In the world of foraging wild edibles, mushrooms may be the pinnacle.
DISCLAIMER: In this series I am simply trying to share some of my adventures in the wild and information that I am learning. I am not a professional nor am I trying to give dietary or medical advice. I'm just a man on a journey sharing about what I am encountering. I believe that the plant in the photos has been accurately identified and I have consumed it without side effect... so far. Enjoy!
The same risk is involved with all wild edibles, but somehow it seems that mushrooms have a certain stigma to them. To be sure, there are plenty of poisonous mushrooms out there, many of which will kill you. Often, edible mushrooms have lookalikes which happen to be lethal. As always, local experts are the best source of information on what wild foods exist in your area.
The Morel Mushroom is one of those excellent wild mushrooms that you can harvest each spring if you know where to look. Often, a certain area will routinely produce Morels year after year. They appear in the spring near the edges of wooded areas. Often, they can be found growing on and around dead trees in areas that have well-drained soil.
There are a few varieties of Morels that are edible, but a false morel does exist which is toxic. A real Morel will have a stem and a most interesting cap. The texture of the Morel mushroom cap is very strange looking. Also, the caps are hollow.
NUTRITION AND PREPARING THE MORELS
Edible Morels provide some nutritional value. Most notably, there are an excellent source of Vitamin D and Iron. They also are a good source of Riboflavin, Niacin, and Fiber.
To prepare Morels for consumption most people will soak them in either water or a mixture of salt and water. Often, this soaking will take more than an hour, depending on preference. Soaking the mushrooms help clean any dirt, debris, or bugs off of the mushrooms. The highly texture caps and the hollow insides have a chance to be cleansed in this process.
I like to sauté mine in butter when I eat them. They are such a tasty food that to be able to find them for free is an excellent benefit.
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
Here's previous THE EDIBLE OUTDOORS posts:
- 1-Common Yellow Wood Sorrel
- 2-Lamb’s Quarters
- 3-American Gooseberry
- 4-Stinging Nettle
- 5-Sassafras
- 6-Creeping Charlie
- 7-Dandelion
- 8-Plantain
- 9-Mint
- 10-Garlic
- 11-Purslane
- 12-Elderberry
- 13-Prickly Pear Cacti
- 14-Wild Lettuce
- 15-Passionfruit
- 16-Alfalfa
- 17-Chicory
- 18-American Beautyberry
- 19-Wintergreen plus a bonus, the Partridgeberry
- 20-Wild Chives
- BONUS-Getting Information Into Your Head Before You Need it
- 21-American Persimmon
- 22-Yellow Dock
- 23-Redbud
