Journaling my experience of foraging for chanterelle mushrooms on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. Plus a recipe with this local delicacy. Please read the disclaimer below.
DISCLAIMER
Before you read any further, you must fully accept that this post is not to be misconstrued or used as foraging advice or professional information; I am not providing professional mycological information or expertise related to chanterelle mushrooms or foraging, and cannot be held responsible for damages or injury from the use or misuse of any information in this post. Do your own research from expert resources and consult a mycologist before ever considering foraging and/or consuming any wild mushrooms.
Family Stories of Foraging
My father first introduced me to the concept of foraging when I was just a wee thing; he would share his seemingly never ending stories of adventure in "the old country" (Germany) foraging for mushrooms and young spruce tree tips to make syrup.
His stories were fairy tale-like; the thought of searching for wild edibles was something of a dream. I pictured, warm sweaters, hooded ponchos, wicker baskets and misty forests. It wasn't until several years later that my first foraging experience actually took place.
My first experience
My husband got me hooked on fresh Chanterelles back in 2011, not only for their taste, but the adventure in seeking them in our big backyard (Vancouver Island, BC). Ever since, chanterelle mushroom foraging has been an annual tradition for us.
We took a brief hiatus after our son was born, but the lure of foraging is too strong to keep us away for long. This year, we ventured to the wild woods with a few good friends and a camera in tow to capture the experience for you all.
There is a reason chanterelles are so widely sought after (and pricey); they truly are one of the most delicious mushrooms around.
Chanterelle availability
Chanterelle mushrooms aren't a commercially grown commodity; as such, they fetch a high price at the market. When you spot them at your local grocer, it's because someone took the time to forage locally and source them.
They are somewhat elusive and, in order to proliferate, they rely on their specific symbiotic relationship with the ecosystem around them; man-made settings fall short when it comes to providing the unique conditions needed for their growth.
The Art & Science of Foraging
Foraging is a wild art. It takes patience, expert knowledge on the subject, physical fitness, a keen eye, and the right tools. I learned to forage through hands-on experience guided by those with extensive knowledge and skills in foraging.
Lets be honest, some species of mushrooms are deathly poisonous; you would never want to mistake something that could kill you for an edible chanterelle. There are species of mushrooms, such as the toxic Jack-o-lantern, that look very similar to a chanterelle but will do serious harm if touched or ingested!
Safety First
We always make a checklist of essentials to pack along, and equip ourselves with the right gear to withstand the environmental conditions. We make sure we have two (2) working manual compasses, waterproof gear (including hats and gloves), folding harvesting blades, baskets/buckets, food, water and, most importantly, each other.
The thick woods are a place one could easily become lost, where cellphone GPS systems may fail you, or you may encounter wild animals; it's important to always be prepared.
If you're at all interested in the idea of foraging, you must talk with a mycological expert first and perhaps ask to join them on a forage to properly educate yourself.
When is Chanterelle Season?
Foraging typically starts between late September to early October on the West coast; Chanterelles really start to reveal themselves after the first big rainfall of the season.
Their availability depends on your general geographical area, however, they can be found all over the West coast of Canada or the United States, or certain parts of Europe for that matter. As mentioned, Chanterelles need specific environmental conditions to grow; wild woods and damp weather are key (and we have plenty of that on Vancouver Island).Â
Chanterelle Varieties
Throughout the Pacific Northwest, Golden and White Chanterelles are the most common variety, however, there are several varieties which grow all over the globe. some species we would never find in our region (Red-cinnabars, Yellow Foots, Blue or Black Trumpet Chanterelles, for example).Â
Growing Conditions
Golden and White Chanterelles are typically found growing around the base of Douglas Fir, Hemlock, and Pine trees. They vary in colour from dark orange, to yellowish to white. The golden varieties are easier to spot because of their soft apricot colour which contrasts against the dark forest floor.
When one is found, we always take a good look around because, more often than not, there are others close by.
Chanterelle Characteristics
Chanterelles have a distinct subtle-sweet aroma (very fruit-like), with the golden variety being more pronounced than the white.
Chanterelles have gills resembling ridges which extend from their stem along the underside of their cap. These gills are actually know as “false gills" which are different than the gills you would see on other types of mushrooms.
Chanterelles typically have a wavy-like ridge around their cap with fibrous flesh that shreds rather than tears. They can range in size from a few inches tall to over 6 inches. If we're not 100% sure it's a Chanterelle, we don't take a chance- we certainly don't pick or eat it!
Harvesting
The debate of whether to cut or pull is still up in the air. When we harvest a Chanterelle, we leave the base of the stem intact; a clean cut taken ¼" above the ground will allow the Chanterelle to grow again based on what we've learned to date.
Chanterelles are essentially the fruiting body of a larger organism; leaving the base intact will help the organism proliferate from year to year, which means more Chanterelles in subsequent years.Â
Cleaning and Preparing
After a day of foraging, it's time to warm up and then clean our harvest. Any specimens which are soggy or decayed we send to the compost.Â
Some Chanterelles may have a small mushy section on the cap or stem which we simply cut off to save the rest of the mushroom. Using a soft brush will help to gently remove large pieces of debris and prevent bruising.Â
A damp cloth gently wiped on the mushroom helps remove any additional dirt the brush may leave behind. A general rule of thumb: the less water used to clean them, the better. The cleaning process can take a good hour depending on how big our harvest is; if we're not able to clean them right away, we place them in a brown paper bag in the fridge.
Dehydrating for Storage
Chanterelles can also be dried and stored for later use. We cut them in ½" slices, place them in a dehydrator at 125-140'F for a full day or until they are very dry. We then store them in an airtight glass jar.
Care is taken to ensure we remove all of the moisture before storing, otherwise mold will grow and an entire batch of inedible Chanterelles will be ruined (spoken from a very disappointing experience). Â
Fully dried chanterelles will last us all winter and then some (assuming we don't eat them all). Note that their texture changes once dried, and re-hydrating them will not return them to their natural state nor flavour.
Dehydrated Chanterelles are well suited for soups and stews, and I would recommend saving the water used to reconstitute them for the recipe; this will enhance their flavoring (I simply adjust the liquid measure in my recipe accordingly).
Cooking with Chanterelles
Like most mushrooms, Chanterelles are composed of a large percentage of water, which means they will drastically reduce in volume when cooked. I'm always surprised when my full basket is reduced to a fraction of the size once heated.Â
There is a silver lining though; each mushroom imparts so much flavour, their size is somewhat irrelevant. And, as a side note, Chanterelles are always consumed cooked; don't eat them raw as they will cause digestive upset.
We tend to prepare Chanterelles the same way each year: cooked in olive oil, with sliced garlic and sea salt. It's a simple preparation that allows their beautiful flavour to take centre stage.
A Recipe for Chanterelle Crostinis
I am sharing a delicious recipe below; I've added a tangy herb cashew spread to a slice of toasty french bread to go along with cooked chanterelles. And of course, crispy garlic slices! This is an easy to prepare small bite which highlights and compliments the aromatic flavour of these mushrooms. You will love it!Â
Putting together this post has been a labour of love. Foraging for Chanterelles is an experience I cherish each year. I hope you enjoyed reading about our experience!
Crispy Garlic & Chanterelle Crostinis with Herb Cashew Spread
The subtle sweet and earthy flavour of chanterelle mushrooms takes centre stage on top of toasted french bread, tangy herbed cashew spread and crispy garlic slices. Top with fresh parsley or thyme and coarse sea salt for a perfectly delicious small bite! This recipe requires some advanced planning for soaking the cashews, so be sure to start this step a few hours before you plan to serve.
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh chanterelle mushrooms washed & roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic sliced
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- salt & pepper to taste
- fresh parsley for garnish
- 1 whole wheat baguette sliced on the bias ½" thick
For the herbed cashew spread:
- 1 ½ cups raw cashews
- juice of 1 lemon
- rounded ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup filtered water
- 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
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Place 1 cup of the raw cashews in a bowl and cover with filtered water.Let soak for minimum 2 hours. Rinse and drain the soaked cashews and add to a high powered blender with the remaining un-soaked cashews, lemon juice, sea salt, water and nutritional yeast. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth and even, taking time to scrape down the sides to ensure everything is well incorporated. Spoon the cashew spread in a small bowl and stir in the fresh thyme leaves. Cover and refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes before serving to allow the mixture to firm up.
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In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and cook until the garlic becomes fragrant and just starts to turn golden around the edges (about 1-2 minutes). Add the chopped chanterelles and cook, stirring frequently until the garlic is browned and the mushrooms have reduced in size (about 6-8 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool slightly in the pan.
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Meanwhile, place the baguette slices under the broiler at 375'F for 5 minutes, or until toasty and slightly golden brown. Remove and let cool slightly. Spread a layer of the herbed cashew spread over each slice, then top with a portion of cooked chanterelles. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley or thyme and coarse sea salt. Serve right away.
Recipe Notes
This recipe makes extra cashew spread; any leftover will last in the fridge for 3-4 days in a covered container.
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