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    Home » Spanish Recipes

    Spanish Garlic Mushrooms (Champiñones al Ajillo)

    Published: Feb 27, 2023 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    Jump to Recipe

    Spanish garlic mushrooms is a classic tapa that's ready in 15 minutes. It's made with four ingredients and is naturally vegan. Serve with some toasted crusty bread for the ultimate tapas experience!

    garlic mushrooms champiniones al ajillo in a clay pot on a black backdrop.

    When it comes to tapas, I like to have lots of choices in front of me on the table. From patatas bravas with aioli sauce to shishito peppers and tortilla espanola, we love them all! This garlic mushrooms recipe is another classic that you can find all around Spain in tapas bars, usually enjoyed with some bread.

    Table Of Contents:
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • What do you need to make Champiñones al Ajillo
    • How to make Spanish garlic mushrooms
    • Tips for cooking mushrooms
    • Turn it into a tapas spread
    • Leftovers and reheating
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More vegetarian appetizer recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • Quick: Ready in 15 minutes, this recipe is excellent for a quick get together.
    • Simple: You only need a few ingredients to make this dish and you probably have all of them on hand.
    • Flavors: Just like gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), this dish has a nice garlicky flavor without being overwhelming.
    • Perfect for any time: Serve it as an appetizer, tapas or a side to dishes such as Mediterranean garlic chicken or baked salmon fillets.

    What do you need to make Champiñones al Ajillo

    you need mushrooms, olive oil garlic, salt and lemon for this recipe.
    • Mushrooms: The best mushrooms for this recipe are white mushrooms or baby bella mushrooms.
    • Olive oil: As is the case for almost all the Mediterranean recipes, extra virgin olive oil works best for this recipe.
    • Garlic: I use about 3 cloves of garlic for 1 pound of mushrooms. You want the oil to be infused with garlic but not in an overwhelming way.
    • Lemon: A little bit of freshly squeezed lemon juice adds so much flavor to the dish.
    • Spices: While in some Spanish restaurants salt is the only addition to champiñones al ajillo, some other restaurants add smoked paprika as well.

    How to make Spanish garlic mushrooms

    Cook the garlic add the mushrooms cook for 10 minutes and add the salt and lemon.
    1. Clean the mushrooms and slice them into quarters.
    2. Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the garlic slices. Cook for just a couple of minutes and keep an eye out to make sure the garlic isn't burning.
    3. Add in the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium high and cook for another 5 minutes until they are golden on all sides.
    4. Finish the garlic mushrooms with salt, a squeeze of lemon and fresh parsley.

    Tips for cooking mushrooms

    • Add salt: Adding salt the to mushrooms at the very end help with the flavor and texture. If you add the salt too soon, the mushrooms will become rubbery.
    • Don't stir constantly: When sauteing the mushrooms, let them be for a few minutes before stirring. This way they will brown well on one side and then will brown on the other sides as well.
    • Don't slice thinly: It's best to quarter the mushrooms for this recipe since mushrooms tend to shrink after sauteing.

    Turn it into a tapas spread

    Tapas is a spread of small dishes in Spanish cuisine that can be turned into a full meal. They can be hot or cold. To make a wonderful tapas spread, serve these Spanish sauteed garlic mushrooms with pan con tomate, ensalada rusa and croquettes. Finish with a glass of homemade non-alcoholic sangria for good measures!

    Leftovers and reheating

    Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To serve, heat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat, add the mushrooms and sauté over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes until fully heated.

    Spanish garlic mushrooms in a pan.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

    These mushrooms are definitely best when served immediately. I don't recommend making them in advance.

    What kind of mushroom should I use for Champiñones al Ajillo?

    Traditionally this dish is made with white button mushrooms or baby bella mushrooms. However you can try making it with sliced portobello or oyster mushrooms. The cooking time might change.

    Can I add any spices to Champiñones al Ajillo?

    The garlic mushrooms I've had in Spain come in two versions: just with salt and lemon juice as I've described here, or some will serve this tapa with a bit of smoked paprika as well.

    More vegetarian appetizer recipes

    • Ensalada rusa aka Russian salad aka Olivier salad.
      Ensalada Rusa (Russian Salad - Olivier Salad)
    • Batata Harra (Lebanese Spicy Potatoes)
    • Pan Con Tomate (Spanish Tomato Bread)
    • Easy Roasted Artichoke Recipe

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Spanish Garlic Mushrooms (Champiñones al Ajillo)

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Spanish garlic mushrooms is a classic tapa that's ready in 15 minutes. It's made with 4 ingredients and is naturally vegan. Serve with some toasted crusty bread for the ultimate tapas experience!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine Mediterranean, Spanish
    Servings 4
    Calories 157 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lb white button mushrooms
    • ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
    • 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
    • Kosher salt to taste
    • 1 lemon juice of
    • ⅓ cup parsley chopped

    Instructions
     

    • Clean the mushrooms thoroughly, pat dry them with kitchen paper towel and slice them into quarters.
    • Heat the olive oil in a pan or a cats iron skillet over medium heat.
    • Add the sliced garlic and cook for just a minute or two. Keep an eye so the garlic doesn't burn.
    • Add in the mushrooms and spread them evenly in the pan. Let them sear for 5 minutes, then stir, turn the heat up to medium high and saute for another 5 minutes until the mushrooms are brown and caramelized.
    • Finish with salt, lemon juice and chopped parsley.

    Notes

    • Serve Champiñones al Ajillo with some crusty bread as part of a tapas spread with pan con tomate, patatas bravas, blistered shishito peppers and gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp). 
    • Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To serve, heat a bit of olive oil in a pan and sauté the mushroom for a few minutes until heated through. 
    • If desired, you can add some smoked paprika to the mushrooms while sauteing. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 157kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 4gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 10mgPotassium: 435mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 427IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Charles

      March 06, 2023 at 2:17 pm

      5 stars
      Hi,
      Your Danish Mushroom recipe is very welcome! Mushrooms are extremely healthy! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    2. Irena

      March 06, 2023 at 1:31 pm

      5 stars
      Garlic and mushrooms are made for each other! I often do butter garlic mushrooms but love the healthier Spanish version with olive oil. Lemon adds a lovely tang as well.

      Reply
    3. Tayler

      March 06, 2023 at 12:15 pm

      5 stars
      I made these mushrooms to go with our steak last night and they were incredible! And so easy to make too!

      Reply
    4. Beth

      March 06, 2023 at 12:04 pm

      5 stars
      Holy cow! That looks absolutely amazing! I can see serving this with pork chops, chicken, or a nice steak. I can't wait to make these.

      Reply
    5. Nathan

      March 06, 2023 at 11:55 am

      5 stars
      I adore mushrooms, and I love how simple this recipe is! They work perfectly with some bread or crackers, but honestly I could eat these garlic mushrooms on their own with a fork. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

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