Blackberry false mushrooms. Methods of culinary processing of the hedgehog mushroom. Yellow hedgehog recipes

Kira Stoletova

There are many varieties of mushrooms. The group that unites various hedgehog mushrooms includes about 15 species that differ in appearance, habitat and belong to different genera and families. Some of them actively bear fruit in temperate climates.

Characteristics of the mushroom

A special feature of hedgehogs is the appearance of the hymenophore. This is the part of the fruiting body on which plates with spores are usually located. In representatives of this group, it looks loose, in the form of pointed cones or spikes. It is this feature that made it possible to distinguish all species into a separate group.

Hedgehog mushrooms are classified as conditionally edible. This marker means that they are not poisonous, but they have rather low taste qualities, so they are used in cooking to a limited extent.

Irina Selyutina (Biologist):
In the late 1960s, the leading feature in the taxonomy of hymenomycetes, to which the hedgehog mushrooms belong, was considered the shape of the fruiting bodies and hymenophore; all mushrooms with a spinous or warty hymenophore were included in the family Urchinaceae. However, by the mid-1970s it became clear that this trait perfectly demonstrates convergence (the similarity of traits between representatives different types), which is observed in many aphyllophorous fungi of very different origins.
As a result of in-depth microscopic studies carried out to this day. A single species was classified as a hedgehog, Hydnum notemata. This species, which represents an entire family, is characterized by smooth, colorless spores that do not stain under the influence of iodine (non-amyloid).
Close to seven. Blackberry and small fam. Hericidiaceae, the fungi of which are distinguished by the presence of amyloid spores and peculiar hyphae with oily contents (gleocystid hyphae).

Habitat: mixed or coniferous forests. More often, hedgehog species are collected under pine trees. Mushrooms prefer sandy soil and bear fruit in groups, forming the so-called. “witch circles” from June to November.

Varieties

The most common types of hedgehogs are:

e. comb;
e. coral;
e. motley;
e. white;
e. yellow.

Many species of this group cannot be found in the nearest coniferous forest for the following reasons:

They are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book. Such fruiting bodies cannot be collected so as not to reduce their population.
They have a limited range: some grow only in the Far East, the Caucasus, China and Crimea.

The description of different types differs, because the color and shape of the fruit is affected by sunlight, soil characteristics and weather conditions.

Crested hedgehog

The appearance of the blackberry comb mushroom is unusual. It does not have a clearly defined stem, and the fruiting body looks spherical. The cap as such is difficult to see; the surface is organized in the form of small cones-spikes from 2 to 5 cm long. The color of the fruiting body, and therefore the pulp, is white, and when it dries it becomes yellowish-brown. The pulp itself is fleshy. The hymenophore justifies the classification of this species, as well as others similar to blackberries - it is spiny and resembles thin needles hanging down

This is a wood-destroying fungus - it grows on broken branches or bark of deciduous trees. This species is listed in the Red Book of the Primorsky Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Okrug.

Coral hedgehog

In science, a coral mushroom (or lattice-shaped hedgehog) is a mushroom whose fruiting body looks like a bush, or more precisely, like a representative of marine invertebrate animals - a coral with a calcareous skeleton, making this organism look like an outlandish (as was previously thought) plant. It consists of coral-shaped processes. The diameter of the fruiting body reaches 20 cm, and overgrown fruiting bodies are not suitable for consumption. Young mushrooms have white flesh, while older mushrooms are characterized by yellowing.

The coral hedgehog bears fruit from late July to early September. It is not easy to meet this species, because it is on the verge of extinction and is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

Variegated hedgehog

The variegated blackberry (or imbricated) mushroom got its name due to the color of the cap, which is clearly distinguished in this species. Its diameter reaches 25 cm. It also has characteristic scaly growths of brown color. The surface is dry and velvety to the touch. The stem can be dense or hollow, the same color as the cap or other shades.

Description of pulp:

off-white or gray;
spicy, pleasant smell in young specimens;
Overripe ones have a putrid smell, their flesh is hard and dry to the touch.

The hymenophore, located on the underside of the cap, is represented by densely arranged conical, pointed and thin spines, about 1 cm long. In young specimens they are light, in older organisms they darken.

This species forms mycorrhizae with representatives of coniferous trees. Prefers dry coniferous (pine) and, less commonly, mixed forests with sandy soils for its growth. It begins to bear fruit in August and continues until October-November, but mass fruiting only includes the second half of August-end of September.

White hedgehog

The white hedgehog has a strong, dense leg, reaching a length of up to 6 cm. The fruiting body grows small, more often up to 12 cm in diameter. As it grows, the cap bends inward at the edges. Its color and the color of the plates (in the form of cones) are white or light gray, yellowish. In a young mushroom, the hymenophore in the form of thorns will be elastic and will not fall off.

Did you know? The white hedgehog is often confused with its relative, the yellow hedgehog, because it looks like a smaller copy of it, only with a white or yellowish cap.

Yellow hedgehog

This species is widespread in Russia and is not endangered. It chooses saturated soil for its development; it is easy to find in moist clearings in short grass. Often grows in groups.

The cap is a rich red or yellowish color, sometimes fading in the sun to whitish. Its edges are uneven. The flesh is fleshy and darkens when cut or pressed. Young specimens have pulp with a pronounced fruity odor. And in old people it gives off a bitter aftertaste and smells unpleasant.

The stem of the fruiting body is in the shape of a cylinder, which widens towards the bottom. It grows up to 8 cm long and can bend. The yellow hedgehog bears fruit from mid-June until the end of October.

By the way. Very often, beginning mushroom pickers, those who have not carefully studied the appearance of the common chanterelle, are shocked when they see this mushroom, because in appearance it resembles a chanterelle. But upon careful study, you can immediately see the differences.

What are the benefits of hedgehog fruiting bodies?

The pulp contains only 22 kcal per 100 g, so it can be eaten even on a diet. In addition to proteins, fats (only 5%) and carbohydrates, the pulp contains a large list of trace elements and minerals. Beneficial features are realized through a significant amount of fiber, vitamin C, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium.

Children, people with diseases of the stomach, intestines, and liver should try these mushrooms carefully, in small portions. They should be consumed in small quantities, since the chitin in the pulp takes a long time to digest.

Application of mushrooms

Blackberry is widely used in cooking and alternative medicine. It is prepared more in the East, where it is also used as folk remedies from various diseases. In Russia, conditionally edible blackberries are often bypassed, ignoring their medicinal and nutritional properties, because for the Russian Federation it is a rather little-known mushroom in many regions.

Cooking

In Russia, the conditionally edible fruiting bodies of hedgehog mushrooms are used as a pickled or salty snack. To get rid of bitterness, they are left in cold water for several days. During the process, change the liquid a couple of times a day, then quickly boil it.

The younger the fruiting bodies, the less they need to be processed. This group, especially the variegated hedgehog species, is not consumed raw, as this can cause severe poisoning. Due to the presence of bitterness, some types are not suitable for frying or drying. But yellow blackberries are fried after boiling and served with sour cream sauce.

Medicine

In traditional science, wild fruiting bodies of hedgehogs are not used. They are used as part of skin ointments in cosmetology. Eastern peoples prepare infusions and decoctions from fruit bodies and stems. It is believed that the products have a beneficial effect on:

nervous system;
vessels;
heart;
condition of the skin, nails, hair;
the work of the endocrine glands.

Before you try it for yourself medicinal properties funds traditional medicine, be sure to consult a doctor to determine possible problems, for example, individual intolerance to the components of the mushroom.

Growing methods

Representatives of this group are easy to grow on your own plot if you put in the effort, desire and patience. First of all, choose the right place. You should not plant them within a radius of 4 km from enterprises, highways and in dacha cooperatives.

The mycelium of the fruiting bodies extends for kilometers underground and absorbs everything that falls into the ground. Even edible mushrooms in such places are dangerous to human health.

To grow such mushrooms in the country, it is recommended to grow mycelium. These are wooden log houses or containers with soil into which dry or living material is planted. Blackberries love to grow in mixed forests - it is better to take the soil from there. Instead of soil, you can use sawdust from wood.

A more complicated method is using a log. Description of the method:

Holes are made on the log with a drill 4 cm deep and 1 cm in diameter, placing them in a checkerboard pattern.
Sticks with mushroom mycelium are inserted into the holes and covered with perforated cling film.
The wood is stored in a warm and dark place, water 2-3 times every 7 days.

When the mycelium appears, the log with the mycelium is placed in water for 24 hours. Then the log is placed vertically (many types of hedgehog mushroom grow on cuts of wood) and left to grow.

Blackberries, or blackberries, are traditionally called several types of mushrooms that are similar in appearance, but scientists belong to different taxa (biological genera and families). Due to the fact that all these mushrooms have a spinous hymenophore (the surface on the underside of the cap), initially they were all actually classified as representatives of the same biological genus and only later were assigned to different taxa.

Types of hedgehogs

It is customary to call about a dozen hedgehogs individual species mushrooms that are similar in appearance. In particular, these are representatives:

Hedgehog family -
- Yellow hedgehog. Also known as notched hedgehog. The most famous representative of this group. A good edible mushroom. According to other sources, it is conditionally edible.
- Rufous hedgehog. Conditionally edible mushroom. Young fruits are eaten, as old mushrooms are bitter and quite tough.
Banker families -
- Black hedgehog. Due to its dark gray color, it is easily distinguishable from its relatives. It is not eaten due to its very hard pulp.
- Felt hedgehog. One of the most common representatives of hedgehogs. Not edible.
- Rough hedgehog. A brown mushroom that is unpleasant to look and feel. Not edible.
- Variegated hedgehog. Also known as imbricated hedgehog. A conditionally edible mushroom with mediocre taste, but a very bright, rich aroma. For the second reason, it is often used as a mushroom seasoning.
Family Hericiaceae -
- Coral hedgehog. One of the most unusual species in this group. Instead of the traditional body of a mushroom, consisting of a stem and a cap, the mushroom is something like a coral bush. Although the mushroom is quite edible, it cannot be collected due to its rarity. This species is listed in the Red Book.
- Crested hedgehog. In appearance it is also very far from an ordinary mushroom. Consists of long hanging threads formed into a “beard” or ball. Edible, but in some regions of Russia it is listed in the local Red Book.
- Antennae hedgehog. It grows in the form of large clusters of caps, covered with “tendrils” on both sides. Edible when young.
Family Exidiaceae -
- Hedgehog gelatinous. Also known as false hedgehog. The photo clearly shows that it is almost impossible to confuse it with other hedgehogs. It has a jelly-like body consistency and a pale, translucent appearance. In Europe it is considered inedible. In the United States, the mushroom is considered theoretically edible, but completely tasteless.

Edible hedgehog mushrooms - photo and description

Although almost all of the above-mentioned types of mushrooms grow in most of the territory of Russia, you will not find all of them in the forest during a “silent hunt”. Most species of hedgehog mushrooms are quite rare mushrooms, and some are even listed in the Red Book, and therefore stumbling upon them in the forest is a great success.

Since there is no point in describing those types of mushrooms that you most likely will not encounter anyway, we will give here only a description of the yellow hedgehog and other most common ones edible mushrooms this group.

The main unifying feature for all blackberries is the hymenophore: where other mushrooms have tubes or plates under the cap, blackberries have needle-shaped spines. They are not sharp, but, as a rule, quite elastic or even hard.

Now let's look at specific types:

Yellow hedgehog. Outwardly, it very much resembles a fox. Grows under coniferous and deciduous trees, loves moss. The cap is painted in different shades from light brown to pale yellow. In turn, the leg is usually lighter. Height up to 10 cm, diameter - no more than 15 cm. The hat usually has an uneven surface, and itself is also irregular in shape. While the mushroom fruit is young, the cap is slightly convex in the center, but with age its edges rise, forming a notch in the center. Very often, the caps of individual yellow hedgehog mushrooms grow together. The pulp is white or light yellow. At the break point it darkens and acquires a light fruity aroma. Old mushrooms harden and taste bitter, which is why they are usually unsuitable for food.
The hedgehog is red-yellow or reddish. Mushrooms grow in groups or families, close to each other. The diameter of the cap is 5 cm, the color is red-red. The hat is very wavy with brittle edges. The leg is usually much lighter, reaching 4 cm. The pulp is light and fragile, with age it becomes tougher and begins to taste bitter.
Variegated hedgehog. The mushroom loves coniferous forests with sandy soil. In other areas it is quite rare. The fruit body is very large and fleshy. The cap is very large, up to 20 cm. The surface is hard and dry. The top of the cap is covered with large scales resembling tiles. Hence the second name - imbricated hedgehog. The caps are painted in different shades of brown, the scales are noticeably darker. The pulp is white. While the mushroom is young, it is soft and juicy, and then it dries and hardens, acquiring a bitter taste. The leg is thick, often widened downwards. Height is within 2-5 cm. The surface is grayish, often slightly lighter than the cap.

Inedible hedgehogs

Only four inedible species are usually classified as hedgehogs. Moreover, there is no data regarding whether they are poisonous or simply not suitable for food for other reasons. Here's what we know about them now:

Growing hedgehog

Since all mushrooms are more or less similar to each other in taste, businesses and individuals who grow mushrooms prefer the most productive species - champignons, oyster mushrooms and a few others. At the same time, the vast majority of wild forest mushrooms (including hedgehog mushrooms) are very difficult to industrially cultivate, and therefore are not of interest for artificial cultivation.

The exception is the combed hedgehog. The boiled pulp of this mushroom tastes very much like shrimp meat. In addition, the mushroom grows well on tree logs.

At the same time, individual fruiting bodies of this mushroom can easily grow up to 20 cm in length and weigh up to 1.5 kg. An adult mushroom looks like a hedgehog curled up in a ball, but only white and with long soft needles.

In addition to its excellent taste, the combed hedgehog is also famous for its healing properties. It helps especially well in the fight against diseases such as sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is actively used to treat gastritis and gastric ulcers. It is also believed that it has a beneficial effect on the immune system and nervous system.

Technology of growing combed hedgehog

Since the technology for growing this type of mushroom has been mastered for a long time, the easiest and most obvious way to acquire planting material is to buy ready-made mycelium. Wooden sticks infected with spores of these fungi are sold in many offline and online stores for gardeners.

If you plan to grow hedgehog mushrooms outdoors, then the mycelium should be planted between April and October. But since this type of hedgehog mushroom feels great indoors, it would be more productive to allocate some kind of heated shed for the beds, in which you can grow mushrooms all year round, collecting several harvests per season.

To plant mushrooms, you need to prepare a fresh (cut down no more than a month ago) log of deciduous trees. The log must certainly be free of rot. For convenience, the branches can be cut off, but the bark should be left. Typically, stumps about a meter long and up to 20 cm in diameter are used. It is important that the wood is damp. If the tree is completely dry (not dead), it should be soaked for a couple of days. Then the wood is left for a week in a warm, ventilated room.

When the log is “ripe,” holes are drilled in it up to 40 mm deep and with a diameter of no more than a centimeter. Usually such holes are made in a checkerboard pattern no closer than 10 cm. The purchased “mushroom sticks” should be inserted into these holes. Moreover, this should only be done with clean medical gloves, or at worst, thoroughly disinfected hands.

Logs with mushrooms planted in them are wrapped in polyethylene, in which ventilation holes are made in advance. The logs are then sent to a warm place out of direct sunlight and left there. It is important that the wood remains moist; therefore, it needs to be watered every 3-4 days.

As soon as the white threads of the mycelium become noticeable on the logs, they are placed in a container with cold water. Next, the wooden chocks are placed vertically in a bright room, for example, in a greenhouse, or left outside (the main thing is not directly in the sun).

At the end of autumn, they should be covered with dry leaves or taken to the basement.

The first harvest is harvested after about six months (maximum 9 months). After this, the mycelium needs to be given a little rest - water less for a couple of weeks. Further harvests are harvested as mushrooms appear. At the same time, you should not wait for the fruiting bodies to grow to gigantic sizes. It's better to cut them young. Then they are stored better, and their taste is more pleasant.

In a productive autumn forest you can find a tasty, healthy, easily identifiable mushroom with a unique structure that has no poisonous counterparts. This is a yellow hedgehog, which many unknowingly consider toadstool or false chanterelle.

Yellow hedgehog (Hydnum repandum) belongs to the class Agaricomycetes, family of hedgehogs. Its other names are yellow blackberry, notched blackberry, notched hydnum, notched dentium. All names indicate the color of the cap and the characteristic appearance of its lower part.

The mushroom has the following characteristics:

the cap reaches 12, sometimes 15 cm in diameter, is colored in warm shades of yellow - from light cream to reddish-orange, becoming darker, nut-orange with age. It also acquires a rich orange color when pressed. The shape of the cap changes with age, moving from convex to flat, often depressed in the center. It develops by forming protruding lobes, often merging with adjacent caps. The edges are uneven, curved down. The slightly velvety skin does not separate;
the lower surface (hymenophore) - and this is a unique feature of hedgehogs - is dotted with thin, needle-shaped, mastoid spines, about 4-7 mm long, descending along the stalk. The color and texture of these spines changes with age - light and elastic in young ones later acquire the color of a cap and become brittle, easily crumbling;
white spores;
stalk up to 3 cm thick, up to 7 cm long, yellowish, dense, solid, occasionally with internal voids, cylindrical, sometimes curved, often widened towards the base, eccentric. It can grow together with the legs of its hedgehog neighbors. The surface is dry, felt in the lower part;
the pulp is whitish or yellowish, dense but brittle, with a delicate fruity smell. With age it becomes harder and acquires a bitter taste. After pressing it turns orange.

Distribution and fruiting season

Yellow hedgehog grows in European, North American, Siberian and Far Eastern forests, including in the northern regions. Its mycelium develops in symbiosis with the roots of deciduous and coniferous trees. Fruiting bodies ripen in forests and shrubs, especially often in sufficiently lit places with a predominance of birch. They grow readily on calcareous soils with a moss bedding.

The yellow hedgehog bears fruit from the summer months until the autumn frosts, appearing in a massive wave towards the last ten days of August and in the first weeks of September.

Similar types and differences from them

At a quick glance from above, young yellow hedgehogs are similar in shape and color to the well-known chanterelles. However, the underside of the cap immediately clearly indicates the species.

In addition, related species of hedgehogs with the same cap structure are similar to this mushroom. They are all edible:

Hydnum umbilicatum, widespread in North America. It is smaller in size, more pronounced orange in color and has a mandatory recess in the central part;
red-yellow hedgehog (Hydnum rufescens) – smaller, red or deep orange.
Hydnum albidum with a very light, whitish cap.

Primary processing and preparation

Yellow hedgehog is not only edible, but also delicious. Young fruiting bodies are cleaned of forest debris, washed and prepared without additional processing. It is also recommended to remove the crumbling spines on the underside of the cap of mature mushrooms. Pre-boiling for 15 minutes is used only for old mushrooms. This procedure eliminates the bitterness that dense pulp acquires with age.

Yellow hedgehogs are boiled, fried, stewed, salted, pickled, and also dried. At heat treatment These dense mushrooms practically do not decrease in size.

Useful and healing properties

The pulp of yellow hedgehogs contains biologically active complexes, which:

inhibit the development of bacteria, including staphylococci;
stimulate the immune system;
normalize the functioning of the endocrine glands;
promotes hematopoiesis;
have a beneficial effect on the function of the respiratory system, nervous system and digestive tract;
increase overall tone. In China, tincture of blackberry has long been prescribed for prolonged depression;
improve skin condition. Ointments based on these mushrooms are used for medicinal, as well as tonic and nourishing masks.

Thanks to this combination unique properties yellow hedgehogs and preparations made from them are used not only by folk medicine, but also by official medicine for general strengthening, medicinal and health-improving purposes.

Contraindications

Yellow hedgehogs themselves do not contain toxic or harmful substances. Their only feature, characteristic of the fruiting bodies of all mushrooms, is the ability to accumulate and concentrate unsafe impurities contained in environment, especially in soil. Therefore, hedgehogs should be collected in an ecologically clean area, far from industrial zones and waste sites.

Yellow hedgehog is a valuable edible mushroom, which domestic collectors often avoid or destroy so that no one confuses it with chanterelle. Meanwhile, in France, a country of born culinary specialists, he is among the best in taste, and his healing properties has been used by ancient Chinese medicine for centuries. In addition, this species has no poisonous or inedible relatives, so collecting it is safe and doubly useful.

But only a few people dare to collect them. It's scary to put a toadstool in your cart by mistake! Mushroom pickers who know these mushrooms sometimes don’t take blackberries because the brittle needle-like outgrowths on the back of the cap quickly fall off and stain the rest of the mushrooms. It is best to collect edible hedgehogs while they are young.

Yellow hedgehog, photo from Wikipedia

Description of the yellow or notched hedgehog (Hydnum repandum)

Hat. The “calling card” of the hedgehog is its matte-cream hat. More precisely, the underside of the cap is strewn with pointed outgrowths called needles, which easily break off. They are the same color as the cap, sometimes a little lighter. The size of the cap (usually from 3 to 12 cm in diameter) can be up to 20 cm. It is hard, but brittle.

The caps of young mushrooms are convex in shape, with age they open, after which they become depressed and acquire some depression in the central part. You can often see mushrooms with an irregularly shaped cap. The edges of old hedgehogs curl inward. The cap of young mushrooms has dense flesh with a pleasant aroma. In old mushrooms, the flesh becomes reddish. A layer of plaque or slight pubescence is noticeable on the skin of the hedgehog cap. In some places, yellow hedgehogs are found not with whitish-creamy flesh, but with dirty-rusty flesh.

Leg. The leg of the yellow hedgehog is quite thick (up to 2.5 cm), sometimes elongated (up to 6 cm). Sometimes its base (near the ground) is expanded. The monochrome leg of the hedgehog is usually lighter than the cap,

Yellow hedgehogs grow on any soil in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests. Sometimes mushrooms form “witch circles.” The first hedgehogs are collected at the beginning of summer, usually from . Mushrooms grow until autumn frosts, often until.

Description of the motley hedgehog (Hydnum imbricatum, Sarcodon imbricatum)

Variegated hedgehog is another edible species that appears more often in pine forests. This mushroom is classified as an autumn mushroom, since it grows closer to autumn (c - ). In some areas, the mottled hedgehog is called “elk” or “chicken”.

Variegated hedgehog, photo from Wikipedia

Hat. The variegated hedgehog has a fairly large (up to 20 cm or more) brownish cap of an impressive appearance. On top it is densely covered with large growing scales, which are “laid” like tiles. The tiny mushrooms have a dark cap that turns brownish and then brownish-black. The lower part of the cap is covered with whitish spines, which become brown or rusty-gray in color with age.

Leg. The color of the leg of the motley hedgehog is the same color as the cap. You can find mushrooms with purple stems.

Variegated hedgehog is good only when young. At this time, the grayish pulp of the mushroom has a pleasant tart smell. As it ages, it becomes more and more like a cork. Bitterness appears, which spoils the taste of the motley hedgehog.

Another species that is occasionally found in our forests is the rough hedgehog. It is not necessary to collect it due to its pungent taste. This mushroom is easily distinguished by its red-brown stem.

Cooking hedgehog mushrooms

Blackberry is not the most popular mushroom, so it is rightly classified as a little-known mushroom. Many authors of reference books and guides recommend the yellow hedgehog as a very tasty mushroom, and the variegated hedgehog (which is sometimes condemned as a “conditionally edible mushroom”) is recommended to be collected only at a young age. It’s curious: the yellow hedgehog with its dense pulp practically does not decrease in size when fried.

The pulp of yellow and variegated hedgehog is dense, with a slight sourness. She deserves attention only at a young age. Before putting the mushroom in a saucepan or frying pan, it is advisable to remove all the spines. Otherwise they will definitely fall off and turn mushroom soup or fried into some kind of porridge.

Blackberries can be dried. When fresh, they are often prepared not separately, but together with other mushrooms.

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In terms of color and shape, blackberry mushrooms, which belong to the Hericiaceae family, are perhaps the most unusual. However, they are classified as edible and, if prepared correctly, are perfect for both first and second courses.

In terms of color and shape, blackberry mushrooms belong to the Hericiaceae family.

Blackberries got their name due to the external similarity in color of the cap and the berry of the same name. The fruiting bodies have a light lilac color, unusual for mushrooms. However, color can vary greatly between species. In terms of size, almost all representatives have 7-8 cm in the stem and 10-15 cm in diameter of the cap.

Blackberries often grow in families, forming half rings, which are also called witch rings - this sight looks too mysterious. In Russia they are found almost everywhere within the temperate climate zone. The favorite place of growth is coniferous forests on sandy and sandy loam soils. Fruiting bodies grow from July until mid-autumn.

Along with the generally accepted name blackberry, mushrooms are called hedgehogs, and they also say: hedgehog mushroom, hedgehog mushroom. Most likely, this is due to the external similarity in the texture of the caps of some species: relief formations grow on them, which are colored more dark colors. From a distance, the fruiting bodies resemble hedgehogs lying on the grass.

In Russia, blackberries are found almost everywhere within the temperate climate zone.

About the edibility of blackberries

Blackberry mushrooms are classified as edible, although mushroom pickers are often afraid to take some of their varieties - for example, yellow hedgehog has similarities with chanterelles and, in part, with toadstools.

However, among these species there are no mushrooms that are hazardous to health. The aroma of blackberries is rich, and the taste is pleasant, with a pronounced sourness, which gives the dish a delicate touch. It is important to take into account only one piece of advice - these mushrooms are collected only when they are young (small in size and with light flesh). As they grow older, they begin to grow bitter. However, this problem can be solved if, before starting to prepare the dish, you soak the fruiting bodies in cold water for 1-2 hours.

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Blackberries are perhaps the only mushrooms that practically do not lose volume during frying. The reason is not only the dense pulp, but also the unusual texture - thanks to the tightly running fibers, the fruiting bodies are preserved during heat treatment.

Features of coralberry blackberry (video)

Useful and medicinal properties of blackberry mushrooms

Like most other mushrooms, hedgehog mushroom is not particularly high in calories - only 30 kcal per 100 g.

Blackberries also contain quite a lot of useful substances:

hericenones;
erinacines;
beta-D-glucans;
arabitinol;
palmitic acid;
D-threitol;
cyatane and its derivatives.

Thanks to this, it is used not only for culinary but also for medicinal purposes:

antibacterial and wound-healing properties make it possible to use an ointment based on blackberry extract not only for the treatment of skin diseases, but also for cosmetic purposes;
the components of the fungus promote blood renewal, as they take part in hematopoietic processes;
antitumor effects are used in the treatment of benign and malignant tumors.

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More recently, in 1998, German scientists isolated the substance erinacin E from blackberry pulp. It turned out that it stimulates the growth of nerve cells, so it can serve as a good medicine for Alzheimer's disease. Currently, work is underway to create a drug based on this substance (Japanese scientists have already learned to synthesize it in the laboratory).

Like most other mushrooms, the hedgehog is not particularly caloric

Description of blackberry species

Blackberries produce a dozen species of edible mushrooms. At least half of this amount can be found in Russia - mainly under spruce and pine trees in coniferous or mixed forests.

Blackberry yellow

This type is also called notched. It has a cap of cream and light yellow shades. Interestingly, the underside is strewn with peculiar needles that easily break off, so it is best to tear off the mushroom by holding it firmly by the stem. And one more important point when collecting - fruiting bodies should be placed with their caps down because otherwise they will break easily. The sizes are medium - the cap is up to 15 cm in diameter, the leg is up to 5 cm in height, dense and thick; it is usually lighter than the cap.

Variegated blackberry

The variegated hedgehog (also known as the imbricated hedgehog, variegated sarcodon, or kolchak) is most often found in pine forests. It is best to look for it in August and September. Gives quite large hats(15-25 cm) on a short stem (3-4 cm). In some areas it is called the chicken because its mottled brown tones closely resemble the color of its feathers.

The stem can be either white, brown or purple. With age, the fruiting bodies can turn rusty and even gray shades– it is better not to pick such mushrooms, as they give a bitter aftertaste.

Variegated blackberry

Comb blackberry

This species has a very uncharacteristic shape, which is completely different from classic mushrooms. It resembles a white furry muff, which hangs from a tree in a semicircle. Comb blackberry is distributed mainly in regions with more humid climatic conditions - in the Far East, Crimea and Northern China.

Despite his enough strange looking, the pulp is edible. It’s interesting that its taste is unusual - it’s more reminiscent of boiled shrimp.

Coral blackberry

By originality appearance Coral blackberry may well compete not only with representatives of its own family, but also in the entire kingdom of mushrooms. The fruiting body really resembles coral- a lush bush with fluffy white branches that settles directly on tree trunks.

It is very rare to see such a mushroom; it grows in the dead wood of deciduous trees and on stumps. In young representatives the flesh is soft, but with age it becomes hard and even brittle. It has a pleasant aroma and is completely edible.

Coral blackberry

Primary processing and preparation of blackberries

I wonder what Blackberries, which are not very popular in our latitudes, are considered a real delicacy.: French chefs undertook to prepare it, who developed many recipes in which this mushroom gives its best taste. It is used in first and second courses, sauces; Blackberries can also be pickled and pickled.

The basic principle is that the fruiting bodies need to be washed well and prepared for further use. They are boiled in slightly salted water for 15-20 minutes. It is this technique that can significantly improve the taste of the subsequent dish.

Comb blackberry

Soup with cream cheese and blackberries

This is an excellent option with a delicate and nutritious taste that will warm you up and lift your spirits. The ingredients are as follows:

mushrooms (pre-prepared) – 300 g;
chicken fillet – 200 g;
processed cheese – 200 g;
potatoes – 3 pcs.;
onion – 1 pc.;
tablespoon butter;
salt pepper.

The meat is cooked as if for broth, cooled and cut into cubes. Meanwhile, mushrooms and onions are fried on butter– at this stage you can season them with salt and pepper. Then the broth is returned to the stove and boiled together with finely chopped potatoes (you can also turn them into puree). After final preparation, all ingredients are mixed, and when serving, sprinkled on each plate. processed cheese, cut into small pieces.

Where does the variegated blackberry grow (video)

Blackberry Sour Cream Sauce

This is a great addition to a second course and can be made very simply. You will need the following components:

pre-prepared mushrooms – 300 g;
sour cream – 200 g;
onion – 1 head;
salt, pepper, herbs.

Mushrooms are fried on vegetable oil for 10 minutes, then add finely chopped onions to the pan and reduce the heat - it is necessary to simmer the mixture until the onions are fully cooked. Then add sour cream; if necessary, you can add a few tablespoons of broth. Add spices and simmer until done.

Bon appetit!

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