How to cook morels: delicious recipes with photos

Not every fan of quiet hunting has come across morel mushrooms that appear in the forests in the spring, as soon as the last snowdrifts have time to melt. They are distinguished by an amazing appearance, which, if ignorant, can repel them from their collection. Yes, and cooking morels is not so simple. Moreover, they contain toxic substances in their fruiting bodies, which must be properly removed. But in terms of their taste, for many morels seem tastier than white ones, they are often put on the same level with delicious truffles.

How to wash morels from sand

Morels are difficult to confuse with any other mushrooms, since at this time of the year they have no competitors, except that their closest relatives are lines. With their original appearance with a wrinkled olive-brown hat covered with a mesh pattern, they attract and, at the same time, repel inexperienced mushroom pickers. But if you know how to properly and tasty cook morels, you can also get a healthy dish. Ancestors used this mushroom to fight vision problems, in particular cloudy eye crystals.

Despite their useful and delicacy properties, morels are usually classified as a conditionally edible category. They should not be consumed raw. Any culinary treatment of these mushrooms involves their pre-soaking and boiling.

But morels are also distinguished by the fact that tiny insects are very fond of settling in them. And they often grow on sandy soil and, due to their peculiar structure, are often clogged with dust and sand. At the same time, mushrooms are characterized by increased fragility, any awkward movement will lead to the fact that they can break, or even crumble into hundreds of small pieces.

Therefore, it is not worth immediately freeing mushrooms from sand and debris – there may be too much waste.

Experienced mushroom pickers are advised to first fill them with cold water with the addition of salt and hold in it for a while. Moreover, mushrooms must be laid out in a container with their legs up – this will make it easier for insects to get out of them. During this period, the main batch of bugs will safely get out and leave the fruiting bodies. Then water with morels is placed on medium heat and after boiling, boil for about 10-15 minutes. The water is necessarily drained, and the mushrooms themselves are thoroughly washed under cold water, thereby freeing them from the initial portion of sand and other forest debris.

And already boiled mushrooms can be safely sorted out, freeing from the remaining insects and other rubbish. The legs from them are rarely eaten, since they do not have such delicious taste properties as hats. They are usually cut off and thrown away.

Before putting the mushrooms in the water for the second boiling, they are thoroughly rinsed again under running cold water.

How to cook morel mushrooms so that they do not taste bitter

Unlike many agaric mushrooms with frankly bitter milky juice, morels do not have similar properties. They just contain toxic substances that, when boiled, leave the fruiting bodies and pass into the water. It is for this reason that they practice not even single, but double boiling them.

Water after each procedure should be mercilessly poured out. Boiling time in total can be up to 60-80 minutes. Although some consider it sufficient to boil the morels for the first time for 10-15 minutes, and for the second time, bring the boiling time to 20-30 minutes.

After the second boiling, the mushrooms are washed again in cool water, and they can be considered ready for culinary preparation: frying, baking, stewing, pickling. Questions about how to cook morels should no longer arise – you can simply choose any of the mushroom recipes described below and proceed decisively. Any morel dish will be worthy of a royal table in terms of its taste.

How to cook morel mushrooms

If you follow all the pre-preparation tips above, then morels are cooked in the same way as many other mushrooms. It is only necessary to take into account their delicate structure and not get too carried away with spices and spices. After all, a special mushroom aroma emanating from morels, it is better not to interrupt anything.

How to cook fresh morels from the forest

Above, a detailed description has already been given of how to cook fresh morels brought from the forest.

You should not spare time and effort and limit yourself to a single brew. Still, it’s better to play it safe and cook the mushrooms in two runs, each time pouring out the broth in which they were boiled.

And in the first and second case, it is better to use salted water (for 1 liter of water – one incomplete tablespoon of salt). In the first case, this will help to additionally get rid of the living inhabitants of mushroom fruiting bodies (spiders, caterpillars, bugs), and in the second case, it will improve their taste properties.

The pre-soaking process (at least for an hour) is also important. This is necessary so that more living creatures have time to leave the mushrooms before the start of cooking. It is equally important to initially fill the morels with cold water, and not boiling water, so that they have time to give the water more possible toxins.

How to cook dried morels

Surprisingly, morels, which are considered conditionally edible mushrooms, can be dried. True, they can only be eaten no earlier than 3 months after the end of the drying process. It is during this period that the poisons contained in the mushrooms have time to completely disappear.

Before preparing any dishes from dried morels at home, the mushrooms are first soaked, left in warm water for 40-60 minutes.

The water is drained, poured with fresh salted water and boiled, maintaining a boil for 10 minutes, at least. The resulting broth is again drained without fail, and mushrooms can be used to prepare any delicacy.

How to cook frozen morels

Before freezing, morels are always boiled, be sure to drain the water. Therefore, after defrosting, when they acquire the usual consistency of freshly boiled mushrooms at room temperature, they can be used in cooking according to any of the recipes.

It is also quite possible to defrost them on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator compartment. If you put the mushrooms there in the evening, then in the morning you can start preparing the desired dish.

Delicious morel recipes

Morel dishes can be very diverse, and recipes include both everyday food and snacks intended for the festive table.

How to cook morels in Korean

This recipe can attract not only lovers of Asian cuisine, but also anyone who loves marinated mushroom snacks.

You need:

• 700 g of morels boiled according to all the rules;
• 2 heads of onions;
• 2 Art. l. rice vinegar;
• about 50 ml of vegetable oil;
• 2 Art. l soy sauce;
• ½ tsp. peppers, red and black ground;
• 2 tsp Sahara;
• 1 bay leaf;
• salt to taste;
• a couple of cloves of garlic – to taste and desire.

Preparation:

1. The onion is finely chopped and fried in a hot pan.
2. Prepared boiled morels are cut into medium-sized slices and attached to the onion.
3. The total frying time is about 10 minutes.
4. Pour in, vinegar, soy sauce, add spices and salt.
5. Mix well and remove from fire.
6. Transfer the appetizer to a ceramic or glass dish.
   Comment! At this stage, garlic cloves can be added to the bowl.
7. Cover with a lid and put in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
8. After this time, morels in Korean can be put on the table and enjoy an unforgettable taste.

How to cook morels with eggs

A dish prepared according to this recipe will help diversify the daily menu and add zest to the atmosphere of the festive table.

You need:

• 300 g of fresh morels;
• 5 chicken eggs;
• 100 g sour cream;
• vegetable oil for frying;
• 1 bunch of greens (parsley or dill);
• to taste the salt.

Preparation:

1. Fresh mushrooms are traditionally boiled twice in boiling water, without fail draining the water.
2. Rinse in cold water and allow excess liquid to drain in a colander.
3. Cut into halves or quarters and fried in a hot pan with oil until an attractive blush.
4. Eggs are broken in a deep heat-resistant bowl, supplemented with sour cream, salt and spices to taste and beat well.
5. Add the fried morels to the egg mixture and put everything on moderate heat.
6. With constant stirring, cook the dish until it becomes thick. Sprinkle finely chopped herbs on top.
7. Served hot.

How delicious to cook morels with sour cream

It will be very tasty just to fry morels with the addition of onions and sour cream.

You need:

• 500 g of boiled morels;
• 2 bulbs;
• 120 g sour cream;
• 50 ml of vegetable oil;
• salt and black pepper to taste.

Cooking will not be difficult:

1. Fry chopped onion in a frying pan until translucent.
2. Add mushrooms, fry for about 6-8 more minutes.
3. Season with sour cream, spices and simmer over low heat for another quarter of an hour.

How to cook morel soup

Soup directly from morels is unlikely to be cooked, since these mushrooms do not produce broth. But as a main flavor and aroma addition, for example, to a creamy asparagus soup, they are great.

To make Asparagus Soup with Fresh Morels, you will need:

• 600 g of asparagus;
• 200 g of prepared and pre-boiled morels;
• 2 large potatoes;
• 1 carrots;
• 2 pieces of leek;
• 3,5 L of water;
• 4-5 Art. l olive oil;
• ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper;
• 2 Art. l cream;
• ¼ tsp salt.

Preparation:

1. Leek and carrots are cut into thin rings.
2. Potatoes are peeled and cut into cubes.
3. Asparagus stalks are cut into several parts, the most tender tops are set aside for now.
4. Most of the vegetables are poured with water and boiled for about 20-30 minutes after the water boils.
5. Mushrooms are cut into pieces and sautéed in boiling olive oil along with a portion of leek rings, carrots and tender tops of asparagus until crispy.
6. Place ¾ mushrooms in a saucepan with boiled vegetables, add spices and salt, bring to a boil.
7. Beat the soup with an immersion blender, add cream, mix.
8. Add the rest of the fried morels with vegetables and pour the finished soup-puree into bowls.

How to cook baked morel mushrooms with potatoes

An ordinary morel casserole with potatoes is distinguished by an unforgettable mushroom taste.

Required:

• 1000 g of boiled morels;
• 800 g of potatoes;
• 150 g hard cheese;
• 3 tbsp. l. mayonnaise and sour cream;
• a pinch of white and black ground peppers;
• a little vegetable oil for greasing the baking sheet;
• salt to taste.

Preparation:

1. The potatoes are peeled and cut into thin slices, and the mushrooms into small slices.
2. Grease a baking sheet with oil and spread potatoes and pieces of mushrooms on it in layers.
3. The cheese is rubbed on a fine grater, mixed with mayonnaise and sour cream, salt and spices are added.
4. The resulting mixture is coated with mushrooms and potatoes on top.
5. Bake in an oven preheated to + 180 ° C for about 40 minutes.

This dish goes well with a salad made from fresh vegetables.

How to cook morel mushrooms in the dough

This amazing appetizer is good both hot and cold. It can be served with mustard sauce, or you can eat it simply, sprinkled with chopped herbs.

You need:

• about 400 g of boiled morel caps;
• 100 ml of milk;
• 1 egg;
• about 100 g flour;
• a pinch of spices: turmeric, ground pepper, grated ginger, salt;
• sunflower oil for frying.

Preparation:

1. In a deep bowl, mix milk, eggs and flour. The consistency of the resulting mixture should resemble thick sour cream.
2. Add spices, mix thoroughly.
3. In a deep frying pan, heat the oil to a boil.
4. Each morel cap is dipped into the prepared batter, and then fried on all sides in oil.
5. Spread on a paper towel to drain excess fat.

Monastic recipe for morels

To cook morels according to the original old recipe, you need to collect mushrooms of different sizes, large and small.

You need:

• 500 g of pre-boiled morels;
• 2 eggs;
• 1 Art. l flour;
• 2 st. l. butter;
• 2 tbsp. l. chopped parsley;
• salt and spices to taste.

Preparation:

1. The largest mushrooms are immediately set aside.
2. Smaller ones should be chopped and fried in butter with the addition of flour and spices.
3. Boil hard-boiled eggs, cut them into small cubes.
4. Mixed with fried morels, add greens.
5. The largest morels are stuffed with the resulting filling and fried in butter until golden brown.

Morel pie recipe

By now it should be clear how to cook morels with various ingredients, but this recipe with a photo will describe step by step the process of making a delicious pie with these unique mushrooms.

You need:

• 600 g morels;
• 3 cup of flour;
• 250 g butter;
• 2 chicken eggs;
• 0,5 tsp. soda;
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar;
• 150 g sour cream;
• 1 bunch of dill;
• sunflower oil for frying;
• to taste the salt.

Preparation:

1. Mushrooms are soaked and traditionally boiled in two waters.
2. Then they are cut into small pieces and fried in oil for a quarter of an hour until golden brown.
3. Pour in sour cream and set aside to soak.

   

4. To prepare the dough, mix flour with softened butter and eggs. After kneading, salt and soda quenched in vinegar are added.
5. The resulting piece of dough is divided into two parts. One part is rolled out with a rolling pin and laid out on a baking sheet, previously greased with oil.

   

6. On top lay out the filling of morels with sour cream, evenly distribute, sprinkle with finely chopped dill.
7. The second part of the dough is rolled out and covered with the filling from above, gently pinching along the edges so that there are no uncovered places from which the filling can stand out during baking.

   

8. Several cuts are made on top, the surface of the dough is smeared with a beaten egg.
9. The cake is baked in an oven preheated to + 190 ° C. The baking time depends on the thickness of the dough and can vary from 20 to 40 minutes.
10. The pie is equally good both hot and cold.

Recipe for stewed morels in sour cream

This delicate and easy-to-prepare dish is able to conquer the taste of the most sophisticated gourmets.

You need:

• 400 g of boiled morels;
• 350 ml of sour cream;
• 150 g cheese;
• 4 bulbs;
• 1 tsp dry dill;
• salt to taste.

Preparation:

1. Prepared mushrooms are cut into small cubes.
2. Onions are peeled, finely chopped and fried until translucent.
3. Mix it with mushrooms and fry everything together for another 10 minutes.
4. The cheese is rubbed on a medium-sized grater, sour cream, salt and dried dill are added. Mix thoroughly.
5. Pour the fried mushrooms with the prepared mixture, cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes.

The resulting dish has a special taste when it is hot.

Is it possible to freeze morels

Morels are not only possible, but also necessary to be frozen. Especially if you want to keep a large crop of harvested mushrooms for the whole year.

How to freeze morels for the winter

Before freezing with freshly picked morels, all the above preparatory procedures are performed with soaking, cleaning and boiling in two waters.

Finally, the mushrooms are washed again, allowed to drain excess liquid in a colander. Then they are laid out in small portions in bags, labeled, tied and sent to the freezer.

Since morels can’t be frozen twice, it’s best to make bags sized so that the contents of each can be eaten at one time.

Conclusion

Cooking morels is not as difficult as it seems at first glance to beginners in the mushroom business. But, if you follow all the nuances with their preparation, you can get a delicacy from which all acquaintances and friends will be delighted.