Page 269 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Hedgehog Mushroom, Hydnum

repandum (HYDNACEAE)

Martin, cc-by-4.0

HEDGEHOG MUSHROOM gets its name from the pale colored like the cap or lighter, bruising orange-brown.
orange spines along its underside. Widely distributed SPORES: 6.5-9 x 6-8 µm, subglobose, smooth, thin-
throughout North America, this fungus fruits solitari- walled; Spore print: white
ly or numerously between summer and fall. It grows
EDIBLE PARTS: cap, stem
on the ground under both hardwoods and conifers.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: This mushroom shows ev-
CAP: The cap is 1.2-5 inches (3-13cm) wide and
idence for potent antitumor and mild antimicrobial
broadly convex to flattened. Sometimes, it develops a
activities.
central depression. Its dry surface is mostly smooth,
HOW TO EAT: This delicious mushroom boasts a
with a color that may be buff, faded orange, or pale
taste and texture similar to chanterelles. Cooking nul-
reddish-brown. When bruised, it stains deep orange.
lifies its initial peppery flavor. Just take care to clean
That cap’s wavy margin is sometimes indented or
the spines first. Hedgehog mushrooms can take on the
lobed. The thick white flesh within is somewhat brit-
main role in dishes. Slow-cooking yields the best re-
tle, discoloring brownish-orange when bruised. When
sults.
raw, its taste is often peppery.
PICKLED HEDGEHOGS: Ingredients: 1 cup apple
SPINES: The slender spines, located on the cap’s un-
cider vinegar, 1 cup water, 3 tbsp. brown sugar, 1
derside, are of various lengths, from 0.08-0.3 inch-
tbsp. salt, 2 bay leaves, 1 tsp. mustard seeds, 2 sprigs
es (2-8mm) long. They are whitish to dull orange or
thyme, olive oil. Trim and roughly chop mushrooms.
pinkish-buff, staining dark orange when they bruise.
Add all ingredients except mushrooms to a saucepan
Usually, they run down the stalk.
and boil until sugar and salt are dissolved. In another
STEM: The thick stem is central or off-center, mea- pot, steam-blanch mushrooms for 3-5 min. Combine
suring 0.8-4 inches (2-10cm) long and 0.2- 1.2 inches mushrooms and brine in jars and top with olive oil.
(0.6-3cm) wide. Equal, or enlarged at the base, it is Tightly seal jars.
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