2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Chanterelle / Cantharellus cibarius / is a species of basidiomycete fungus. It can also be found under the names laberka, zhalturka and divisilka. It is widespread in much of North America and Europe, and its varieties are found even in Asia and Africa.
At first the google of chanterelle is convex and later concave in a funnel-shaped shape. Its diameter reaches 5 to 10 cm, has a truncated and wavy, curved upward edge. The surface of the duck's foot is smooth and dry, folded irregularly with a pale yellow to yellow-orange color.
Instead of lamellae / hairs /, on the lower part of the sponge there are thick, descending veins fused with the stump. The stump is tough and dense, thins at the lower end and is often atypically located relative to the hood. Its thickness is 1-2 cm and its height reaches 6-7 cm.
Types of crow's feet
Meadow crow's foot / Camarophyllus pratensis / - the hood of the fungus in its young state is bell-shaped, but during development it becomes flat, with a pronounced hump. Reaches a diameter of 7 cm, its color varies between orange and ocher. The cap of the sponge has an edge that is straight and thin. Its skin is dry, smooth and bare, but it is often cracked on top. The plates are sparse and thick, in most cases connected by veins. The stump of the meadow crow's foot is cylindrical in shape and narrower at the base. It is smooth and dense in the young specimens, and in the older ones it is bare and hollow, with a lighter color than the hood. The fungus is found in forests, pastures and meadows, in the months from August to November.
Autumn crow's foot / Pleurotus eryngii / - also known as wind-blowing mushroom. There is a hood that can be convex, slightly concave or flat. Most often it has a fan-like shape. The color of the autumn crow's foot varies from light or gray-brown to brown. The diameter reaches from 2 to 10 cm. The flesh is soft and white, with a weak aroma and taste. The fungus has lamellae that run down the stump. The spore powder is white. The autumn crow's foot grows from May to November, it is found in pastures and meadows.
Ordinary duck leg - its flesh is thick and slightly tough, with a slight pleasant taste and aroma reminiscent of fresh apricots. Its color is whitish to yellow. You can find the fungus in coniferous and deciduous forests, along forest roads and along desolate small paths. It occurs from early summer to late autumn.
Collection and storage of crow's feet
Mushrooms are best harvested early in the morning, before the dew has risen. However, collecting them during the rest of the day does not affect the taste in any way. Chanterelle is one of the most durable mushrooms, can last up to 10 days in the refrigerator.
Crow's foot in cooking
Chanterelle is a very tasty edible mushroom. For this reason, it is highly valued in cooking for preparing various dishes. It goes very well with eggs, yellow cheese and various meats. It can be prepared on an omelet by frying mushrooms and beating a few eggs on them.
Duck leg is prepared by baking, boiling or stewing. Keep in mind that it is a slightly harder mushroom, which requires a longer cooking process.
We offer you a very quick and tasty recipe with chanterelle.
Necessary products: 300 g fresh chanterelle, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 2 sprigs of fresh garlic, 2 sprigs of dill, salt and pepper to taste, 100 g of cream.
Method of preparation: The mushrooms are cleaned and cut. The fat is heated and the mushrooms are put in it for about 15 minutes. Then add a glass of water and boil them. Add the cream and then a little chopped garlic. Turn off the heat and season with dill, salt and pepper.
Duck leg is suitable for canning and drying. It is dried outdoors without any additional treatments. Before using dried duck leg in dishes, it is best to soak it in cold water for about 1 hour. Thus, the mushrooms will regain their appearance and color.
The substance that causes the specific aroma of these mushrooms is unknown. It's considered that chanterelle has no special qualities for the human body, but still very much loved for its pleasant taste.
Harm from crow's feet
Chanterelle can very easily be mistaken in appearance for the highly poisonous bitter odor (Omphalotus olearius). However, the two species differ in place of growth - the duck's foot grows only on soils, while the bitter odor is found on rotten deciduous wood.
Another duck leg double found throughout North America and Europe is the orange false duck leg. This species is not so highly poisonous and the only consequence is a dish with poor taste, but still attention should be alert. Both of the listed duck leg duplicates have true plates, while the true sponge has wrinkles that only resemble plates.
