El chanterelle it is a mushroom that has nothing to do with the red mushrooms of David the gnome. It is so striking since its color and crafts as delicious once you learn to use it in the kitchen. Its consumption is also very popular in much of the world although perhaps you do not know it like others fungal species renowned. Discover in this article all the secrets of this forest delicacy which can also be collected throughout the autumn and even well into winter in certain Spanish regions!
A funnel-shaped mushroom
Today we treat a set peculiar. The chanterelle it has such unique characteristics that it is difficult to confuse it. Once you see it, you can go for it without doubting whether it is poisonous or not. Its appearance is very attractive for two reasons. The first is your color, which goes from yellow whitish al Orange. It usually has a color so vivid that it is reminiscent of amber in the traffic light. On the other hand, another element to take into account is your way of cup or funnel. Thus, it differs a lot from the one that comes to mind, more typical of mushrooms.
Is the fungus most consumed in the world because it covers a large territorial area. Without going any further, in Spain we find it in practically the entire Iberian Peninsula. It usually appears at the end of the spring and at the beginning of summer. Thus, it takes advantage of the humidity of the abundant rains in the forests. One point in favor of this mushroom for the collector is that it rarely appears alone. The usual thing is that he does it with more specimens of his species. In addition, they normally appear in the same place from one year to the next.
Where to find chanterelle?
If you want to search chanterelles you can start looking between the litter. It is usually close to deciduous trees, beech, chestnut, oak, holm oaks and rebollos. It is also close to rockrose and ferns, although to a lesser extent. You can even find them in coniferous forests. It depends a lot on the area, since not all have the same conditions.
This makes them ideal for the collector. Whoever collects them must always leave some without collecting so that they continue to reproduce in the forest. If you are going to look for them, you must be prepared even on dry and hot summer days. The chanterelles They tolerate several very dry and warm summer days without spoiling. Next we will talk about what this mushroom is for in the kitchen. His forcefulness and its sweet aroma make them an ideal ally in multiple recipes.
Chanterelle in the kitchen
This mushroom has an optimal culinary performance. It is ideal for both stews as in preserve or in dry. In addition, it is perfect for accompanying meat. You can also try it when preparing sauces o scrambled. A formidable option is to taste them onions with black pepper on top. To lick your fingers!
You will have to take into account their consistency at the time of cooking. Basically, they will take longer to cook than other species of mushrooms. The positive thing about it is that it provides greater resistance and durability. It is so resistant that it is quite difficult to find any eaten by parasites o sick. In addition to the ability to withstand the drought, we can talk about not breaking on the way home. These factors make them very easy to keep and that we can wait if we do not want to consume them at the moment.
A very peculiar use of chanterelle lies in the drink more than food. It is part of the elaboration of the chanterelle liqueur. If what you are looking for is to be able to enjoy them for a longer time, you can take a look at a previous article. In our entry about how to preserve mushrooms we explain several methods.
Conclusion
El autumn it's ending, so you need to hurry up. This year the mycological season (mushroom gathering) has been prolific. The Rain at the beginning of this season they were combined with mild temperatures. In addition, the nights were humid and the days clear. Thus, mushrooms invaded our forests, taking advantage of the humidity and lack of wind.
Bottom line: prepare the Wicker basket. Don't worry if you live in a large city since you can surely find them in a nearby wooded area. In fact, they have made their appearance on several TV shows. Telemadrid in which several Madrilenians go out in search of him. They find them in rural areas which take an hour by car to arrive. As if that weren't enough, they teach you how to cook them! Enjoy its culinary versatility and the challenge of harvesting. I'm sure you won't be disappointed by chanterelle
