Page 268 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Coral Tooth Fungus, Hericium

coralloides (HERICIACEAE)

Jasana, CC-BY-SA-3.0

CORAL TOOTH FUNGUS is widespread east of the ly rough, amyloid; Spore print: white
Great Plains. Like other Hericium species, it is notable EDIBLE PARTS: fruiting body
for its striking display of delicate, icicle-like spines. In
KEY MEDICINAL USES: The Hericium genus is cur-
coral tooth fungus, these spines are short and feathery,
rently being investigated for its role in preventing
hanging in whispy rows along the fungus’s branches.
neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s.
Fruiting solitarily or in groups, this mushroom grows
HOW TO EAT: This delicate, sweet mushroom has the
on dead or decaying hardwood trees in late summer
flavor and texture of crab meat. For the best taste, har-
and fall. It prefers beech, maple, and oak.
vest mushrooms when they are young and pristine.
FRUITING BODY: The fruiting body is 3-12inches (8-
Make sure to wash them well to remove any hidden
30cm) broad. Its many smooth branches arise from a
grit.
stout main stalk that is laterally attached to the mush-
THAI-STYLE HERICIUM SOUP: Ingredients: 2 ½ cups
room’s substrate. These branches are 0.2-0.4 inches
Hericium (chopped), 2 ½ cup coconut milk, 1 ½ cup
(0.5-1cm) thick and feathered with fleshy spines. The
chicken stock, 4 kaffir lime leaves (slivered), 2 stalks
fungus may be pristinely white or cream-colored. Its
lemongrass (sliced), 6 thin slices galangal (or gin-
white flesh is unchanging when sliced, and has no dis-
ger), 2-5 chilies (sliced), ¼ cup fish sauce (or light soy
tinctive odor.
sauce), 2 limes (juiced), 4 tbsp. cilantro. In a saucepan,
SPINES: The tuft-like spines are 0.2-0.4 inches (0.5–
bring coconut milk to a simmer. Add mushrooms and
1cm) long and up to 0.04 inches (1mm) wide. Hang-
cook for 10 min. Add limes leaves, lemongrass, and
ing in rows along the branches, they turn from white
galangal. Simmer for 5 min. Add chile, fish sauce, lime
to yellowish or brownish as they age.
juice. Simmer for 5 min. Top with cilantro.
SPORES: 3-4 x 2.5-3.5 µm, globose, smooth or slight-
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