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The chicken of the woods mushroom is the closest non-meat ingredient to, well… chicken. You'll find them growing on the side or at the base of trees in a bright ruffled rainbow of oranges, golds, and yellows. This makes them easy to spot and identify, which is great for amateur mycologists. See my article, Chicken of the Woods Mushrooms — the Complete Guide, to learn more. Aside from being one of the prettiest-looking mushrooms on the planet, their robust flavor is what seals the deal. While they may have a meaty texture to them, the question of whether or not they taste like chicken depends on who you ask. Perhaps with the right set of ingredients and cooking techniques, they could? Either way, the one thing everyone can agree on is that this magnificent mushroom tastes delicious. We've rounded up the top 5 chicken of the woods recipe ideas you need to try.
1. Pickled Chicken of the Woods Recipe
Prep Time
Cook Time
Servings
15 mins
30 mins
4
Ingredients
2 lb. clean chicken of the wood mushrooms
6 cups of water
3 teaspoons of salt
4 cloves of crushed garlic
A few sprigs of fresh thyme
2 cups of white wine vinegar
Instructions
Mix the water, salt, crushed garlic, and thyme in a stockpot and bring to a simmer.
Add the mushrooms and cook them through for about 10 minutes until they've released their juices.
Mix in the white vinegar and transfer the mixture – liquid included – into pickle jars, leaving about half an inch of headspace at the top of each one.
Use a pH tester to ensure that the pickle juice pH level is lower than 4.2.
Use a water bath canner for the final phase of the process. This should take about 20 minutes.
2. Crispy Fried Chicken of the Woods Recipe
Prep Time
Cook Time
Servings
15 mins
20 mins
4
Ingredients
4 2-oz. chunks of clean mushrooms
2 cups of all-purpose flour for breading
½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
3 eggs
½ cup of cooking oil
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
A few sprigs of fresh thyme
Lemon wedges
Instructions
For this chicken of the woods recipe, start by trimming off the hard base before you cut the mushrooms into chunks.
Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl and beat the eggs in a separate bowl.
Toss the mushrooms in the flour, making sure they're well coated. Dip them in the eggs and then back in the flour again. Repeat this flour-egg-flour process until you've coated your mushrooms nicely.
Heat the cooking oil in a pan together with the butter before adding the breaded mushrooms.
Cook for about 4 minutes on each side until they turn golden brown. Add extra oil to the pan if necessary.
Blot the mushrooms on a paper towel to remove the excess oil.
Sprinkle the thyme to garnish and serve while hot.
3. Grilled Chicken of the Woods Sandwich Recipe
Prep Time
Cook Time
Servings
10 mins
15 mins
1
Ingredients
2 2-oz. of clean mushroom chunks
4 tablespoons of cooking oil
A few sprigs of fresh thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
½ teaspoon of garlic powder
For the sandwich toppings in this chicken of the woods recipe you'll need:
Whole wheat toasted buns
½ a medium-sized shaved, rinsed, and chilled red onion
A few leaves of spinach or swiss chard
4 tablespoons of mayo
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350.
Heat the oil in a cooking pan and cook the mushrooms for about 4 minutes on each side until they turn golden brown and crispy.
Transfer the mushrooms onto a lightly greased tray and season them with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Roast for an additional 8 minutes in the oven.
Assemble your sandwich the way you like.
4. Cream of Chicken of the Woods Mushroom Soup Recipe
Prep Time
Cook Time
Servings
10 mins
25 mins
2
Ingredients
½ lb. of clean mushrooms
½ onion
2 celery stalk
1 medium-sized carrot
2 cloves of garlic
½ cup of unsalted butter
A few sprigs of thyme
3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
3 cups of water
1 cup of coconut milk (full fat)
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To make this chicken of the woods recipe, start by dicing the onion, celery, and carrot, and mincing the garlic as well. Set aside.
Chop the mushrooms into 1-inch strips.
Melt the half of the butter in a pot and add the mushrooms. Cook for 3 minutes before adding the diced onions, carrots, and garlic. Cook for a further 3 minutes.
Add the celery and thyme and stir.
Add the flour and remaining butter. Keep stirring to ensure that it doesn't burn.
Add the water and coconut milk, and mix well. Bring it to a boil then reduce the heat. Let it simmer for 15 minutes while stirring occasionally.
Season with salt and pepper and serve while hot.
5. Roasted Chicken of the Woods Salad With Hazelnuts Recipe
Prep Time
Cook Time
Servings
10 mins
35 mins
4
Ingredients
1½ lbs. of clean mushrooms
½ cup of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
A few sprigs of fresh thyme
1 minced shallot
3 tablespoons of sherry vinegar
3 heads of sliced Belgian endives
5 cups of loosely packed green-leaf lettuce
½ cup of loosely packed parsley leaves
1 oz. of shaved Swiss cheese
3 tablespoons of toasted hazelnuts (chopped)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350.
Place the mushrooms on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil before seasoning with salt and pepper.
Roast for about 8 minutes on each side.
In a bowl, mix the salt, pepper, and vinegar, and add the shallot. Let it sit for 10 minutes to allow it to soften.
Add the olive oil and whisk until it looks frothy.
Place the endives, lettuce, and parsley in a separate serving bowl and season lightly with a little salt.
Add the roasted mushrooms and vinaigrette, and mix the contents thoroughly but gently.
The final touch of this chicken of the woods recipe involves topping the salad with cheese and toasted hazelnuts.
A Versatile Ingredient for Hearty Meals
Please see my article entitled Chicken of the Woods Mushrooms — the Complete Guide, for more information on where to find Chicken of the Woods. Get creative. Experiment with different variations of your favorite ingredients to get the flavor intensity you like. These simple, healthy, no-fail chicken of the woods recipe ideas are guaranteed to satisfy any craving you may have. Speaking of cravings, are you hankering for a lobster dish? Check out our complete guide to the lobster mushroom and discover a whole different kind of lobster!
Chicken of the woods mushrooms – nature's wild, delicious, and beautiful crown jewel. Whether you're drawn to it because of its vibrant beauty or crave the succulent taste of a gourmet mushroom, one thing is for sure. It is as versatile as it is healthy. Anyone who has ever gone foraging for mushrooms in the forest knows there's one rule by which they must abide. When in doubt, leave it alone. The last thing you need is to end up in the ER simply because you cooked up a mushroom feast that should have been… well, you guessed it – left alone! Chicken of the woods mushrooms are difficult to miss, even for amateur mushroom hunters. This fungus' impressive size and vibrant orange-yellow color make it stand out in even the most dimly lit forest conditions. It almost appears to be beckoning you towards it. Of course, if you never foraged for chicken of the woods before, then we recommend that you run your finds by an experienced mushroom forager. Look for local chapters of the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) to find people near you who are knowledgeable about mushrooms. But once you become familiar with chicken of the woods, you will see it all around. So, what is it about this large polypore mushroom that gets mushroom hunters so excited? You've certainly come to the right place to find out. Here's the complete guide to everything you need to know about chicken of the woods mushrooms.
How and Where to Find Chicken of the Woods Mushrooms
Right off the bat, you need to know what you're looking for. Chicken of the woods mushrooms are easy to spot since they grow in large clusters characterized by overlapping brackets. Some species are saprotrophic, which means that they feed on dead trees. Others are parasitic, so they attack live trees causing the wood to decay. Either way, you'll find them growing on the wood of a dead or live tree, or right at the foot of a live tree. You will never see them in fields or on the ground on their own, away from trees. As these mushrooms age, their colors fade, and their flesh gets tougher and more crumbly. You will find them in the summer and the fall, or between August and October in most regions. The species of chicken of the woods that thrive in warmer climates also grow in early winter. Let's dive into the different chicken of the mushrooms species. There are roughly twelve types you'll find in the US. The species that most of us think of when it comes to edible chicken of the woods mushrooms is the Laetiporus Sulphureus, which grows on hardwood trees in the Eastern regions of North America. There is also the edible and delicious Laetiporus Cincinnatus, which is popular in the Eastern regions of North America. This species of chicken of the woods has white pores. The tops are more pink than the common chicken of the woods, but they look white when viewed from underneath. There's also Laetiporus Conifericola that takes on a more yellowish appearance. This particular species grows mostly in Western North America. It grows on conifers, hence the "Conifericola" part of its name.
This image was created by user Nathan Wilson (nathan) at Mushroom Observer, a source for mycological images. This image is Image Number 306 at Mushroom Observer, a source for mycological images. While Laetiporus Conifericola is generally considered edible, some people have reported stomach upset after eating this species of chicken of the woods raw. Be sure to cook it thoroughly. Finally, there is Laetiporus Gilbertsonii, which is quite popular in the West Coast and commonly grows on Eucalyptus and Oak trees. Cook this one well also, as some people have reported stomach upset after eating this species of chicken of the woods raw. To be on the safe side, it's always a good idea to get in touch with your local mycological association to link you with a mushroom hunter in your area. Again, you can find experienced mushroom foragers in your area at the North American Mycological Association’s website.
How to Harvest, Clean, and Store Chicken of the Woods
If you come across these mushrooms, don't yank them off the tree. You want to cut off a chunk close to the base without damaging the spot where the wild mushroom attaches to the bark. That way, you'll have new mushrooms growing there by the time the next season rolls around. Once you harvest them, take out any pieces that look like they have a ton more dirt than the others. You'll rinse these separately. Fill up your kitchen sink with water and plunge the whole lot in. Then pull apart the brackets as you rinse them under running water and place them on a colander to dry. The next phase is the tricky bit – storing chicken of the woods mushrooms. Keep in mind that this particular variety doesn't keep well when dehydrated. If you have some fresh chunks, the best way to preserve them would be to cut them up into smaller pieces and fry them in some butter for a couple of minutes – four tops – until they look slightly golden. Then, pat them dry with a paper towel, pack them in airtight containers, and pop them in the freezer. They'll stay fresh for up to three months. Pickling them is also an option if you don't want to waste precious freezer space.
What Do They Taste Like?
Chicken of the woods must taste like chicken, right? Well, in a sense. It's one of those ingredients that have an oddly familiar taste to them that you can't quite put your finger on. Its mild, delicate flavor is reminiscent of – surprise, surprise – chicken, crab, and lobster with a hint of citrus all rolled into one tasty bite. It is succulent and chewy like a juicy tender cut of chicken. It's the perfect substitute for any vegetarian diet.
Growing Your Own Chicken of the Woods Mushrooms
If you lack time to go scrounging the forest for chicken of the woods, you can sometimes find them in grocery stores. You can also grow your own chicken of the woods mushrooms. They are considered difficult to grow, so this will take some time and experimentation. But when you succeed, you'll be in for quite a treat. There are some good Chicken of the Woods grow kits on the market. Your kit will come with instructions. To give you an idea of how the process works, just remember that these mushrooms grow on logs. Which means that you will replicate the natural process. The concept is simple: get an oak log, drill holes in it, and inject the holes with chicken of the woods mushroom spawn. Then you seal the holes with melted wax so no other fungus can attack your chicken of the woods spores. Bury the log partially, with about 2 inches of topsoil. Your chicken of the woods mushrooms will emerge from the logs, and grow up from the soil. It can take 6-12 months for the first crop, but once established they should continue to grow for 2-3 years. I had success with Gallboys Mushroom Kits Chicken of the Woods spores. If you go with this kit, you will have to supply the oak log, but they supply everything else that is necessary to grow your chicken of the woods mushrooms.
Benefits of Chicken of the Woods Mushrooms
This mycelium fruit is both a delicious delicacy and natural medicine. It has antimicrobial properties that guard against the effects of pathogens like Aspergillus Flavus and antibacterial properties that fight staph bacteria like Staphylococcus Aureus. Chicken of the woods is rich in antioxidant compounds like chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, kaempferol, and quercetin. It's also packed with lanostanoids – potent anti-carcinogenic compounds. These molecules have been shown to inhibit the growth of cancerous tumors. Other medicinal properties of the mushroom include:
Aids in diabetes management
Excellent hormone balancer
Has anti-inflammatory properties
Promotes good dental health
It is also high in proteins and is an excellent source of minerals like Vitamin C and Potassium. With all those health benefits, why wouldn't you swap out that piece of chicken for some mushrooms instead?
Like Chicken – Only Better
So, go on, make it a part of your daily diet and reap all the benefits it has to offer. In the meantime, check out my post with five great chicken of the woods recipe ideas that you can try out after you’ve gone mushroom hunting.
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