Wood Ear Mushrooms, Shredded

An edible mushroom that originated in Western Europe and then spread out through Eastern Europe and South America. They grow under the dark and damp shade of conifer and hardwood forests where they bulk up their fat bottoms and spongy caps (which are porous instead of having gills like most mushrooms). The bolete grows chubby and large; so much so it is often considered the King of the Mushrooms. In fact, some boletes can grow to be 18 inches tall and more than a foot in diameter. The taste of an edible bolete mushroom is hit or miss. Dried, the bolete reeks of dark soy sauce and Chinese black vinegar. When reconstituted the flavor is far more mellow with a slight fermented hint. This European mushroom is popular served with a runny egg, tucked into pasta dishes, and stirred into risotto. A more modern twist is to grind them into powder in a food processor, mix it with salt and black pepper, and use the mixture as a rub for beef.

Mushroom hunters search high and low for true Morels, and a lucky few have secret spots where they know a bounty will grow every year. Try asking any hunter where their spot is and you’ll be greeted with silence. No mushroom hunter will ever give up dried morel mushrooms. It’s understandable. Dried morel mushrooms have a delicate flavor that only lingers around for a short while. It’s gone the moment you swallow. Chewing is another matter. The flavor is mighty when chewing. It’s a mushroom that’s truly worth the hunt. However, some home gardeners get lucky. It’s not unheard of to buy woodchips for a garden and then after a rain find little armies of Morels springing up. These dried morel mushrooms are great for our sautéed morel mushroom recipe. You can add a bit of salt and cracked pepper for a classic preparation or toss with pasta and serve in a cream sauce with generous shavings of Parmesan.

A Grade A Porcini is technically one of the middle grades. It’s the B-student. That’s fine. It doesn’t have the flavor that higher grades possess and it needs a bit more cleaning. However, it still packs a punch. What that means is this mushroom can go anywhere. You can have your Porcini and not break the bank. Scrambled eggs? Add some Grade A dried porcini mushrooms! Want to make a quick ragu? Add some Grade A Porcini! Want to test a new recipe? Add some Grade A Porcini! You don’t have to be stickler with these guys, but you’ll still get the same unique texture and earthy flavor.

Turkey tail mushrooms are considered first and foremost a medicinal mushroom. The leathery mushrooms are usually combined with reishi mushrooms and boiled into a delicate and woodsy tisane to boost immunity and promote wellness.