Oyster mushroom is a mild, tender mushroom that is cultivated world-wide, and are especially popular in Asian cooking. They grow in clusters of small to medium stalks with tan or brown caps.
They have a mild, savory flavor, which makes them an easy addition to stir-fries, soups, pastas, and risottos. When raw, they have a slightly unpleasant bitter flavor, so they are best used in cooked preparations. They are a reasonable substitute for porcini or crimini mushrooms and can be swapped for those in recipes if needed.
Oyster mushrooms are also frequently sold dried. These can easily be rehydrated in the cooking liquid of a dish, and do not need to be rehydrate in water prior to use.