Weed ring fungus
Marasmius oreades
Wiedekringzwam, or better known as Mousseron, are very small in size with caps of 1 -3 centimeters in diameter and are attached to thin, slender stems. The caps are convex with curled edges when young, becoming flat when ripe, and range in color from golden brown, brown, to light tan. Under the cap, the tightly packed gills are white and not connected to the lean, light brown, fibrous stipe. When cooked, Mousseron mushrooms are chewy, slightly crunchy and tender with a spicy-sweet scent similar to cinnamon and a mild, earthy and nutty flavor.
PREPARATION
Mousserons are best suited for cooked applications such as braising, sautéing, boiling and frying. Before cooking, these mushrooms should be washed as they are known for being gritty. They should be dipped in water and drained to remove the tiny grains of sand. Mousseron mushrooms can be cooked longer and are usually added to pasta, ragouts, risotto, pizza, omelets, fillings, soups, stews and meat dishes. They can also be chopped and used to enhance the flavor of cookies, or dried and rehydrated when needed for extended use. Mousseron mushrooms go well with turkey, poultry, pancetta, fava beans, shallot, onion, garlic, chives, tarragon, chervil, thyme, crème frache, dry white wine, beans and rice. They will keep for a week if kept in the fridge, covered with a damp cloth.
The extracts of the mousserons mushroom were tested in a strict in vitro study for various medicinal functions. The results were mixed, but interesting[iv]. Although the extract was not found to be antibacterial, it was highly effective against all types of biofilms tested. A biofilm is a colony of microorganisms, usually bacteria or fungi or both, that stick to each other as well as to a moist surface - dental plaque is a well-known example. While biofilms are not necessarily bad, different types can form in the human body (on human tissue or on implants) and cause disease. Such films are often very resistant to antibiotics, so it is important to discover substances that are active against them. The same extract was also found to be moderately effective against certain cancer cell lines
Other Names
- Wiedekringzwam (Dutch)Nelkenschwindling (German)Mousseron (French)Marasmius oreades (Latin)Scotch bonnet (English)Bonnet Mushroom (English)Fairy ring mushroom (English)
