Morel mushroom: The morel (Morchella) is a genus of edible cup fungi.
I love mushrooms. All kinds. But to be honest, I had never heard of or tried a morel mushroom until I moved to Iowa. They are extremely popular and very sought-after here and seem to almost have a cult following. Everyone knows a "morel hunter" and if you are lucky enough to be really good friends with one, you may be able to score some to enjoy.
The morel mushroom is an elusive treasure and is highly sought-after by gourmet cooks. This honeycomb-looking fungus is considered to be one of the most desired of wild mushrooms because it is not farmed like most grocery store mushrooms. Morels are so desirable and hard to find that mushroom hunters keep their hunting grounds a secret -- but even they can't guarantee they will find them each year.
It's been said by my morel-loving friends that they are to be fried or cooked whole (in butter is best for this king of 'shrooms) to enjoy their famous nutty meaty flavor. I'll admit, I've only had a taste once or twice, and now I am on a mission to hunt them down this spring to cook these special fungi on my own. Stay tuned!
Here are five things we bet you didn't know about morel mushrooms:
1. Morels are not farmed.
They grow everywhere, yet are almost impossible to find. If you've had one, it's been handpicked, probably by someone who searched long and far to find them.
2. Morels are one of the few mushrooms that grow in late spring.
But you can harvest them through fall. Small or big, they are equally good.
3. Morels cannot be eaten raw and should not be eaten in large amounts.
That's because they contain a mildly toxic substance that is destroyed when cooked.
4. Morel mushrooms can cost up to $35 a pound.
They are pricey because they are so hard to find!
5. The morel is related to the truffle.
The morel, or Morchella, is actually more related to the truffle than it is to the mushroom.
Please note:
Before you head out and hunt for the elusive morel mushrooms, be sure to read up and learn how to identify them. Morels do have a couple of look-a-likes that are poisonous and we don't want anyone to get "sick by shrooms".
Want to learn about other weird foods? Check out our other weird food articles!
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