ENOKI
Flammulina Velutipes
Velvet-legged or better known as Enoki mushrooms are very small in size and grow in bouquets of tightly packed, long stems topped with small, convex caps. The snow-white caps are soft, smooth and delicate, and are connected with matching white stipes that are thin and can grow up to twelve centimeters in length. Cultivated Enoki mushrooms are crunchy and firm with a crunchy bite and a mild, fruity taste. Wild Enoki mushrooms look very different from the cultivated form: they have a larger cap, shorter stalks, an orange to brown color, are slightly sticky, rubbery, velvety in consistency, and have an earthier taste.
PREPARATION
Velvet legs are best suited for both raw and cooked uses, such as simmering, blanching, and cooking. Before consumption, the ends should be cut off, the mushrooms washed and slimy peduncles discarded. The delicate, crunchy texture of Enoki mushrooms can be served fresh in salads, lightly fried and added to stir-fries and noodle dishes, mixed into omelets, risottos, curries, sushi, or even spring rolls. They are usually used in hot soups for texture, but they can also be blanched in a soy sauce-based mixture and served as a main course. Enoki mushrooms go well with soba noodles, vermicelli, soy sauce, miso, garlic, onion, scallions, seaweed, kale, ginger, bacon, seafood such as crab, lobster or shrimp, lemongrass, fresh herbs, long beans, carrots, celery, peas, bell peppers and water chestnuts. They will keep for up to a week if stored in a paper bag in the refrigerator. When looking for Enoki mushrooms, it is vital to consult an expert before consuming any wild species, as the Enoki mushroom is very similar to the deadly galerina mushroom.
Enoki has both enoki linoleic acid and enoki chitosan and is full of dietary fiber. Raw enoki mushrooms have been proven to contain about twice as much fiber as cabbage. Linoleic acid, chitosan and dietary fiber provide you with the benefits of enoki mushrooms, such as the ability to lose body fat in your gut, control your blood sugar and prevent intestinal problems. Enoki mushrooms provide a smorgasbord of nutrients and antioxidants. They are loaded with thiamine, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, copper, iron and selenium, and are low in dietary cholesterol and sodium. The amino acids valine, lysine and ergothioneine enhance the immune-enhancing properties of the enoki. Consumption of enoki mushrooms helps prevent the rise of blood lipids, lower cholesterol levels to prevent hyperlipidemia, and reduce the occurrence of coronary disease.
other names
- Samtfussrübling (German)Enoki (French) (International)Flammulina velutipes (Latin)EnokitakeGolden Mushrooms (English)
