Hedgehog's Beard - Hericium Mushroom

The hedgehog's beard mushroom owes its name to its unusual shape. It is round-oval or heart-shaped and covered on the outside with many long, closely spaced spines. The Chinese therefore found this apt name for it. However, it is also known there as the "monkey head mushroom" because the fruiting body is reminiscent of 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 has a strong lobster aroma when cooked. In Europe, the hedgehog's beard is not very well known, although it is native to parts of the continent.

Its unique taste and extremely 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 parsley
• 2 cloves of garlic
• salt, pepper, lemon juice

Preparation:

• For this simple, quick recipe, cut the mushrooms into fine cubes.
• First chop the parsley finely 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 the hedgehog's beard.