# Chicken Of The Woods 2023

It is that time of the year again. Yesterday (which was a Monday) on my way to work I have spotted a Chicken Of The Woods. It came as a little surprise, because last Friday, on my way home, there was not a trace of it to be seen. So it went pretty fast this year. On the other hand, I have come to expect it already, because it is growing there every year around this time, always on the same tree. It is a white willow, the only one far and wide, and I pass it by twice every working day.

Chicken Of The Woods on Gemipedia

The mushroom just before I harvested it

As you can see on the photo, it is still rather compact and not ''fanning out'' all too far from the tree. In my opinion this is about the best time to harvest it, as it is still mostly soft and fleshy, and not overly tough and unpalatable as the older parts tend to be.

The choice of the tree couldn't have been much better, as the mushroom tends to take up poisonous substances from its host. So if you encounter one on a yew or a locust, you better don't eat it! Oaks are said to give a bitter and unpleasant taste.

The mushroom just after I harvested it

Even though it certainly didn't grow to its full size, it still packs a lot of meat. About two pounds of mushroom makes for a nice meal, no real chicken needed.

Preparation

Easy. Give it a proper rinse to remove all the ants and woodlice from the nooks and crannies, as well as pieces of bark and other cruft. Then simply chop it up into small pieces and cook them for a couple of minutes in saltwater - just like pasta, basically. Discard all the parts that appear dry and fibrous, or like cardboard, and are harder to cut through. The soft and squishy parts are the best.

Fresh off the boil

Drain, and use for a fricassee or whatever you fancy. I added it to a simple red lentil curry and devoured the whole dish in one go.

You don't have to be as crazy as I was and pick the next best mushroom that looked intriguing off a tree, only to do some light googling and then cook it up. But in case anyone ever offers you to try and taste a Chicken Of The Woods, you should certainly give it a try and not pass up on that opportunity!

Update 2023-09-01

Second harvest this year! He did it again and grew another fruit body. I presume this was due to me not cutting off the whole thing this time, and leaving a little lobe on the tree. This must have been enough to resume growing and get back to another kilogram of delicious ''meat''.

Resuming where the first one left off

As you can see from another angle, this time the lobes grew much longer and thinner than before.

Different view

preamp's gemlog on 2023-08-22,

stuffed and contented.

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