Content
Clay-yellow sticky flake, or late moth, is a very tasty, but rarely seen agaric fungus that delights connoisseurs in late autumn. Few people collect it, except true gourmets who understand the high taste qualities of this delicacy. It is worth saying that the Japanese and Chinese cultivate flakes, setting aside entire plantations for its cultivation.
What does sticky flake look like?
This small lamellar mushroom of a yellow, clayey hue gets its name from its sticky, mucus-covered body surface. The sticky flake has an unsightly appearance, which is why it does not attract the attention of domestic mushroom pickers, although in fact it is very tasty.
Description of the cap
The hemispherical, convex and very small cap of the adhesive scale has a light white or yellowish color when young. Over time, its size increases and averages 6 cm in diameter, and the color becomes clay-yellow. A dark tubercle adorns the central part of the cap, covered with mucus, not only in high humidity, but also in dry weather. The tightly pressed, flaky scales are very noticeable in young individuals. The plates in the inner surface serve for the formation of spores and further reproduction. Young mushrooms have light colored plates, old mushrooms have dark, light brown plates.
Description of the leg
The sticky scale has an erect, and in some cases slightly curved, cylinder-shaped stalk without an internal cavity. Its height is 5 - 8 cm. Young specimens have remnants of flocculent spores in the form of a ring on the stalk, which visually divide it into two parts. The color and texture of the leg differ in different places: on top it is creamy, light with a smooth surface, and on the bottom it is thickened, covered with scales of a dark brown, rusty hue. Old mushrooms do not have a ring, but the heterogeneity of the stem is preserved.
Is the sticky flake edible or not?
Sticky flakes belong to the conditionally edible varieties of mushrooms, which, after preliminary heat treatment, can be used to prepare tasty and healthy dishes. In some regions it is classified as a fourth category mushroom.
How to prepare sticky flakes
The sticky flake is a very tasty mushroom, which, when prepared according to the given recipes, fully reveals its taste. Before any method of preparation, boil it for 15 - 20 minutes.
The legs are first separated from the cap - they are not used for food. To remove mucus, rinse the mushrooms well under running cold water. Main courses are prepared from it, salted and marinated according to classic recipes.
How to marinate late fire
To marinate 4 kg of fresh mushrooms brought from the forest, you will need:
- 2 liters of water;
- 2 tbsp. l. salt;
- 1.5 tbsp. l. granulated sugar and the same amount of 9% vinegar;
- cloves and black peppercorns - to taste.
Cooking algorithm.
- Prepared mushrooms are sorted by size, washed well and boiled for 50 minutes.
- The broth is drained and cooking is repeated in fresh water for 15 minutes.
- To drain the water completely, place the flakes in a colander.
- Mushrooms and spices are placed in sterilized jars.
- Cook the marinade with the addition of sugar, salt and vinegar.
- The jars are filled with broth and rolled up.
How to pickle clay-yellow flakes
For salting you will need:
- sticky fire - 2 kg;
- salt – 100 g;
- spices – peppercorns, cloves, bay leaf.
Cooking algorithm:
- Thoroughly washed mushrooms are boiled for 20 minutes. with added spices.
- Drain in a colander and place in the prepared container.
- Sprinkle with salt, dill umbrellas, and currant leaves.
- Cover with cotton cloth and press down with a weight.
- For storage, the finished product is placed in a cool, dark place, covering the container with a lid.
Where and how does it grow
Sticky scale grows in the northern hemisphere, temperate climate zones: Western and Eastern Europe, Canada, North America. In Russia it grows almost everywhere: in the central regions, in Siberia, in the Urals and the Far East, in Karelia. This mushroom culture prefers coniferous forests with a large amount of spruce. Sticky flakes can also be found in shrubs and moss, on rotten wood remains immersed in the soil, as well as where small chips and branches are scattered. The mushroom grows in small, several copies, groups. It enters the stage of active growth at the very end of summer or at the beginning of the first month of autumn, its growing season continues until the onset of cold weather.
Doubles and their differences
The late sticky moth has few duplicates. It can be confused with other representatives:
- gummy scale.
- false honey mushrooms.
The gum scale has a beige cap. It is eaten in the same way as the late moth: pickled, salted or fried.
False honey mushrooms are distinguished by beige, yellow and brownish, more rounded caps and elongated legs than the original.Mucus appears on their surface only in rainy weather, while the sticky scales are always covered with it. False honey fungus is an inedible, poisonous mushroom.
Conclusion
The sticky scale differs from its relatives in having a very moist cap with mucus, so upon careful examination it is impossible to confuse it with its counterparts. It contains many vitamins and amino acids that bring invaluable benefits to the human body. The presence of such a valuable product in the diet can significantly improve health and increase vitality.
