Is Morel Mushroom Really Toxic? Food Safety Explained Once and For All
Morel mushroom is the most famous edible delicacy among ascomycetes, also known as morel mushroom, woven-hat mushroom, morel vegetable, etc. It is a fungus of the genus Morchella in the family Morchellaceae. The fruiting body is small or medium-sized, and its structure is similar to that of cup fungi. The upper part is folded into a net-like pattern, resembling both a honeycomb and a sheep's stomach, which is how it got its name. Let's take a look below at whether morel mushroom is really toxic!
Is Morel Mushroom Really Toxic?
Morel mushroom is not toxic. Morel mushroom is a natural tonic that contains no hormones and has no side effects. It has the same function as cordyceps, is rich in protein, multiple vitamins and more than 20 kinds of amino acids, and has a delicious taste and rich nutrition. It contains 20% crude protein, 26% crude fat, and 38.1% carbohydrates, and also contains multiple amino acids, especially glutamic acid at as high as 1.76%. Therefore, it is considered an “excellent source of protein” and has the reputation of “meat among vegetables”. It is often called one of the “health foods” internationally.
Nutritional Value of Morel Mushroom
1. Morel mushroom has the functions of harmonizing the stomach and promoting digestion, resolving phlegm and regulating qi, and can be used for indigestion, excessive phlegm and shortness of breath.
2. Morel mushroom has the effects of tonifying the kidney and strengthening yang, nourishing the brain and refreshing the mind, and has a significant improving effect on essence and kidney deficiency, impotence, decreased sexual function, and low libido.
3. Long-term consumption of morel mushroom has the effects of preventing cancer, fighting cancer, inhibiting tumors, preventing colds, and increasing human immunity.
4. Morel mushroom can not only beautify the skin and whiten it, but also eliminate facial dark spots, yellow spots, freckles, and acne.
5. Morel mushroom has a good effect on eliminating anxiety and enhancing sleep quality, so morel mushroom is suitable for men, women, the young and the old.
How to Eat Morel Mushroom
1. Stewed Chicken with Morel Mushroom
[Ingredients] 1 spring chicken, morel mushroom, ginger, scallion, red dates, goji berries, salt, clean water.
[Method] ① Wash the spring chicken, slice the ginger, and tie the scallion into a knot. ② Add clean water to the scallion, ginger and chicken, put in a pot and start cooking. Rinse the morel mushroom several times with cold water, soak it soft in warm water, remove the root base, rinse it several more times, and drain for later use. Soak the dates and goji berries until soft. ③ When the pot is about to boil, skim off the floating blood foam. After the pot boils, put the morel mushroom, dates and goji berries into the pot together. After stewing for 1 hour and 30 minutes, add a little salt.
2. Braised Morel Mushroom
[Ingredients] 200 grams morel mushroom, 50 grams ham, 1 green pepper, 10 grams doubanjiang, 10 grams soy sauce, 3 grams monosodium glutamate, an appropriate amount of stock, 10 grams cornstarch, 5 grams sesame oil, 25 grams peanut oil.
[Method] ① Soak and wash the morel mushroom clean, and cut the ham and green pepper into diamond-shaped slices for later use. ② Place a clean wok over high heat, pour in peanut oil and heat it, add doubanjiang and stir-fry until fragrant, add stock, ham, green pepper, morel mushroom and soy sauce and cook for about 3 minutes, add monosodium glutamate for seasoning, thicken with cornstarch mixed with water, and drizzle in sesame oil.
3. Braised Pork with Morel Mushroom
[Ingredients] 20 grams dried morel mushroom, 200 grams skin-on pork belly, 50 grams pea shoots, an appropriate amount of egg white, soy sauce, refined salt, monosodium glutamate, honey, cooking wine, pepper powder, soybean oil, and water bean starch.
[Method] ① Soak the dried morel mushroom in warm water for about 30 minutes, and wash clean. ② Wash the skin-on pork belly and cut it into cubes about six fen square, add soy sauce, cooking wine and honey and mix well for 20 minutes, then add egg white and bean starch and mix evenly. ③ Heat the oil in a wok to 50% hot, add the pork belly and fry until golden brown, then remove. Leave oil in the wok, add the morel mushroom and stir-fry, then add monosodium glutamate and soy sauce and cook for a while, add meat broth and bring to a boil, add the pork belly and turn to low heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, add chicken essence, pepper powder and pea shoots, and after removing from the wok drizzle with sesame oil.