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    Home » Wild Mushroom Recipes

    Hen of the Woods Recipes

    About

    Hen of the woods mushrooms, also known as maitake, are one of the easiest to identify, and largest of the polypore mushrooms foragers know and love. Their size makes them super versatile: cut them into a steak, roast them whole, pull them for tacos, and on and on.

    If you're new to these, check out my introductory guide to Hen of the Woods or Maitake Mushroom.

    a large hen of the woods mushroom on a table next to a hand for scale

    Quick Links

    Hen of the Woods Steaks | Simple Roasted Hen of the Woods | Pickled Hen of the Woods/Maitake | Fresh Wild Mushroom Duxelles |

    Tips and General Cooking

    Meat Substitute

    Hens are a giant chunk of fungi, and work well in recipes instead of meat. Try large slices grilled as a steak, or use them in something like Hen of the Woods Mushroom Barbacoa (Vegetarian).

    golden brown mushroom steak in a cast iron pan

    Steaks are a classic way I celebrate fall.

    Bugs and Dirt

    Hens can be really large, and I've picked a few weighing over 30 pounds. If they get that big they're rarely good to eat as they've likely had dirt grow into their flesh that gets splashed on from rain.

    Part of the design of the mushroom is to provide shelter for insects that spread their spores, so be prepared to clean them well. I found a baby snake in one once.

    a close up of the pores on a hen of the woods mushroom

    Hens should look perfectly white and clean. Inspect them closely before bringing home.

    Wild Vs Cultivated

    Hens are grown commercially and sold in stores (check your local Asian market). Unfortunately store-bought maitake just aren't as good as wild. To me they taste like button mushrooms in a different form, which is probably due to both fungi being cultivated on similar substrates.

     

    • Brown Butter-Sage Hen of the Woods
    • Wild Chicken Mushroom Thai Red Curry
    • Sauteed Wild Mushrooms with Chevre and Flatbread
    • Vegan Mushroom Barbacoa
    • Wild Mushroom Taco Meat (Vegetarian)
    • Buckwheat Kasha with Wild Mushrooms and Onions
    • Wild Mushroom Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Soup)
    • Wild Rice and Mushroom Casserole
    • Dried Wild Mushroom Ragout
    • Grilled Hen of the Woods with Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette
    • Provencal Mushroom Fricassee
    • Wild Mushroom Chili
    • Grouse Wild Rice with Mushrooms
    • Hen of the Woods Roast with Leeks and Black Walnuts
    • Simple Roasted Hen of the Woods
    • Grilled Hen of the Woods Duxelles
    • Hen of the Woods Mushroom Fritters
    • Warm Spinach Mushroom Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette
    • French Wild Mushrooms Bordelaise
    • Grilled Hen of the Woods with Herb Salsa Verde
    • Hen of the Woods Steaks
    • Wild Mushroom Tartine with Purslane and Pickled Vegetables
    • Wild Mushrooms With Garlic And Parsley
    • Hen Of The Woods-Leek Gratin
    • Roasted Maitake Mushrooms With Anchovy Sauce
    • Fresh Wild Mushroom Duxelles
    • Pickled Hen Of The Woods Mushrooms/Maitake
    • Amaranth Spinach, Garlic and Summer Mushrooms
    • Wild Mushroom Confit
    • Brussels Sprouts With Pickled Hen Of The Woods

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    Chef Alan Bergo

    HI, I'm Alan: James Beard Award-winning Chef, Author, Show Host and Forager. I've been writing about cooking wild food here for over a decade. Let me show you why foraging is the most delicious thing you'll ever do.

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