Three mushroom meals for under $8

From frittatas to risottos, dips to veggie burgers — there are literally hundreds of affordable ways to incorporate the humble mushroom into your recipe repertoire.

But why should you? Well, apart from it being a delicious and flexible ingredient, they're also a well-priced way to pack in a goldmine of nutrients.

"Cooked simply, mushrooms can also serve up some delicious budget dishes," says Elijah Holland, forager and chef at Noma while it was in Sydney.

Some of the commonly used mushrooms include buttons, cups, flats, Swiss brown and portobello.

If you're using mushrooms to whip up a quick and low-cost meal, don't bother peeling the skins unless they're dirty.

"Like carrots, mushroom skins are where all the nutrients are," says Holland.

Mushroom lunches

Mushrooms can make a gorgeous midday meal, whether you’re using roasted or cooled mushrooms as a sandwich filling, or on an antipasto platter.

"You can stuff them with just about anything, or you can grill them and drizzle with a quick cheese and cream sauce.

"You can also make a raw mushroom salad by slicing them thinly, soaking them in a little lemon juice or vinegar for a while, then tossing them with herbs, parsley and a little onion. Beautiful!"

Recipe to try: Mushroom quiche $6.30, serves 4.

Veggie Burgers

According to Holland, as mushrooms are a very 'meaty' product, you can almost treat them like a protein.

"They make epic veggie burgers, especially if you crumb them and deep-fry them first. 

"But keep it simple: two mistakes people make when cooking mushrooms are doing too much to them and not using enough oil. If you skimp on the oil, they’ll dry out and become unappetising."

Recipe to try: Mushroom burger — $7.87, serves 4.

This is a simple vegetarian take on your classic burger, that can be whipped up for lunch or dinner. For full details click through to the recipe.

Light breakfasts

When it comes to breakfast mushroom recipes, Holland reveals the choices are endless.

"I know some people feel mushrooms are too much work, but they’re actually really fast and easy to cook, whether you roast, grill, slice or poach them.

"Any edible mushroom would be great in an omelette, or for something different you could stuff them with herbs, egg yolks and cheese and pop them under the grill — a nice, oozey dish with a bit of a crust."

Recipe to try: Egg in baked mushroom — around $4.79 per serve.