Mushroom Muer

The wood mushroom muer is in great demand in European countries and in the Asian region. He has a lot of fans in Korea, Japan and China, where he comes from. In the gastronomy of China, this mushroom occupies an important place, embodying the culinary philosophy, which states that the dish should not only please the taste buds, but also have a healing effect.

Muer - Auricularia auricula, also called "wood ears" or "black Chinese wood mushroom", is a black wood mushroom.

Appearance: thin and brittle caps of wood fungus, 2 to 10 cm in size, resembling small pieces of burnt paper, fresh in the form of a shell.

Taste and aroma: Muera has a light aroma of smoke, the flesh has a crispy cartilaginous texture and sweet taste. After soaking, the smell disappears, and the mushrooms acquire a neutral taste.

Composition and properties: Muer is a powerful antioxidant, iodine store, contains vital proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, as well as gelatin, has excellent properties of purification and lubrication. It contains a complex of eight amino acids, provitamins and other rare elements, reduces the risk of various diseases. Muer cleanses the lungs, intestines, prevents blood clots in the blood vessels, helps prevent aging.

Method of preparation: soak mushrooms in room temperature water for 4-6 hours, minimum soaking time - 30 minutes. There should be enough water, as mushrooms increase in size by 8-10 times (a piece of mushroom that fits in a tablespoon absorbs about 150-250 ml of water). Wash hydrated (soaked) mushrooms thoroughly, remove hard roots and sand-contaminated areas, discard on a sieve and allow water to drain. It is not necessary to divide "big families" into separate "ears", to cut Muer small.

Usage: Muer mushrooms have a neutral taste, so they can be combined with any food. They are not used as the main stand-alone dish, but are often added to various soups, salads, side dishes, cold appetizers, as well as stews and fried dishes.
Muer mushrooms are recommended to be fried with spices. Heat a frying pan, put red pepper , ground coriander , add olive oil and fry for 2 minutes. Then add pre-prepared mushrooms and fry for another 10 minutes. The mushrooms are allowed to cool and sprinkled with fresh herbs. Muer mushrooms are an excellent side dish for fried potatoes, boiled rice or pork. They are also used in the preparation of delicious salads.

Storage: Muer mushrooms are stored in airtight containers at a temperature of 18-200C and a relative humidity of 70%. If the storage conditions are observed, they can be stored in dry form for 3 years. In hydrated form, you can store 2-3 days in the refrigerator in a closed container. Water is added to the dishes to prevent them from drying out.