Page 259 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

White Chanterelle, Cantharellus

subalbidus (CANTHARELLACEAE)

WHITE CHANTERELLE is found exclusively in the SPORES: 7-9 x 5-6 µ, elliptical, smooth; Spore print:
Pacific Northwest and northern California. It grows white
on the soil under conifers and hardwoods, including EDIBLE PARTS: cap, stem
pines, Douglas-fir, tanoak, and madrone. Mostly oc-
HOW TO EAT: C. subalbidus has all the fruity, floral
curring in old-growth forests, this large cream-col-
delicacy of its cousin, the golden chanterelle, but with
ored chanterelle fruits from late summer to midwin-
thicker, meatier flesh. To best appreciate their flavor
ter. It may appear singly, scattered, or in large groups.
and texture, roast or sauté them whole with gentle
CAP: The cap is 2-6 inches (5-15cm) across, begin- herbs. Their dense flesh also makes them an excellent
ning broadly convex with an incurved margin. As it candidate for mushroom pâté.
matures, it grows flat with a central depression, while
WHITE CHANTERELLE PÂTÉ: 12 oz. (340g) chante-
the margin becomes wavy to irregular. The cap’s sur-
relles (chopped), butter, 2 cloves garlic (chopped), 1
face is smooth to finely scaly and creamy-white, bruis-
splash sherry, 1 tsp. salt, ¼ cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp.
ing dingy orange-yellow. The thick white flesh has a
tomato paste,1 tbsp. lemon juice, 1 tsp. lemon zest, 2
mildly fragrant scent.
tbsp. parsley. In a skillet, sauté chanterelles and gar-
UNDERSIDE: The cap’s underside is cream-white, lic in butter (5 min.). Add wine, tomato paste, salt,
discoloring yellowish to orange when bruised. Shal- pepper, and cayenne. (Simmer for 2 min.) Pour mix-
low, blunt false-gills run down the stem from the ture into a blender. Add lemon juice, zest, and 4 tbsp.
margin. These ridges are distant, forking, and cross- butter. Blend until smooth. Serve on crackers and top
veined. with parsley.
STEM: Measuring 0.8-2 inches (2-5cm) long and 0.4- POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Some white Clitocybe
1.5 inches (1-4cm) thick, the solid, fleshy stem is and Hygrophorus species - unforked, bladelike true-
equal or thinner towards the base. Its surface is whit- gills.
ish, staining dingy yellow-orange.
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