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Spruce weed is one of the most common species of the genus of the same name. This edible mushroom with high nutritional value has characteristic differences that are important to know before harvesting.
What do spruce moth mushrooms look like?
According to the description and photo, the spruce moth has a hemispherical cap. The diameter of the surface of the mushroom is from 4 to 10 cm.At a young age, the ends of the cap are tucked towards the stem, but over time the surface of the spruce moth acquires a convex-conical, and then an outstretched shape with an inconspicuous tubercle in the center.
The hat can be gray with a brown or blue tint in the center and purple around the edges. The smooth skin of the spruce moth is covered on top with a thick layer of mucus, which is why the mushroom begins to shine and appears wet.
The edges of the cap of young specimens are connected to the stem by a thin mucous membrane. It looks like a colorless film formed by thread-like fibers, which begins to tear as the fungus grows. The bedspread peels off and remains hanging on a high, massive leg. Subsequently, black inclusions appear on the surface of the spruce weed.
Under the cap there are a sparse layer of descending arcuate plates of grayish or white color, from 3 to 6 mm in width. In young specimens they are covered with a mucous membrane. With age, the plates acquire a brown tint, after which they become purple, almost black.
In young specimens, the leg is thick, slightly swollen, from 5 to 11 cm. As it grows, it acquires a cylindrical shape, and its base becomes narrowed. It has a solid structure and a smooth surface of bright yellow or lemon color.
Spruce weed is characterized by elongated fusiform or cylindrical spores. Their surface is smooth, brown, with 1-2 oily drops.
The pink flesh becomes grayish as the moth grows. The structure of the fruit body is fleshy, but fragile.
Where do spruce moths grow?
Most often, the variety can be found in the central and northern regions of Russia, near spruce trees, and in rare cases - near pine trees.The mushroom can be found both in grassy, illuminated areas and in the shade among mosses. Spruce weed is found in groups, and the culture is often found not far from butterweed.
You can find out more information about the variety from the video:
Is it possible to eat spruce moths?
Spruce mushrooms are edible mushrooms. Before cooking, it is important to clean the mushroom from the skin and mucous membrane; to do this, using a sharp knife, carefully pry the edge of the cap towards the middle and remove the top layer. Before the main culinary processing, the fruiting bodies of mokruha need to be pre-boiled for 15 minutes.
Taste qualities of spruce mokrukha mushroom
The pulp of spruce moth is characterized by a mild sweetish or sour taste and a faint mushroom aroma. Thanks to this, fruiting bodies are in demand in cooking, as well as in traditional medicine recipes.
Benefits and harm to the body
Spruce moth is considered one of the most useful species due to the high content of carbohydrates and amino acids in its composition. Fruit bodies are rich in vitamins C, B and E, chitin and fiber. All these components have a beneficial effect on body systems:
- increasing its tone;
- helping to improve memory;
- eliminating chronic fatigue;
- improving the process of hematopoiesis.
The use of the product is especially useful for those who suffer from headaches or have diseases of the nervous system.
The mushroom is used to prepare an antimicrobial tincture. This product prevents the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.In addition, spruce moth is actively used to eliminate skin diseases, sinusitis, heal wounds, and also for rinsing the mouth.
Masks with spruce dust will be useful for split ends, and for weakened and dull hair, rinsing with a decoction of the mushroom is suitable. Regular use of such products helps stop hair loss and even prevent baldness.
Despite all their nutritional value, most edible mushrooms are a rather difficult product for the body. That is why the use of spruce moth is contraindicated for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and kidneys. This is due to the fact that fiber and chitin can provoke the appearance of pancreatitis or gastritis. In addition, the fungus can increase the development of gout.
Spruce fly should absolutely not be given to children under 10-12 years of age, as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are hypersensitive to substances in the product, an allergic reaction may occur.
Only specimens collected in environmentally friendly areas are allowed to be used for food. Preliminary heat treatment of fruiting bodies will significantly reduce the risk of problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
False doubles
The spruce fly does not have poisonous counterparts, which is a great advantage of the species.
Sometimes it can be confused with similar-looking edible varieties:
- Mokruha is spotted: the fracture of its flesh has a red tint, and there are dark inclusions on the surface of the mushroom.
- Another edible doppelgänger is the purple moth. It is distinguished by orange-brown flesh and dark purple plates.
- Often, because of the dark cap, spruce fly is confused with boletus, but the latter do not have plates.
Collection rules
To avoid negative consequences, you must adhere to the main rules for collecting spruce bits:
- The fruiting body is carefully cut off with a sharp knife so as not to damage the structure of the mycelium.
- It is best to place mushrooms in a wicker basket so that they do not turn the specimens lying nearby purple. The best option is to sort mushrooms by type.
- Old moths should not be cut off as they may be rotten inside. Collected specimens must be checked for worms.
- It is best to start harvesting in the morning, before most of the moisture has evaporated from the mushrooms. This way, mokruki will retain a maximum of useful substances in their composition.
- The optimal time for harvesting mushrooms is after warm rain. It is not recommended to go out on a “quiet hunt” in dry weather.
It is important to process the collected mushrooms as soon as possible so that they do not spoil and retain their beneficial properties. Spruce bits are carefully sorted and cleaned of dirt, earth clods and pine needles. Afterwards, it is better to place the raw materials in a cool place. For long-term storage, mushrooms can be placed in the freezer. When frozen, fruiting bodies can be stored for 10 to 12 months.
How to cook spruce mokruki
Spruce moss is salted, fried, pickled, and also dried. The mushroom is used to make soups, sauces, casseroles and sandwiches. Fried or boiled fruit bodies are added to salads. Mokrukha in combination with other types of mushrooms is also used as an addition to main dishes. It goes especially well with meat or fish.No less popular are recipes for canning spruce dust.
Before peeling mushrooms, they need to be placed in water for 5-7 minutes: then the mucous membrane will be much easier to remove. After cleaning, the fruiting bodies should be thoroughly washed and boiled over fire for 15-20 minutes. Heat treatment changes the color of the mushroom to a darker one, but this does not in any way affect the taste of the product.
Frying spruce moths does not require a lot of oil, since their pulp itself releases a sufficient amount of juice. You should also not stew mushrooms for a long time, this will make them tough.
Recipes for spruce weeds
There are many different options for preparing spruce dust. Among them, everyone can find the most suitable one for themselves. All of them are easy to perform.
Pickled spruce moths
Ingredients:
- 2 kg mokrukh;
- 2 cloves;
- 70 g sugar;
- 50 g salt;
- 100 ml 6% vinegar;
- black pepper;
- Bay leaf;
- sunflower oil;
- 1 liter of water.
How to cook:
- Peel the mushrooms, place in a deep container and add a small amount of water, adding a pinch of salt and citric acid. The mixture should be brought to a boil and cooked for 15-20 minutes.
- Drain the water and rinse the fruiting bodies thoroughly.
- Fill a saucepan with water, add sugar, black pepper, cloves, salt, vinegar and bay leaf.
- Bring the resulting mixture to a boil and add 2 kg of peeled spruce chips. Cook on fire for 15-20 minutes.
- When the fruiting bodies settle to the bottom, they need to be transferred along with the marinade into prepared jars. The liquid should completely cover the mushrooms.
- Add 1 tbsp to each jar. l. sunflower oil and close with a nylon lid. Pickled mokruhi should be stored in the refrigerator.
Spruce moths in Korean
Mushrooms must be carefully separated from the mucous membrane and boiled. After this, the fruiting bodies should be fried, adding chopped onions and Korean carrots. Season the dish with olive oil.
Stuffed peppers with spruce mokrukha and buckwheat
In addition to the classic version with rice and minced meat, you can use buckwheat and mushrooms to stuff peppers:
- The fruit bodies are boiled and fried for several minutes.
- Then the spruce flour is mixed with buckwheat, salt and pepper to taste.
- The resulting mixture is filled with peppers that have been seeded in advance.
- Add a little tomato paste to a container of water and simmer the peppers for 30-35 minutes until fully cooked.
Bachelor sandwiches
- 2-4 slices of bread are fried in a frying pan. Then spread with a thin layer of butter.
- Pre-peeled and boiled fruit bodies are fried over low heat for 3-5 minutes.
- Mushrooms are placed on bread, sprinkled with grated cheese and finely chopped herbs.
- After this, the sandwiches are placed in the microwave for 2-3 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
Low calorie content and rich composition of nutrients allow you to consume spruce moths even during a diet. Moreover, in terms of protein content, such mushrooms are not inferior even to meat dishes.
Conclusion
Spruce weed is one of the most famous representatives of the family. This variety has no false counterparts. It belongs to the edible group, which makes it possible to actively use spruce chips in cooking: they can be salted, pickled, fried, and also dried. In addition, the mushroom contains many useful substances that have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the body.
