Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Mushrooms - golden oyster, matsutake, tree oyster

Mushrooms, mushrooms....mushh....Vrrrrrooooooooom!

From left: oyster, velvet pioppino, cloud ear or wood ear(black fungus), coral

I was pleased - first, it came in an assortment; second, it looks "special". In face of new, unfamiliar stuff, I tend to be very fickle. That is why I go for sample brews when visiting a brew house and precisely for the same reason - this pack of pre-selected mushrooms variety. Now I do not have to decide - which variety, which pack, which one...I can try all at the same time! Bonus - it gets me writing especially just for mushrooms ...and if it's for Weekend Herb Blogging, why not ? This week's host is Anh at Food Lover's Journey.

Mushrooms are often meat substitutes for vegetarians partially due to its inherent woody and earthy flavor, being a good source of protein.

Golden Oyster - 珊瑚菇 (pronounced ShanHu Gu, literally means coral mushrooms)

Also known as Golden Oyster Spore Syringe (botanical name: Pleurotus citrinopileatus) or jade emperor mushrooms. These mushrooms grow in clusters of small, thin fleshed, funnel-shaped bright yellow caps. The flavor improves with thorough cooking

Cinnamon cap mushroom or a Matsutake variety. Other names: brown swordbelt. Chinese names: 松茸 or 松菇

These mushrooms have intense rich flavor and maintain slight crisp texture in the stems and caps after cooking.

Tree oyster mushroom (botanical name: Pleurotus ostreatus) or sometimes known as abalone mushrooms.

These oyster mushrooms have a fleshy texture with mild delicate earthy flavor.

There is more mushroom reading at Dried Mushrooms, Food Subs and Wiki. In addition, a few WHB weeks ago, I posted on mushrooms - shitake, trumpet, beech and had a few good mushroom recipes for you. Do check them out.

Now, do you have any more room to confess your mushy love for mushrooms ? Which variety do you like best ?

Tag:

28 comments:

Nilmandra said...

Shitake, king oyster, abalone, enoki, shimeiji, chanterelle, portobello, chestnut, white button, porcini... I love them all! The oriental varieties are so expensive here while white button, chestnuts and portobello mushrooms are relatively inexpensive. And it is the reverse in Asia! Which means I will alway be moaning about buying expensive mushrooms wherever I go :p

didally said...

Yes, Nilmandra, it's the opposite here! I love all mushrooms. I haven't had one that makes me go "yuck" yet.

But I am lucky to have a mushroom farm 10 mins away from my house.

JesieBlogJourney said...

Oh, those mushrooms belonging to the Oyster family will be great on Tom Yam Kung.

noobcook said...

I've not seen golden oyster b4, so suaku >_<

I love most mushrooms except shitake (weird!) and my faves are button and portebello mushrooms. Mushrooms are one of the best food ingredients!

Little Corner of Mine said...

All the mushrooms look so fresh! I would love to try some cinnamon cap mushrooms, have yet to see it here。

team bsg said...

yr repertoire of mushrooms are impressive , but we think all fungi have funny tastes except those we see braised brown together with the sea cucumbers in expensive Chinese dinners

omnivore said...

Like those (mushroom houses) found in Smurf cartoon...ha ha ha...

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Beautiful photos -- those mushrooms look like life forms!

Kevin said...

What a great selection on amazing looking mushrooms!

Cindy. Lo. said...

Here're my top three mushrooms that showed up in my kitchen all the time:
1. Shitake mushroom
2. Enoki mushroom
3. button mushroom

I heart mushrooms!

Jason Ho said...

woah..I have said it and I will say it again..I love mushrooms...yeeeeah!!

Marc @ NoRecipes said...

Matsutakes are my favourite mushrooms. Can't say I've ever had this variety before though. I also really like Nameko and Enoki mushrooms (both for texture more than flavor). Where did you get these?

daphne said...

i love all types of mushrooms! especially enoki, swiss brown, portobello n fresh shitake. I dont mind the dry version as well. Button mushrooms arent my fav but they are alot cheaper here...

Retno Prihadana said...

I like mushrooms...sometimes I just don´t know the name, thanks for the info.

A scientist in the kitchen said...

WOW!!! Mushrooms are my favorite, too! I wish I could try all the mushrooms you have...

Gay

Mochachocolata Rita said...

i love straw, white button, and oyster mushrooms the most hehehe i love the earthy taste of shrooms....yum yum yum

Wilfrid said...

The shrooms are oh so pretty!

I really like the look of the golden oyster but I have yet to try it. To me, all mushrooms taste more or less the same ya?

Munchkin Mommy said...

we love mushrooms! those are gorgeous! the golden oyster would also make for good decoration. hahaha. but abalone will always be a favorite. hee hee. :)

Ming the Merciless said...

I love mushrooms!! The best mushroom dish I've ever had was a simple sauted of mixed fresh mushrooms with olive oil and a little salt.

Big Boys Oven said...

they are all so gorgeous!

MyF said...

I loveeee mushrooms, especially those fluffy white button mushrooms! And swiss browns, and portobello. Unfortunately, it is soo expensive here. I was fortunate to enjoy 2 years in Ozzie where, for 2 whole years I enjoyed the best of mushrooms and cheese every day! :-)

Rasa Malaysia said...

Ooooh, there are many mushroom species in Taiwan. :)

tigerfish said...

Heehaw!

I hear most of you like mushrooms.

We all heart mushrooms :D

bee said...

what a great post!!!

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Hi Tigerfish! It was so great to see your comment on my blog. How have you been? This is a wonderful post! And I'm addicted to mushrooms, any and all kinds. :)

Kalyn said...

Wow, I am learning a lot from you. I've never seen any of these except oyster mushrooms! Wish I could try them all.

Amy said...

I love mushrooms!! I think my favorite would have to be chanterelles.

Mrs Ergül said...

I love it that you include the Chinese names for these cute little mushrooms! Cuz I grow up in a Chinese environment and in the world of food blogs, I learn them in their English name. I never really know which is which until now, thanks!