Cauliflower mushroom steaks are an analogy to one of the most popular recipes for hen of the woods I’ve shared: cutting them into big chunks and cooking like a piece of meat. Cauliflower mushrooms are like hen of the woods in that they’re often large–much larger than many other mushrooms, but unlike hens, cauliflower mushrooms…
Cauliflower Mushrooms
Steamed Cauliflower Mushrooms with Ponzu
Oh how I love cauliflower mushrooms. Sparassis radicata, Sparassis crispa–I don’t care if they come from the East Coast, West Coast, or Timbuktu, all I know is that they don’t grow in the Midwest, for all intents and purposes. Once in a while, when our fall mushroom season winds down in Minnesota, I might order…
White Risotto with Cauliflower Mushroom Ragu
I love cauliflower mushrooms / Sparassis, but, honestly I think I like the texture more than the flavor. Don’t get me wrong, they taste excellent, but, it’s hard to find another mushroom with a similar texture. They’re just so unique. With that in mind, when I have access to some fresh cauliflower fungus, I cook…
Cauliflower Mushroom-Cabbage Gratin
Cauliflower mushrooms have an interesting shape, kind of like a big floppy hen of the woods as opposed to a literal head of cauliflower (Ramaria, on the other hand, do resemble cauliflower in shape). The first few times I cooked them, I kept it pretty simple and just fried them up in butter, but eventually,…
Cauliflower Mushrooms with Dandelion Farfalle
Cauliflower mushrooms have such a great shape and texture. They’re big and fluffy like a hen of the woods, but unlike a hen, they don’t keep that texture when cooked, instead they deflate a bit and end up having the texture of noodles, so when I have some cauliflowers around I love to sneak in…
Cauliflower Mushrooms / Sparassis
I’ll always remember the first time a cauliflower mushroom showed up in the kitchen, when I opened up a shipping container from my friend George Weppler (a former purveyor to Alice Waters at Chez Panisse) filled with a giant, beige, asymetrical noodle ball. I had never seem a mushroom like it. I don’t think I…