Page 275 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods
P. 275

JELLY FUNGI







        Toothed Jelly Fungus, Pseudohydnum

                gelatinosum (EXIDIACEAE)



































        TOOTHED JELLY FUNGUS or Cat’s Tongue grows on           SPORES: 5-8 µ, round or almost round, smooth; Spore
        well-decayed conifer wood, including  rotting  logs,    print: white
        moss-covered branches, and woody debris. In eastern     EDIBLE PARTS: cap, stem
        North America, it has been known to grow shelf-like
                                                                KEY MEDICINAL USES: This fungus has shown evi-
        on standing trees. Widespread in temperate regions,
                                                                dence of anti-tumor activity in mice.
        this white or whitish-grey fungus fruits singly to gre-
                                                                HOW TO EAT: Toothed jelly fungus is completely fla-
        gariously from summer to fall, and during mild south-
                                                                vorless, but some enjoy its gummy-like texture. It can
        ern winters.
                                                                be used in soup and stews, or marinated and served
        CAP: The cap is 0.4-2.8 inches (1-7cm) wide and
                                                                as an appetizer.
        tongue-shaped,  with  a  broadly  convex  or  flattened
                                                                THAI  PICKLED  PSEUDOHYDNUM: Ingredients:  4
        surface.  Its  translucent,  whitish  flesh  is  jelly-like,
                                                                chilies (toasted, sliced), 2 garlic  cloves (minced), 2
        though not sticky, with a smooth to finely roughened
                                                                cilantro roots (sliced),  2 shallots  (sliced),  1 tsp. co-
        exterior. Sometimes,  the cap  is lightly tinted grey-
                                                                riander seeds, 2 tbsp. oil, 16 oz. (450g) toothed jelly
        ish-blue or brownish. Its margin is incurved when
                                                                fungus,  1-inch piece galangal  (sliced),  ¼  cup  white
        the fungus is young.
                                                                vinegar, ¼ cup water, ⅓ cup fish sauce, 1 tbsp. sugar, 8
        UNDERSIDE: The cap’s underside is covered in tiny
                                                                kaffir lime leaves (sliced), 1 lemongrass stalk (sliced),
        translucent teeth growing to 0.12 inches (3mm) long.
                                                                1 tsp. white pepper. With a pestle, crush chilies, gar-
        This toothed surface runs down the stem.
                                                                lic, cilantro roots, shallots, and coriander seeds into
        STEM: The  gelatinous  stem is continuous with the      a paste. In a skillet, cook paste in oil (2-4 min.). Add
        cap, and colored similarly or paler. In western North   mushrooms (cook 5-7 min.). Introduce galangal, vin-
        America, it can grow vertically to 2.5 inches (6cm),    egar, water, fish sauce, sugar (cook 1 min.). Add kaffir
        while east of the Rocky Mountains it tends to be short   leaves, lemongrass, white pepper (2-3 min.). Let cool.
        and lateral.                                            Chill in refrigerator for 1-14 days.

                                                             274
   270   271   272   273   274   275   276   277   278   279   280