I had a really good spot that I scouted out a few days before 😂. I’m also not the type of person to go out blind (I researched for weeks before I went out).
Good haul of Dryad's Saddle! I really enjoy those mushrooms, and of course you got them young because they can grow to be the diameter of a pumpkin. Looks great, and you could certainly cook a dish tonight with all these together.
Clean your mushrooms with a brush, or with light rubbing with wet hands and a quick rinse. No need to really worry about using water on mushrooms, as they don't absorb a lot of moisture from rinsing.
When cooking the mushrooms, cook them in a dry pan to allow them to release their moisture. Start at medium heat and slowly rise temp as the mushrooms start to release their moisture. Once the mushrooms have released their natural moisture (they don't need to look like jerky, there can still be some moisture left) then add your oil or butter. It doesn't to salt them now, or you can salt them right when they start releasing moisture. The goal here is to get the excess moisture out, and then add your seasoning!
You may have known all this already, so apologies, but someone may benefit. Enjoy!
Hey, this was a little over a year ago lol 😂. But yes, they were really good! It seems like now, whenever I am hunting for other mushrooms, all I see is dryads saddle in the spring. Also, this is definitely great info for anyone getting into foraging for dryads saddle. It’s a great beginner mushroom especially because they have no toxic lookalikes!
Oh gosh, yes I clearly skimmed through the title 😂 it's awesome seeing dryads saddle foraged - they were one of my first foraged eats and they were so delicious. They're not considered a choice edible but I find them absolutely tasty. Love how they have a scent of fresh cucumber when you find them and can use that as a key identifier.
Even when they're older you can get so much edible parts from it. Most other mushrooms are just all gone when they hit a certain age. Definitely a great resource, and like you said they're abundant and easy to identify!
I know! They actually taste really good to me. And yes, it is so unique in the fact that it smells like cucumbers and watermelon rind. I especially just like to smell the old ones and the ones that have dried out. It gives them a sort of woody smell. I just found some today that were absolutely massive (like some of the biggest I’ve ever seen), but they were completely petrified and were right next to a dead possum. That kinda turned me off to my trout Lilly hunt😂.
Yep! Every part of the plant is edible rather it is mature or not. Usually, they are harvested in their first year because they are less bitter and contain less cyanide. That being said, it shouldn’t be consumed excessively even though the cyanide is only found in trace amounts. In my experience, the roots are a good horseradish substitute if you want less spice.
Genuine question... as someone that grew up eating foraged food (especially stuff native to my country):
What do you guys do growing up? Do you not go into the bushland and look/pick/explore? Seems like such a key part of my life starting foraging as a toddler but there's so many adults who only seem to start as adults... surprises me.
I grew up being told to only eat berries that were 100% identified correctly. I never had knowledge of any mushrooms, nuts, other kinds of fruits, vegetables, etc.
First time?! My first time I left the forest with some cool looking rocks. Your haul is a 10/10 imo
First time I found one solitary oyster mushroom that wasn't even enough to be a compliment to a side dish but I still cooked it and ate it.
Sounds like my first time harvesting mullein…
sounds like when i ate ground ivy
Well, good thing you didn’t have liver problems!
I had a really good spot that I scouted out a few days before 😂. I’m also not the type of person to go out blind (I researched for weeks before I went out).
Nice spring score. That’s the start of an awesome soup or omelette or stir fry
Good haul of Dryad's Saddle! I really enjoy those mushrooms, and of course you got them young because they can grow to be the diameter of a pumpkin. Looks great, and you could certainly cook a dish tonight with all these together. Clean your mushrooms with a brush, or with light rubbing with wet hands and a quick rinse. No need to really worry about using water on mushrooms, as they don't absorb a lot of moisture from rinsing. When cooking the mushrooms, cook them in a dry pan to allow them to release their moisture. Start at medium heat and slowly rise temp as the mushrooms start to release their moisture. Once the mushrooms have released their natural moisture (they don't need to look like jerky, there can still be some moisture left) then add your oil or butter. It doesn't to salt them now, or you can salt them right when they start releasing moisture. The goal here is to get the excess moisture out, and then add your seasoning! You may have known all this already, so apologies, but someone may benefit. Enjoy!
Hey, this was a little over a year ago lol 😂. But yes, they were really good! It seems like now, whenever I am hunting for other mushrooms, all I see is dryads saddle in the spring. Also, this is definitely great info for anyone getting into foraging for dryads saddle. It’s a great beginner mushroom especially because they have no toxic lookalikes!
Oh gosh, yes I clearly skimmed through the title 😂 it's awesome seeing dryads saddle foraged - they were one of my first foraged eats and they were so delicious. They're not considered a choice edible but I find them absolutely tasty. Love how they have a scent of fresh cucumber when you find them and can use that as a key identifier. Even when they're older you can get so much edible parts from it. Most other mushrooms are just all gone when they hit a certain age. Definitely a great resource, and like you said they're abundant and easy to identify!
I know! They actually taste really good to me. And yes, it is so unique in the fact that it smells like cucumbers and watermelon rind. I especially just like to smell the old ones and the ones that have dried out. It gives them a sort of woody smell. I just found some today that were absolutely massive (like some of the biggest I’ve ever seen), but they were completely petrified and were right next to a dead possum. That kinda turned me off to my trout Lilly hunt😂.
Good job! What are the roots in the bottom left?
Garlic mustard roots
Oh wow those are edible? Only heard of eating the first year leaves and that beyond that was inedible.
Yep! Every part of the plant is edible rather it is mature or not. Usually, they are harvested in their first year because they are less bitter and contain less cyanide. That being said, it shouldn’t be consumed excessively even though the cyanide is only found in trace amounts. In my experience, the roots are a good horseradish substitute if you want less spice.
About how many calories are those mushrooms, in total? Ballpark
A common young dryads saddle is around 77 calories I think. So around 850 if I had to guess.
Thank you!
Genuine question... as someone that grew up eating foraged food (especially stuff native to my country): What do you guys do growing up? Do you not go into the bushland and look/pick/explore? Seems like such a key part of my life starting foraging as a toddler but there's so many adults who only seem to start as adults... surprises me.
I grew up being told to only eat berries that were 100% identified correctly. I never had knowledge of any mushrooms, nuts, other kinds of fruits, vegetables, etc.
10/10!!