Chicken of the Woods: Learn How to Prepare it

Chicken of the Woods – Chicken of the Woods is one of the easiest and largest mushrooms that you can find and cook in several ways. There are two main species of such mushrooms: Laetiporus cincinnatus and Laetiporus sulphureus. The first one has a creamy color on the inner side. The second one appears more yellow and is also known as the ‘Sulfur Shelf.’ 

One of the important things you must know is that you should eat Chicken of the Woods when it is at the perfect stage for eating. It is better to cook those chicken mushrooms that are found on hardwood trees. These mushrooms are more tasty and have several health benefits. Here are a few delicious and healthy recipes for you to enjoy Chicken of the Woods with your family. 

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Chicken of the Woods: What Is It?

It is a type of fungus that usually grows inside and on trees. Initially, this fungus grows inside the trees and breaks down the woods for nutrients, thus causing the wood to rot. As the fungus ages, it starts growing mushrooms on the tree’s outside bark. This large fungus is a vital part of the ecosystem because it breaks down dying trees and returns their nutrients to the soil. 

You can easily recognize these wood mushrooms by their distinct shape and bright color. Young mushrooms usually are radiant yellow or orange and look like shelves stuck to the trees’ side. These young mushrooms have a suede-like texture, which is quite soft to the touch. The older ones become lighter yellow before turning white. These also tend to be more brittle than the younger ones. 

Are Chicken of the Woods Edible?

These mushrooms are safe to eat and can be a delicious part of your meal. Although they are safe to eat after cooking, the raw ones may cause an allergic reaction in some people. 

Also, some other mushroom species look a lot like Chicken of the Woods but are slightly toxic. Consuming these may cause mild hallucinations and vomiting. So, it is important to identify the right mushroom before consuming it. 

Chicken of the Woods: The Benefits!

They have several health benefits. These are low-fat & low-calorie and also contain health-promoting elements like polysaccharides and antioxidants. Some other notable benefits of these tasty mushrooms are as follows:

Helps Reducing Inflammation

According to a study, the Eburicoric acid found in this mushroom may help reduce inflammation. This acid is usually given to mice with stomach ulcers and seems to limit the spread of ulcers. 

Helps Fighting Tumors

The long sugar chains, also known as polysaccharides, found in this mushroom may help the body fight tumors. These polysaccharides seem to help the immune system act against tumors. They may also suppress existing tumors by causing the death of tumor cells. 

It has Antioxidants

It contains antioxidants that help prevent damage from free radicals that may accumulate in your body over time. This tasty mushroom contains at least two kinds of antioxidants, flavonoids and phenols, that can act against these free radicals. 

Chicken of the Woods: How to eat?

It has a pleasant flavor and tastes similar to chicken. This tasty mushroom also has a fleshy texture that is not lost while cooking.

Eating this mushroom raw may cause stomach issues; thus, you must consume cooked Chicken of the Woods mushroom. You may cook it in several ways, such as baking, blanching, sautéing, or even frying.

You can easily incorporate Chicken of the Woods into some tasty mushroom recipes. You can try it in a mushroom risotto, put it into a green bean casserole, or even sauté it with some garlic and butter. Moreover, you can even slice it into nuggets or bake it to make a perfect side dish.

Here are two of the most tried recipes to make your special occasion memorable.

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How to Cook Chicken of the Woods?

Gnocchi with Chicken of Woods and Lemon Cream

You must try this amazing recipe at least once. One of the best ways to try these tasty mushrooms is by mixing them into a simple pasta dish with lemon cream. This is a simple wild mushroom recipe that you can easily make with what you have on hand. 

You can even use your favorite pasta if you don’t want to make gnocchi from scratch. Penne, fettuccine, and angel hair all would work fine. So, let us discuss the recipe below:

Required Ingredients

• 1 lb gnocchi cooked
• 1 cup heavy cream
• Kosher salt to taste
• A few scrapes of fresh lemon zest
• 6 oz fresh tender Chicken of the Woods mushrooms, cut into ¼ inch pieces
• Fresh lemon juice to taste, around 2 teaspoons
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons green garlic (sliced), garlic shallots (wild), or scapes of garlic. 
• Freshly grated parmesan to taste
• ¼ cup dry white wine
• Wood sorrel leaves for garnishing (optional)
• Flowers of Chive to garnish (optional)

Step-by-Step Process to Cook Gnocchi With Chicken of the Woods and Lemon Cream 

Here are the detailed steps of making an irresistible dish called gnocchi with Chicken of the Woods and lemon cream:

• Step 1: First, mix the Chicken of the Woods well with half the butter.
• Step 2: Add the wild garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Cook it just until it turns bright green. 
• Step 3: Now, add the wine and cook the mushrooms for a minute. 
• Step 4: Add the gnocchi and cream, bring to a simmer, and cook until the sauce coats your spoon’s back. 
• Step 5: Meanwhile, season the sauce to taste with pepper, salt, and lemon zest to taste, and swirl in butter.
• Step 6: Finally, add and mix a small portion of parmesan cheese off the heat.
• Step 7: Divide the dish and put it in the preheated serving bowls. You can garnish the dish with the chive flowers and sorrel.

Pickled Chicken of the Woods Recipe

If you want to preserve Chicken of the Woods for later, pickling is a really good option. The best reason to pickle these mushrooms is that it is usually a great way to keep the texture close to the fresh ones. Let’s discuss the detailed steps of making tasty pickled Chicken of the Woods at home.

You can easily make this dish for larger batches, but at first, you may make a small amount for testing. So, let’s start:

Required Ingredients

• 1 lb young and tender Chicken of the Woods
• 1.5 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups water
• 2 large cloves of garlic
• Two dried bay leaves
• A few sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1 cup of white wine vinegar or champagne

Step-by-Step Process of Making Pickled Chicken of the Woods 

• Step 1: First, pour the water into a small pot and then add salt, herbs and garlic to a simmer.
• Step 2: Add the chicken from the woods and cook until they start releasing their juice and get cooked through; it will take around 5 minutes.
• Step 3: After that, add the vinegar to the mixture, and pack the jars for pint canning full of the pickles. Next, you have to pour the liquid all over the mushrooms inside the jars and remember to leave a headspace of ½ an inch. Next, for 15 minutes, process the jars in a water bath canner.

Important Things to Know

• Preparation Time: 10 minutes
• Cooking Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

The Bottom Line!

So, you have learned how to make some delicious dishes with the tasty and nutritious Chicken of the Woods mushrooms. If you wish to try something new at home and surprise your family members and guests, you can certainly make this tasty and healthy veg dish whenever you want. 

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