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The Morse russula belongs to the russula family. Representatives of this genus can be found everywhere in the forests of Russia. They appear in the middle of summer. It is believed that it is the russula genus that makes up about 47% of the mass of all forest mushrooms. For their careless appearance, the people called them "sloppy".
Where Morse russules grow
This species settles in broad-leaved and coniferous thickets. Selects places mainly with limestone soil. Morse russula are common in the forests of England and Ireland.
The mushroom grows singly or in small groups. Fruiting begins in July and lasts until November, but the time may vary depending on the weather conditions in the growing region.
What morse russules look like
The main features of the forest mushroom:
- The cap grows up to 12 cm in diameter. At emergence, young specimens have a conical or ball-like shape. In the future, the cap is leveled and flattened. Shallow pits are visible in the center. The surface color is yellow or brownish yellow. This shade creates the appearance of a dirty, stained mushroom.
- The skin is dry, smooth. Easily removed from the cap. There are sunken strokes along the edge.
- The bottom of the cap is framed with narrow, brittle plates. They are painted white or yellow. The edges often take on a purple hue. Over time, the plates darken. White-brown blotches appear along the contour.
- The flesh is white, however, a few hours after cutting it becomes darker in color. It is characterized by a pungent almond scent.
- The leg has a smooth, even surface. Thickening is observed on the lower part. Height 3-8 cm, thickness 2-3 cm. The color of the leg is white, when it gets old, it becomes covered with dark spots. The pulp is firm.
- Spores are elliptical, white.
Is it possible to eat Morse russula
These mushrooms are classified as edible. They are allowed to be eaten. Morse russula do not contain any poisonous or toxic components.
Mushroom taste
As noted, the pulp has a pronounced bitter almond aroma. Bitterness is noted in the taste, therefore, before use, the mushroom must be soaked in salt water for several hours. Remove the skin during cooking. The species is suitable for salting.
Benefit and harm
The Morse russula has a number of positive qualities:
- B vitamins are formed in the pulp, which in turn help to improve metabolic processes in the body.
- Vitamins E, PP, F and dietary fiber have a beneficial effect on the digestive system.
- Mono- and disaccharides are involved in the synthesis of proteins from amino acids.
- Saturated, unsaturated acids help maintain skin tone and healthy appearance.
- Mushrooms are characterized by anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
- The chemical composition of Morse russula includes useful macro and microelements: sodium, phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium.
- Fetal bodies are recommended for dietary nutrition. Nutritional value - 20 kcal per 100 g of product.
- Mushrooms are added to the diet of obese people.Due to the balanced content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, the product dulls the feeling of hunger for a long time.
In some cases, edible mushrooms can harm the body. Doctors advise to limit the use of people with chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, liver, gallbladder, pancreas. Patients suffering from allergic diseases or individual tolerance should not abuse the forest product. Mushrooms are strictly prohibited for children under 12 years old. Women during lactation and pregnancy should minimize the number of russules in the diet or completely exclude them from the diet.
False doubles
In order not to get confused while collecting mushrooms, you must familiarize yourself in advance with the main signs of false twins of the Morse russula.
- Russula fading... The diameter of the cap varies from 5 to 10 cm. The color of the surface is blood red. The shape of young mushrooms is spherical, older specimens have a spread-out upper part. The skin is velvety, dry, often cracked. It separates from the pulp easily. The leg is white, sometimes pink in color. The mushroom grows in deciduous forests, next to beeches. You can find this variety even in coniferous thickets. Prefers limestone soils. It does not have much value in cooking.
- Russula yellow... An edible mushroom that is easy to find in the forest due to its bright yellow coloration. A young specimen looks like a ball, which deflates after a few days. The diameter of the cap is up to 10 cm. The skin is easily peeled off at the edges. The surface of the mushroom is glossy, sticky. The pulp is strong, white. The leg is light, it becomes gray in the sun. This subtype grows in pine-birch forests. Loves damp places, found near swamps, in moss.
Collection rules
It is better to go out on a "quiet hunt" in the early morning. You need to have a sharp knife, basket or bucket with you. It is not recommended to twist, pull mushrooms out of the ground. It is advisable to carefully cut the leg with a knife. Then the mycelium will remain intact. The collected fruit bodies are put into the basket, since the Morse russula, like other representatives of this genus, has a rather fragile structure. In a bag or backpack, they can easily break, crumble. Then they will become unsuitable for further use.
The shelf life of edible mushrooms in the refrigerator is no more than 48 hours. They must first be cleared of forest debris. Young specimens are used for food.
Eating morse russula
You don't need to be an experienced chef to make Morse russula. The main methods of processing mushrooms are pickling, hot and cold salting. All technological processes are standard and do not differ in any way from salting of other forest mushrooms.
An interesting and unusual recipe - mushroom caviar from Morse russula:
- Fresh young mushrooms are soaked for three days. Change the water three times a day.
- After they are washed under running water and boiled in saline solution for 20 minutes.
- The cooled fruit bodies are passed through a meat grinder or ground in a blender.
- Peel the onions, chop finely and fry in a pan with vegetable oil. For ½ kg russula, you need 1 medium-sized onion.
- Combine onions with mushrooms, add spices, salt, pepper to taste.
- The mixture is stewed with the addition of a small amount of water and vegetable oil for about 15 minutes.
You can serve caviar as an independent dish or as a filling for pita bread, tartlets, tomatoes, eggplants, spicy sauces.
Conclusion
Morse russula - delicious mushrooms. It is not difficult to prepare them, you just need to find a good recipe. When collecting, it is recommended to carefully examine the mushrooms so as not to eat the false double.
