Page 221 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

MOREL MUSHROOMS

Morels are members of the genus Morchella, which are pitted and ridged, forming a honeycomb-look on its
cap. This group also contains false morels, Gyromitra and Verpa. Always cook well.

Black Morel group, Morchella

elata (MORCHELLACEAE)

BLACK MOREL is a name given to 14 different North droplets
American dark-hued morel species, including M. an- EDIBLE PARTS: cap, stem

gusticeps and M. importuna. Black morels grow on for-
HOW TO EAT: These highly sought-after mushrooms
est ground, favoring disturbed or burned areas and
are nutty, woodsy, and fragrant. Use them in simple
the soil around conifers and aspen. Widely distribut-
recipes that showcase their unique flavor. As you clean
ed, they fruit singly or in groups during spring.
them, slice them in half to check for bugs. Always cook
CAP: The caps are 1.2-4.3 inches (3-11cm) tall and 0.8- morels thoroughly.
3 inches (2-8cm) wide, with a rounded margin at the
SAUTEED MORELS WITH ASPARAGUS: Ingredients:
base. Some are narrowly cone-shaped, while others ¼ lb. (100g) fresh morels (chopped), 2 tbsp. olive oil,
are nearly round. They are patterned with elongated,
2 tbsp. butter, 1-2 green garlics (sliced), 1 tsp. herbs
honeycomb-like pits and ridges, which are sometimes
de Provence, 1 lb. (500g) asparagus (trimmed), salt,
arranged in rows. The pits are yellow-brown to nearly
black pepper. Boil asparagus in salted water (3 min.).
black, while the ridges are dark brown to black in ma-
Sauté garlic, morels, and herbs in oil and butter (3-5
ture mushrooms. The cap’s interior is hollow, brittle, min.). Toss with chopped asparagus, salt, and pepper.
and whitish.
WARNING: Morels can cause gastric upset if eaten
STEM: Measuring 1.6-5 inches (4-13cm) tall and 1-2.8 raw or if not thoroughly cooked.
inches (2.5-7cm) thick, the whitish stems are equal, POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: False Morels (Gyromi-
thicker at the top, or swollen at the base. Some are
tra spp. and Helvella spp.)- caps wrinkled and brain-
smooth while others are wrinkled, irregularly flut-
like or saddle-shaped, not pitted; interiors not hollow,
ed, or roughened with tiny granules. The interior is filled with soft, wooly tissue. Early Morel (Verpa bo-
hollow.
hemica) - cap longitudinally wrinkled, not pitted, com-
SPORES: 20-30 x 11-15 µ, elliptical, smooth, no oil pletely free of the stem.

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