What delicious dishes can be made with termite mushrooms?

It is said that this mushroom grows from termite mounds, hence its name. When it first emerges from the ground, the mushroom resembles a straw mushroom. In just one night, the cap grows to about 3 cm in diameter. The top is black, gradually fading towards the sides; the stem is white with a yellowish tint at the base; the mushroom is about 5-6 cm tall. If not harvested quickly, they will wither rapidly within 24 hours of emerging from the ground.

Termite mushrooms

Nguyen Dac Thanh

Unlike the Melaleuca mushroom, which only grows after summer rains following a period of hot, humid weather, the termite mushroom typically grows in late autumn and early winter. While the Melaleuca mushroom is a gift from the earth, distinctly characteristic of Central Vietnam, or more accurately, only found in Hue and Quang Tri , the termite mushroom is different. This species is present in most localities, and the time it emerges from the ground varies by region. In some places, it's during the dry season, while in others it appears after summer rains. However, in Hue, it's considered normal for the mushrooms to grow when the rainy season begins and the weather turns cold.

When the rain falls, accompanied by a chilly breeze, people in the countryside wake up early to search for termite mushrooms. Visiting the countryside during mushroom season, you'll easily spot people carrying flashlights, searching for these gifts sprouting from the earth. They weave through the bushes, carefully turning over each leaf.

Finding termite mushrooms is sometimes a matter of luck, but some people identify termite nests beforehand, and when it rains, they go around the area to look for mushrooms. If they found mushrooms in a certain spot the previous year, they will return the following year.

There were several occasions when my friends and I from my hometown would go searching for them. With Tram mushrooms, we could fill a whole basket in about 30 minutes. But with Termite mushrooms, it was different; finding just a few grams in an entire morning was considered a great success. They are hard to find and rarely seen, so their price is sky-high.

What delicious dishes can be made with termite mushrooms? After harvesting, the mushrooms are cleaned, rinsed, drained, and then prepared. For Tram mushrooms, they need to be soaked in salt water for a while, then boiled to reduce bitterness. But termite mushrooms don't need this, as they are not bitter and don't have the slimy texture of Tram mushrooms.

Mushrooms can be used to create many delicious dishes, but my favorite is still mushroom and pasta soup. My mother usually boils the pasta first until soft, then she marinates some shrimp with spices for about 30 minutes to let the flavors soak in. Once the shrimp is marinated, she stir-fries it until it's evenly cooked. When the pasta starts to soften, she lowers the heat, adds water, and pours in the stir-fried shrimp. After seasoning to taste, she adds the mushrooms and simmers it for about 5 minutes. For the mushrooms to be delicious, they shouldn't be overcooked. My mother's mushroom and pasta soup always gives me a satisfying feeling – chewy, sweet, and tender, with a hint of the countryside flavor from the shrimp.

Besides termite mushroom soup, you can also prepare other dishes such as stir-fried termite mushrooms, termite mushroom porridge, and termite mushroom vegetable soup. For a more elaborate dish, you can marinate the mushrooms, wrap them in foil, and steam or grill them.

The nutrients from termite mushrooms offer consumers a wonderful taste; the mushrooms are chewy, sweet, and have a rich, creamy texture when chewed. With termite mushrooms, I think even the pickiest eaters will easily fall in love after taking a bite and savoring the flavor from the earth.

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