Page 260 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Winter Chanterelle, Craterellus

tubaeformis (CANTHARELLACEAE)

WINTER CHANTERELLE is found in northern and evidence of antibacterial activity.
montane habitats east of the Great Plains. Associated
HOW TO EAT: Winter chanterelles are slightly fruity
with conifers, it fruits on moss and well-decayed logs,
but more shroomy than their relatives. While deli-
often in boggy areas. These mushrooms appear in
cious on their own, they are fantastic with noodles.
the fall, occurring solitarily, scattered, or in groups.
WINTER UDON SOUP: Ingredients: 2 oz.(57g) dried
CAP: The cap is 0.6-1.8 inches (1.5-4.5cm) broad. It
mushrooms, 1 bunch green onions (chopped), ½ gar-
begins convex, becoming vase-shaped and developing
lic bulb (minced), 1 oz. (28g) ginger (sliced), 1 sheet
a central hole. Incurved when young, the margin soon
kombu, 2-quarts water, salt, 1 tbsp. soy sauce, 1 tbsp.
spreads upward, becoming lobed and wavy. The cap’s
miso paste, 1 tbsp. mirin, 1 tbsp. rice vinegar, 2 cups
nearly smooth surface is dark brown to yellow-brown,
chanterelles (sautéed), bok-choy, 14 oz. (400g) udon
aging to greyish-brown. The thin flesh has a mild odor
noodles. In a pot combine dried mushrooms, onions,
and taste.
garlic, ginger, kombu, water, salt. Bring to a boil. Sim-
UNDERSIDE: Blunt, false-gills are well-spaced and mer 1 hr. Strain broth and discard solids. Add miso,
cross veined. They fork near the margin and run soy sauce, mirin, vinegar. Return to pot. Add noodles
down the stem. The underside is yellowish to pale and bok-choy (simmer 2 min.). Add chanterelles to
greyish-brown. broth.
STEM: The hollow stem is 1-2.5 inches (3-6cm) long WARNING: Some brown true-gilled mushrooms are
and 0.1-0.5 inches (0.3-1.2cm) thick. Equal or thinner toxic; always make sure your chanterelle has blunt,
towards the base, its smooth, waxy, often flattened forking false-gills.
surface is orange-grey, yellow-grey, or brownish.
POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Omphalotus illudens -
SPORES: 9-11 x 6-8 µ, elliptical, smooth; Spore print: bright orange; unforked, blade-like true gills; grows
white on wood; Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca - orange-yel-
EDIBLE PARTS: cap, stem low; true gills; velvety surface.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: This mushroom has shown

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