These are authentic forest mushrooms. They grow in the monsoon season on the termite house in which the snake stays (that’s what the folklore says). Only the people staying in those forest’s have the knowledge of how to shun away the snake and pick those edible mushrooms. Only they know which mushrooms are edible and which are poisonous.
These forest mushrooms grow in the forest areas on the Goa-Karnataka border (and off course in many other forest’s). But the one’s that we eat arrive in Goa from the Goa-Karnataka border.
This time luckily my hubby visited Goa on a short trip in the same season and to my surprise got back two big packets of these mushrooms. These mushrooms get spoiled very easily. So as soon as they are plucked from the termite house, they are tightly wrapped into very large leaves which are found only in the forests. People say that mushrooms which are still buds are fresh. Once they open up they are not considered fresh.
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| Mushrooms tigthly packed in big leaves once they are plucked |
Many people believe that, when the snake that stays inside the termite house breathes out on the mushrooms, they open up… LOL I don’t believe in this anyways 🙂
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| Fresh mushroom buds |
Cleaning these mushrooms is a very hectic task. First you have to soak them in water for at least an hour. Then using a muslin cloth or a very soft cotton cloth you need to individually clean off all the mud from those mushrooms and again wash them in water for some more time.
Finally you need to drain the water by tightly holding the mushrooms in the fists.
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| Soak them in water for cleaning |
Cutting these mushrooms is very easy. You don’t have to use a knife at all. They can be easily torn into desired pieces using hands. If a knife is used to cut them, the mushroom get cut into very small powder like pieces and then it’s difficult to get the real taste when cooked.
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| Cleaned mushrooms |
These mushrooms can be used in cooking just like the normal button mushrooms which we get in the grocery stores. A delicious mushroom rawa fry can be made or else Kadai Mushroom.
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| Delicious Rawa Fried Mushrooms |
interesting post 🙂 thanks for sharing..
What a way to prepare mushrooms! Delicious and lovely preparation.
Deepa
Never seen these mushrooms brfore…Thanx for sharing..Happy to follow you dear…:)
Delicious mushroom looks alike to button mushroom.
Looks tempting and super inviting.
Love the detailed explanation. Never tasted these novelties.
Mina
The mushrooms look really yum. I remember seeing these during my childhood, especially during monsoons. And that my dad was able to pick the good ones from bad.. been so long.. makes me nostalgic
Good info Raksha. This looks very invinting and tempting too.
Never seen them before. Your fried mushroom looks superb!
So nice to read about these forest mushrooms – the curry looks spicy and yum
Thanks for your lovely appreciation..it's pleasure for me that you join me…
Very new Mushroom For me.. LOok Awesome
Thanks Preeti Garg for joining me here 🙂
Yup I was lucky to get them this time 🙂
Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments 🙂
they look so fresh!!Remembering my childhood 🙂
So yummy and crunchy….