The Certifiable Foodie: Wild Maine Mushrooms

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Wild Maine Mushrooms

Fall in Maine signals the beginning of the wild mushroom season.

We walked into the woods yesterday and found these striking King Bolets (Porcini). To be honest, they were growing right next to the tennis courts.

Bolets are abundant this time of year, and the best of the species is the King, which has a golden brown cap with a bulbous stem.

We also found Yellow Footed Chanterelles, Hedgehog and Chanterelles along with a few wild cranberries.

We promptly sliced these and dried them in the oven for use in sauces when we get home.

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Pomelo

The pomelo looks like a grapefruit except much larger and has thicker skin. The pomelo can range from green to yellow in skin color and grows in California, Florida and much of Asia. Fruit can easily be two pounds. To prepare remove the very thick skin like an orange and remove as much white pith as possible getting down to the actual citrus sections. Separate in half and then begin to remove each section and peel the membrane from each section. Pomelos come in two colors; white and pink. The texture is much like a grapefruit yet larger dryer pulp which is easy to eat once peeled and lends well to salads if the pulp is pulled apart into smaller pieces. The flavor is very unique and sweet without the familiar bitterness found in grapefruit. The season in North America ranges from November to March.

Rambutan

The rambutan hails from tropical climates from Mexico to Asia and many points in between. One of the most striking looking fruits. Similar to the Lychee except with a thicker shell covered with hairs of red tipped with green. To enjoy, press your thumb nail into the shell half way around the center of the fruit and break the shell apart to expose the fruit that resembles a large peeled grape. It's taste resembles a combination of a grape and a pineapple. There is a center pit which is edible when roasted and tastes like an almond.

Durian

The Durian is an unlikely food both to look at and then to smell. It has sharp points all over its exterior shell. Once you get the shell open there are several lobes of butter colored flesh wrapped around large brown pits. Once open you immediately notice a very pungent smell that is somewhat off-putting. In Singapore and Malaysia you actually see no Durian signs on public transportation, right next to the sign that prohibits public displays of affection. Strange because the Durian is a very romantic fruit, when you think that you have to work so hard to access it’s potent smelling treasure. The pulp is reminiscent of custard and is sweet and delicious. This fruit is often made into ice cream. Rumor has it a better smelling variety is in the works.

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Wild Maine Mushrooms

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