Recipe: Sticky Mushroom Bun

11 January 2026

In American streetfood kitchens, everything revolves around flavour, texture and experience. And that’s exactly what you get with this BBQ Mushroom Bun. It has everything you want: that deep, sticky BBQ experience you normally only associate with meat - but made with Fable shiitake. The bite is firm, the umami is intense. Combined with ranch coleslaw, sweet & sour onion and dill pickles, this becomes a lunch dish that instantly stands out from all the standard buns in foodservice. For everyone - because it’s vegetarian.

Plant-forward BBQ Bun with Fable Mushroom Chunks

Follow the step-by-step preparation below:

Cook the Fable shiitake: Cook the Fable shiitake without oil on a griddle or in a pan until they form firm, umami-rich chunks.
Season: Add Poultry Seasoning and briefly cook through.
Caramelise: Add Tomato Relish and allow it to caramelise.
BBQ glaze: Mix in the Hickory BBQ Sauce until you get a deep, sticky BBQ glaze. Keep warm in the bain-marie.

To order:

Toast the bun: Toast the brioche bun until golden brown.
Build the base: Spread the ranch coleslaw over the bottom half of the bun.
Add the filling: Top with a generous portion of BBQ Fable shiitake.
Toppings: Add sweet & sour onion and dill pickles.
Finish: Close the bun and serve immediately.

Products that work in every foodservice kitchen

With this dish, you’ve got a real winner. A bun that stands out on any lunch menu: sticky, smoky, creamy, fresh, full-on BBQ and completely vegetarian. And the best part? With Fable Shiitake, this dish is truly easy to execute in your kitchen. Almost everything is already prepared in the mise en place.

This is streetfood that helps foodservice professionals truly differentiate.

How do you prepare Fable shiitake mushroom chunks as an umami-rich meat alternative for foodservice?

Fable is made from real shiitake mushrooms that you cook without oil. This triggers the Maillard reaction, bringing out the mushroom’s natural umami to the fullest. You then season the chunks and caramelise them with a flavourful BBQ glaze before holding them warm in a bain-marie. The mushroom chunks don’t dry out - you can even add a little moisture during service. The texture stays firm and the flavour remains strong.

This makes Fable a powerful mushroom-based meat alternative for foodservice, perfect for chefs who want to work with plant-forward dishes without compromising on flavour or body.

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