Judas

JUDASOR

Headphones Ear-Jude

Judas ear mushrooms are small to medium sized, averaging 3-8 inches in diameter, and are curved and wavy with an ear or cup-like shape. The fruit bodies are brown to dark brown with a slippery or jelly-like texture and may consist of smooth wavy edges or many folds and wrinkles with some veining. With age, the gill- and stemless fungus darkens and the spores vary in color from yellow, cream, to white. When cooked, Judasoor mushrooms are firm, crunchy, and delicious with a mild, stale flavor.

PREPARATION

Judasoor mushrooms are suitable for cooked applications, such as boiling, stir-frying and sautéing. Before cooking, the mushroom should be rinsed and any tough spots removed. Used for their chewy and crunchy texture, they can be added to soups, salads or stir-fries, easily absorbing the accompanying flavors. Yellow easter mushrooms are often added to Chinese hot and sour soup and to Szechwan and Hunan cuisine to absorb the spicier flavors. Outside of China, jelly-ear mushrooms are usually found in dried form and can be easily reconstituted. To rehydrate, the mushroom must be soaked in water for at least half an hour. Judasoor mushrooms go well with potatoes, fermented black beans, green onions, onions, ginger, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, sesame oil, coriander, parsley, bay leaves, allspice, snow thistle, cucumber, bamboo shoots, green peas, tofu, pork, ham, shrimp , and crab. They should be used immediately and will keep for only a few days if wrapped in tissue paper and refrigerated.

Judasoor mushrooms are a good source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract and iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream. The mushrooms are also a source of vitamins B1 and B2, copper, magnesium and zinc, and contain small amounts of potassium, calcium and phosphorus. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, jelly-ear mushrooms are believed to relieve sore throats, increase circulation, reduce fever, and detoxify the circulation. The mushrooms are cooked and consumed, often in soups, to absorb the nutrients, or they are brewed into a tea. After giving birth, women also eat Judasoor mushrooms in a soup consisting of jujubes, mushrooms, ginger and poultry. This soup is believed to promote blood flow, reduce the risk of blood clots and help replenish red blood cells.

Other Names

Judas Ear (Engels)Jelly Ear (Engels)Judas ohr (Duits)Oreille de Judas (Frans)Auricularia auricula-judae (Latijns)