Trout Mushroom

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Trout mushroom / Polyporus squamosus / is a species of basidiomycete fungus, known in Bulgaria as hawk. In Russia it is known as scaly trout, in France - as Polypore écailleux, and in Germany it is called schuppige porling. The English name of the mushroom is dryad’s saddle. It belongs to the genus Polyporus, part of the family Polyporaceae.

The mushroom with an interesting name has a kidney-shaped cap, which is usually flat and yellow. It is covered with brown scales. In the beginning, the mushrooms have a soft fleshy part, which over time becomes tougher. In this species, the interesting thing is that the stem (stump) is located away from the cap. It is colored in pale yellow, and over time acquires dark shades in places. It is attached to a tree.

In fact, this is one of the characteristic parts of trout mushroom -meets on tree parts. It grows on deciduous trees and can be seen in wooded areas and gardens. It has been observed on both living and dead wood. The hawk usually appears in the spring months and disappears when it starts to get cooler. It grows in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe. There is evidence that in Bulgaria it is found in the region of Stara Planina, in Sredna Gora and around the village of Kokalyane.

Collect mushroom trout

As it has already become clear, trout mushroom occurs mainly in deciduous forests. It can be seen between the spring and autumn months sticking out of a stump or a living tree. It occurs singly and in tufts. Mushrooms usually appear after it has rained. The trout is easily recognizable by its color and according to experienced fungi there are no doubles. When picking trout, you must take into account its age.

Try to choose young specimens in which the meat is tender and soft. Over time, it becomes tough and even hard. You will also recognize the older mushrooms by the fact that in them the stump has basically acquired an almost black color. Otherwise, the old mushrooms become so hard that they can be used as souvenirs because they are spectacular. They can last for years without falling apart.

Cooking trout mushroom

The trout mushroom has wonderful taste. It has a delicate sour note and has a pleasant characteristic odor that makes it a favorite mushroom of many. Hawk is successfully used in various recipes where marinating, frying, breading or cooking is required.

The ideal spices for it are black pepper, dill, garlic, parsley, basil, paprika. For this reason, stews, soups and salads with her participation are appetizing and unforgettable for every gourmet. It is claimed that the taste of its meat can surpass that of a cultivated slaughterhouse.

Like any food product, however, the hawk has its own peculiarities in cooking. Always use fresh mushrooms first. Avoid using hawks that have been torn off more than 24 hours ago.

Do not forget when preparing specialties with dove sponge use only the soft part of the sponge. Wash the meat well, but do not leave the mushrooms to soak in water for a long time, as this will adversely affect their appearance. Also know that mushrooms release a lot of liquid during cooking and this should also be taken into account when putting them in the appropriate dish. Of course, you can deal with this problem by placing them for a short time in an oven preheated to about 40 degrees.

note that the trout mushroom there are leeks that absorb a lot of fat. For most consumers, this is not a problem, but if you want to limit the amount of fat in your menu, you can apply some of the little culinary tricks. When frying the meat of Polyporus squamosus, then it is not a bad idea to place it on a layer of kitchen paper to get rid of the absorbed olive oil or oil.

We offer you a recipe for a healthy salad with trout mushroomwhich is very easy to implement.

Necessary products: 1 onion, 2 carrots, 500 grams of trout, 3 tomatoes, 1 stalk of dill, 1 stalk of parsley, olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice

Method of preparation: We clean the mushrooms and wash them under running water. We cut them into large pieces and put them to neck in a pot of salted water. When the water starts to boil, remove the foam carefully. Boil the mushrooms for about half an hour, then wash them with cold water and place them in a bowl. Grate the carrots and chop the onions and tomatoes, as well as the dill and parsley. The products are placed next to the mushrooms. Add spices and stir the salad.

Benefits of mushroom trout

The trout mushroom can be used not only as a food product and souvenir, but also as an ingredient in some medicines. They are taken for various poisonings. This type of mushroom has long been used in folk medicine of some peoples. It is part of ointments against skin inflammation and nail fungus.