puffball mushrooms can be stir-fried with pork in a spicy Thai sauce to serve with rice. A puffball and squash gratin is another spectacular choice – somewhat like a casserole, this recipe uses goat cheese, fresh thyme and a bechamel sauce. Puffball mushroom risotto, puffball curry and spicy Sichuan mapo in which puffballs can be used in place of tofu are some more intriguing ideas.

Puffball Mushroom Pasta Recipes

In my opinion, pasta dishes are where puffballs truly shine. They pair extremely well with both light cheesy sauces and robust marinaras. Even a simple splash of thyme, butter and olive oil is enough to accompany these versatile mushrooms. Puffball mushrooms of all sizes can be used to make a mushroom ragu sauce. This sauce can be used on simple spaghetti or over lasagna, manicotti and ravioli.

Larger puffball mushrooms can be used in place of lasagna noodles for a gluten-free dish, or simply added into layers like in this vegan lasagna with butternut squash, broccoli and red bell peppers. Puffballs can be shredded, sauteed with onion and stirred with cream to make a decadent alfredo sauce for topping fettuccine. Mushrooms can be sliced and filled much in the same way as ravioli and served with sage butter and kale.

Puffball Mushroom Snack Recipes

For the times when it’s neither dinner, nor breakfast, nor lunch, there are snacks. Serve them before dinner appetizer-style or nibble them to stave off hunger until the next meal. Some excellent snacks which include puffball mushrooms include puffball mozzarella sticks, puffball fritters and cheesy stuffed puffball mushrooms.

For slightly fancier fare, consider a hummus made from fresh puffballs, garlic, tahini and cumin. Serve with veggies, crackers and olives for a shareable snack. Likewise, puffball caviar is quite the amuse-bouche, made by finely dicing puffballs with garlic and herbs, cooking down the mixture and serving over little toasts with creme fraiche.

Still more snacks needed? Puffball schnitzels are fantastic served with a little mayonnaise for dipping or alongside salads. Mushroom jerky made by slicing puffballs, marinating the cooked mushrooms and dehydrating them is another fine possibility. This meat-free jerky is a great portable snack.

Recipes Using Puffball Mushroom Powder

You may have heard that dehydrating puffballs into mushroom powder (also called puffball flour) is one of the best ways to preserve this tasty mushroom. But where are the recipes that use this powdery form? Some of the best ones are listed below!

Dried puffballs can be used to make a delicious mushroom gravy for serving over meats, potatoes and more. A puffball alfredo sauce can also be made in addition to using this powder directly in a variety of recipes for added flavor. Add puffball flour to green bean casserole, gnocchi, crackers or your own homemade sausages and burger patties.

Preserving Puffball Mushrooms

Puffball mushrooms can go bad quite rapidly once picked, but they can’t be left in the wild too long either or they’ll start to spore and become inedible. Luckily, there are a few preservation techniques to store all those mushrooms you didn’t have time to consume.

How long do puffball mushrooms keep? Puffball mushrooms will last for about two to three days in the refrigerator. After this, you’ll want to cook or look into preserving them. Cooked puffballs last around a week to ten days, so you can pre-cook your mushroom for shorter-term storage. Any longer, and your best bet is freezing puffballs, dehydrating them or making puffball powder.

Puffballs can be frozen for up to six months. When ready to use, thaw overnight in your refrigerator to cook as normal the next day. The texture will be altered as a result of freezing though. Puffballs can also be made into a seasoning salt for use in dressings and dishes or on snacks like popcorn. Some outlines on dehydrating and making puffball powder are given below.