Hedgehog Barbed Beard - Hericium Mushroom

The hedgehog beard owes its name to its unusual shape. It is roundish-oval or heart-shaped and is covered on the outside with many densely packed long spines. Because of this, the Chinese found this apt name for him. It is also called the “monkey head mushroom” because the fruiting body is reminiscent of a hairy monkey head.

The hedgehog beard is considered a popular and excellent edible mushroom in China. Because it is one of the few mushrooms that has a strong lobster aroma when cooked. In Europe, the popularity of the hedgehog beard is rather limited, 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 fungus occurs in deciduous forests in Europe, North America and Asia (especially China and Japan).

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

Recipe for approx. 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 chop the parsley finely and add it
• Mix with the créme fraîche
• Crush the garlic cloves and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Tip 1: Don't wash the hedgehog beard, just brush it, otherwise it will soak up water.

Tip 2: To make the garlic easier to digest, remove the sprout in the middle of the clove.

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