Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus: A Practical Guide to the Genus

The phrase oyster mushroom Pleurotus refers to a genus of wood-growing mushrooms with fan- or oyster-shaped caps and gills that often run down toward a short side stem. Pleurotus ostreatus is the classic oyster mushroom, but grocery stores and farms also sell related species and cultivated forms in gray, white, tan, pink, yellow, and blue-gray […]

Ika Salad Recipe – A Fresh, Light, and Restaurant-Style Japanese Seafood Salad

The first time I ordered Ika Salad at a Japanese restaurant, I expected a simple side salad with a few pieces of squid. Instead, I was served a beautifully chilled dish filled with tender squid, crisp vegetables, and a light sesame dressing that was refreshing without being heavy. Every bite offered a perfect balance of […]

Ika Salad Recipe — My Favorite Japanese Squid Salad That Nobody Talks About Enough

My neighbor showed me ika salad for the first time maybe three years ago now. She just walked in with a container, put it on my kitchen counter, didn’t say anything. I looked at it. Shredded squid, some vegetables, pale dressing. Honestly? I wasn’t excited. Then I tried it and ate basically the entire thing […]