Hedgehog's Beard - Hericium Mushroom

The hedgehog's beard mushroom owes its name to its unusual shape. It is rounded-oval or heart-shaped and covered on its exterior with many densely packed, long spines. The Chinese therefore came up with this apt name for it. However, it is also called the "monkey head mushroom" there, as the fruiting body resembles a hairy monkey's head.

The hedgehog's beard is considered a popular and excellent edible mushroom in China. It is one of the few mushrooms that possesses a strong lobster aroma when cooked. In Europe, the hedgehog's beard is relatively unknown, although it is native to parts of the continent.

Its unique flavor and highly decorative, coral-like appearance make it a sought-after delicacy. In the wild, this mushroom is found in deciduous forests in Europe, North America, and Asia (especially China and Japan).

The hedgehog's beard is rich in potassium, zinc, iron, germanium, selenium, phosphorus and contains all essential amino acids as well as polysaccharides and polypeptides.

Recipe for about 5 people

Ingredients:

• 200 g fresh hedgehog beard
• 250 g crème fraîche
• 50 g fresh leaf parsley
• 2 cloves of garlic
• salt, pepper, lemon juice

Preparation:

• For this simple, quick recipe, cut the mushrooms into fine cubes.
• First finely chop the parsley and add
• Mix with the créme fraîche
• Press the garlic cloves into it and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Tip 1: Do not wash the hedgehog's beard, only brush it, otherwise it will absorb water.

Tip 2: To make the garlic more digestible, remove the germ in the middle of the clove.

Tip 3: This recipe also works wonderfully with shiitake mushrooms in combination or as a substitute for hedgehog mushrooms.