I made the best pulled pork Sandwich last weekend using Chicken-of-the-woods mushroom in place of the pork.
I shredded the mushroom, dry sauteed until the tips began to brown. I added just a splash of oil, cumin, paprika, and oregano. Once the aromatics started smelling great I put in a light amount barbecue sauce for the last couple of moments. Then onto a toasted bun with some fried onions. Delicious!
Like you I’m in a third category. For me cilantro isn’t soapy, it’s just wildly overpowering. If it’s in a dish, it’s the only thing I will taste that meal. It can be really low in a list of ingredients and still the only thing I taste. I want to like cilantro, but it’s too abusive to the other flavors in and meal for my predisposition.