July 10, 2011

Enokitake (Mushrooms)

Enoki mushroom. Flammulina velupitesえのきたけ、榎茸

Also called "golden needle" or "velvet foot." Long (10-13 cm), thin white mushroom growing in clumps. The pin-like head sits on a needle-like stem. Naturally grows on the stump of the Chinese Hackberry tree, called enoki in Japanese.


[Enokitake]

Now widely cultivated (and that is where the white color comes from, wild mushrooms are brown) - in fact, it has been cultivated in Japan for over 300 years. For cultivation nowadays plastic bottles or vinyl bags are used with a substrate of saw dust. Grows in 30 days.

Has a crunchy texture and somewhat fruity but very mild taste. Gets hard when cooked too long. Can be used in salads, soups, stir-fries and hotpot dishes. Also wrapped in foil with fish or fowl for grilling over charcoal.