What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.-Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Horn of Plenty AKA The Black Chanterelle
Where To Find The Horn Of Plenty
Black Trumpet Mushrooms are also known as horn of plenty, trumpet of death, or black chanterelle, and various species grow across the world. Despite its size and difficulty in spotting, the black trumpet is a highly sought-after ingredient in the culinary world, prized for its unique taste and aroma.Its latin name is Craterellus cornucopioides) These smokey tasting mushrooms are common up here in the Adirondack mountains and are easy to identify.
"They’re perfect for beginning foragers because they have no close look alikes."
Though common, they can be hard to spot because they blend in with the forest background.This black mushroom grows in hardwood forests. They specifically prefer growing near broad-leaved trees like beech or oak.Although black trumpet mushrooms don’t fruit directly on living or dead wood, they do grow near it. You’ll often find black trumpet mushrooms growing right at the base of trees.
You can find black trumpet mushrooms growing in the wild in North America, Europe and Asia.
Like most mushrooms, black trumpets prefer to grow in dark and damp places.
Black trumpet mushrooms are often found in mossy areas, a good sign that lots of moisture is present.
How To Identify Black Trumpet Mushrooms
- They’re shaped like a funnel and come in a brown, gray, or black color. The edges of the cap are rolled outwards and wavy.
- One of the most noticeable things about black trumpets is that they have no gills or other visible spore-bearing structures (such as pores or teeth). The underside of their caps will always be smooth to slightly wrinkled.
- They’re thought to be both saprotrophic (feeding on dead organic matter) and mycorrhizal (creating symbiotic relationships with the roots of plants). Their precise ecological role is not yet fully understood.
- They’re closely related to chanterelles which is why they’re also known as the “black chanterelle”.
- Spore print is a pink salmon color.
How To Store Black Trumpet Mushrooms:
Fresh black trumpets have an extraordinary shelf life.
REFRIDGERATE: Keep them in an open container covered with a damp towel. Don't let them dry out or they become grey, dry, and brittle. If kept correctly they can last perfectly in your fridge for up to three weeks.
DEHYDRATE: Black Trumpet mushrooms are excellent candidates for dehydration, their structure allows for a rapid dry time in the sun or in a dehydrator.
TURN TO FLOUR: ALL mushrooms are able to be dehydrated and then ground into flour. I LOVE this method personally as it is less likely to attract mice and other critters when you are out in the wilds.. they can run off with a mushroom, but fine grains are harder!
Photo courtesy of North Spore.
Black Trumpet Mushroom Puff Pastries - by Bev Cooks
Ingredients
3 cloves Garlic
• 2 tsp Rosemary, fresh
• 2 cups Trumpet mushrooms,
• 1 Salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp Olive oil or what YOU use
• 1 sheet Puff pastry,frozen
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 1/2 cup Ish!!! of grated asiago or what ever YOU love to use cheese
HOW TO PREPARE:
We all know butter and mushrooms are magic together...so lets have some fun!
Pull out the puff pastry and let thaw
Melt your butter, add your mushrooms to the pan. If you're working with dehydrated mushrooms, let sit in a bowl of water for about 20 minutes, then pat them dry with a couple of paper towels.
Sauté the Black Trumpets with some minced garlic
Add a little bit of chopped rosemary.
Add a pinch of salt.
Cut out little puff pastry circles OR squares with a cookie cutter. Or a mug or jar lid!
Grate a little bit of Asiago cheese on each pastry round,
Place a small heaping mound of the mushrooms on top of the Asiago.
Slide them into the oven for 15-20 minutes
I add a brush of milk or egg yolk to the top of the pastry for color.
Pull out when browned on top
Let cool and try not to eat them all at once :)
Enjoy!
Companies I either recommend or am a partner with.
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