Autumn time is mushroom time. A specialty is the Krause Glucke. The fruit bodies have an unusual shape. They are reminiscent of the shape of a bath sponge. We'll tell you when and where you can find the Krause Hen.
To the point
- Krause mother hen also known as fat hen or curly goatee
- Fruiting body consists of countless, flat, tangled branches with wavy, curly edges
- good edible mushroom
- Grows in coniferous forests as a parasite on roots and trunks of pine trees
- from July to November, sometimes also in December
Table of contents
- Recognize curly mother hen
- Find curly mother hen
- A good edible mushroom
- preparation
- frequently asked Questions
Recognize curly mother hen
The Krause mother hen (Sparassis crispa), also known as fat hen or Krauser goat's beard, has a somewhat special fruiting body. Its appearance is in the shape of a bath sponge, sometimes it can also resemble one cauliflower remember. The semicircular fruiting body consists of a richly branched network of flat, wavy, leaf-like branches with lobed or wavy ends.
Other identifying features are:
| fruiting bodies | Meat |
|---|---|
| – stalk-like base – ends in a short, barely visible stem – Diameter 10 to 40 cm – Branches dirty white to yellowish in color – Ends a little lighter – Stem white to light yellow – some with reddish or brown discoloration – white at the base and thick-fleshed – consists of several stalks |
– elastic, rubbery consistency – slightly brittle – Stem fibrous – Pleasantly spicy scent – nutty in taste |
Tip: The fat hen can quickly be confused with the broad-leaved mother hen (Sparassis brevipes), which is also edible. However, with a diameter of over 50 cm, it is larger than the curly mother hen and only grows under oak trees.
Find curly mother hen
The curled mother hen is quite common. She is a striking one Tree dwellers and only found in coniferous forests. The Fat Hen settles there conifers, at the foot of the trunks or stumps. The fungus prefers to live as a parasite on the roots and trunks of old trees Pine trees, mainly the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). But you can also turn it onSpruces and firs find.
Source: Andreas Kunze, Sparassis crispa 2015-11-14, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
It's worth remembering where the Krausen Hen is found, because the fruiting bodies appear in the same place for years. Although the curly goat's beard is an absolute autumn mushroom, the fruiting bodies sometimes appear as early as July. However, the main season is from September to November, sometimes until December.
A notice: Collect and only eat the Krause Hen if you can clearly identify it. If in doubt, a mushroom consultant can help.
A good edible mushroom
The fat hen is a tasty edible mushroom. However, this only applies to young specimens. These fresh, pale yellow fruit bodies are very popular with mushroom pickers because of their pleasantly aromatic, spicy scent and nutty taste. Older specimens become tough, bitter and indigestible over time. Edible curly hens are easy to recognize by their aromatic scent.
A notice: It is better to leave a fat hen that gives off an unpleasant smell.
preparation
Before you start preparing it, the mushroom must be cleaned. It can be a bit difficult to completely remove the small creatures that live in the cavities of the curled mother hen. The fruit body must not be pressed too hard as it is easily brittle. The best way to proceed is as follows:
- Clean branches carefully with a brush
- If necessary, dip the fruit bodies briefly into boiling water
- then rinse well under running water
- Another option: cut the fruit bodies into 2 to 3 cm thick slices
- then place in water to clean
After thorough cleaning, the Krause Glucke can be further processed. Processing can be done in different ways:
- in soups and sauces
- fried in oil, braised, roasted or
- Fry with bacon and egg
- Fry large slices breaded like schnitzel
- in mixed mushroom dishes or
- as a side dish to meat dishes
- dried in sauces for pasta dishes
The fat hen must be cooked or fried in dishes for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
Tip: The stalk should be removed during preparation. For many people it is intolerable and can cause nausea, vomiting, as well as stomach and intestinal problems. It's best to leave it standing when harvesting, as this will allow the curly mother hen to grow back.
frequently asked Questions
Before the fat hen is stored, it must be cleaned thoroughly. Storage must be cool. The vegetable compartment in the refrigerator with a temperature between 8 and 9 degrees is best suited for this. The mushroom lasts for about a week. But please do not pack it in a plastic container. Condensation occurs here and the Krause Hen spoils more quickly. The mushroom is simply wrapped in a dry linen or cotton kitchen towel.
The mushroom freezes well and can also be dried. The good thing is that it retains its taste. To freeze, the Krause Glucke is cut into pieces and then blanched in boiling salted water for two minutes. After drying, pour into freezer containers and freeze at -18 °C. The mushroom lasts four to five months. Drying takes place in the oven at 50 °C. The mushroom is dry when it is easily broken, almost brittle.
The fat hen can quickly be confused with some coral fungi (Ramaria). There are various poisonous species here. However, coral mushrooms are smaller than the curly hen and have round and not leaf-like elements. These include the bellyache coral (Ramaria mairei), tricolor coral (Ramaria formosa), and the inedible coral Smoky brown coral (Ramaria fumigata), also confused with the inedible squirrel (Polyporus umbellatus) is possible.