Chinese mushrooms are very popular not only in the traditional national cuisine, but in other countries. They are salted, dried, stuffed and stewed. Mushrooms can be bought at the supermarket, most often they are sold in pressed form. In order for them to increase in volume, they must be filled with water and left for about an hour. After that, you can rinse and start cooking.
Many people are distrustful of these mushrooms, because they do not know how to cook them correctly. In their original form, they are a sticky briquette. But after soaking, it easily turns into familiar mushrooms.
Wood mushrooms
Chinese tree mushroom, also called cloud ears, is widely used in cuisines of different countries. It is thin and brittle, therefore, outwardly resembles pieces of charred paper. If you pull the ears out of the bag, you can feel the aroma, giving off a smoke. But it completely disappears, you just have to soak the mushrooms.
Woody ears are used to make soups, fried and stewed foods. They crunch nicely and have a smooth surface. After soaking, the mushrooms increase by about 7 times. When the ears swell, you need to rinse them and throw them in a colander.
Before cooking, it is necessary to thoroughly clean them from dirt and debris, remove hard roots. It is not necessary to cut the ears too finely, it is enough to divide them into separate parts, keeping their shape.
Where does wood mushroom grow?
Chinese mushrooms can be found not only on trees, but also on cellulose and other materials. It is easy to identify them: they have large and meaty hats, and the legs can be short or long.
The color of the hat depends on the type of fungus and the environment in which it grows. Young ears are gray-blue in color, and with age they become light brown in color.
Whatever the shade of the hat, the flesh of this mushroom is always white. To taste, they resemble seafood, their texture is smooth and soft.
Is tree fungus useful?
All parts of the ears that can be eaten are not only tasty, but also healthy. They are rich in vitamins of groups B and C, and also contain a large amount of protein. They contain all the trace elements that a person needs.
Chinese tree mushroom is especially useful for such diseases:
- Anemia
- Hypertension, obesity and diabetes.
- With high levels of acidity and cholesterol.
- With reduced immunity.
How to cook mushroom?
Wood ears should not be boiled over high heat or, conversely, over too low. This will cause them to become either harsh or lethargic. The broth should boil for about 15-25 minutes, depending on the size of the mushroom.
In order not to drown out the taste, it is not recommended to put hot spices and strongly salt the dish. Ears go well with vegetables, onions, herbs and apples.
Black Chinese Mushroom (Muer)
This species is very useful, it is rich in iron, protein and vitamins. You can cook with the addition of dates or lotus grains. Black Chinese mushrooms are tender and silky, and at the same time a little crunchy.
Muer can be eaten as noodles. To do this, cut them, and then fry, stew or add to the broth. Whole mushrooms can be stuffed. So that they swell, it is not enough just to fill them with water.
How to prepare moiré for cooking?
First of all, Chinese mushrooms should be cleaned of garbage and washed in cold water. After this, it is necessary to fill with warm water and leave for a couple of hours. Then you need to sort through them and again lower them into cold water. On the bottom shelf in the refrigerator, they should stand for a couple of days. After the time has passed, the mushroom will open and become approximately 10 times larger than its original size, and also acquire the necessary softness.
Shiitake Mushroom
This species is considered a delicacy and is grown on wood stumps that are specially processed. Thanks to its pleasant aroma, delicate texture and unusual taste, shiitake mushrooms are very popular. A photo will help you figure out how they look.
The dark brown plate head reaches 5-20 cm in diameter and has a beautiful pattern that creates thickenings and cracks. In young mushrooms, the leg is protected by a plate. It breaks when spores ripen. The mushrooms are considered the most delicious, the size of the caps of which does not exceed 5 cm. They should be open at 70%, with a dark brown, velvety color.
Shiitake in medicine
These mushrooms are used not only in cooking, but also for medical purposes. Even in antiquity, their properties were noticed, which positively affect male power.
A large number of vitamins and useful components that are contained in the fungus reduce cholesterol, blood sugar, cleanse the blood, remove tumors and have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the body as a whole.
Shiitake mushrooms, the photo of which conveys their beauty and appetizing appearance, are also used for viral diseases, immunodeficiency, stress, constant fatigue, depression, gastrointestinal and vascular diseases. Chinese doctors are sure that regular use of this mushroom prolongs life.
Shiitake is used for cosmetic purposes, as it regenerates epithelial cells and treats various skin diseases.
Shiitake mushroom in cooking
This product is considered universal, as it goes well with other ingredients and does not interrupt their taste. The characteristic caramel flavor gives the dishes an unusual aroma.
You can cook these mushrooms according to various recipes, there are a huge number of them. Shiitake goes well with vegetables, noodles and meat. If you bake them on the grill, it is better to choose those mushrooms that have caps with a large diameter.
Are there any contraindications?
Shiitake should be used with caution, as they can cause allergic reactions. Introduce them into the diet should be in small portions, since they contain bioactive substances. Women in position and nursing mothers are better off refrain from dishes that are cooked with the addition of these mushrooms.
Although the benefits of shiitake are undeniable, it is worth consuming no more than 200 grams of fresh product or 18 grams of dried per day.
Lingzhi mushrooms
They have great healing power, so their price is quite high. It is difficult to grow Chinese mushroom, they grow only on the trunk of a wild plum and under certain weather conditions. Today, this Chinese mushroom is also used for cosmetic and medical purposes.
