What is termite fungus? Great uses and how to cook termite mushrooms

As a familiar food to Vietnamese housewives, termite mushrooms become the ingredients of many rustic dishes and attract many people. Let’s go to the kitchen with lassho.edu.vn and learn about termite mushrooms and its uses!

See now SHOCKING discount food containers

What is termite fungus?

Origin of termite fungus

Termite fungus is a fungus of the Lyophyllaceae family and relies on a type of yeast secreted by termites to grow. According to the experience of the old farmers, termite fungus is a fungus that appears in places where many termites live . Termites especially appear in the Mekong Delta and appear only once a year, lasting for 1 month, from the first rains of the season to the beginning of the 6th lunar month.

Shape of termite fungus

The termite fungus goes through many growth stages, at each general stage will have a different shape. Specifically:

• When they absorb nutrients in the mushroom nest to grow and turn the soil to grow, it is called ” black needle fungus “.
• When young mushrooms cannot be harvested, they are ” earth crack mushrooms “.
• A few days later, the mushrooms grow into ” bud mushrooms ” shaped like an umbrella.
• When the canopy spreads horizontally, it is called ” open mushroom ” or ” canopy mushroom “.
• When the mushrooms wither, decay gradually, called ” withered mushrooms “, this type can not be eaten.

Where termites usually grow

To find termites, you need to dig a small amount of soil, if you see a termite living in the soil, it is a termite fungus.

Note, subterranean termites make nests as big as a dried coconut, the shape of each hole is white or slightly yellow , often termites appear on high ground because termites cannot make nests in places where the soil is too wet.

Great use of termite mushrooms

Termites mushrooms have extremely high nutritional value and are beneficial to health, specifically:

Termites mushrooms are rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, protein and other nutrients that are very good for health, especially people with diabetes and are beneficial for the sick and the elderly.

In addition, according to traditional Chinese medicine, eating termite mushrooms regularly can improve immunity against cancer cells, anti-aging, reduce blood sugar. In particular, termite mushrooms are also beneficial for women’s menstruation .

Synthesized and reference sources: en.wikipedia.org

How to preserve termite mushrooms?

In order for termite mushrooms not to be damaged and used for a long time, you should remove the mushroom buds, mushroom roots that are yellowed, waterlogged, damaged or crushed.

In addition, you need to keep the mushrooms in a cool place or a refrigerator, a Styrofoam container with ice to lower the ambient temperature to limit the respiration of termites fungi and the growth of microorganisms to keep them fresh. Mushrooms stay fresh longer.

Simple dishes from termite mushrooms

Stir-fried termite mushrooms with melon

Ingredient:

• 200 grams of termite mushrooms
• 1 melon
• Onion
• Spices: Sugar, salt, pepper, fish sauce,…
• Tools: Gas stove, pots, dishes,…

Making:

When you buy mushrooms, you peel them off, wash them and then dry them. As for the melon, you peeled it, washed it, and cut it into pieces. Chopped cilantro

Then, you fry the onion and garlic in a hot pan, add the mushrooms and saute with high heat, season with a teaspoon of sugar, a teaspoon of seasoning seeds and fish sauce , then add the melon and stir-fry to taste and cook 3- After 5 minutes , turn off the heat, add cilantro and pepper.

Termite mushrooms cooked in vegetable soup

Ingredient:

• 1 bunch of sweet potato or any vegetable you like
• 100 grams of cleaned termite mushrooms
• 1 teaspoon seasoning powder
• Spices: Sugar, salt, pepper, fish sauce,…
• Tools: Gas stove, pots, dishes,…

How to cook:

Purchased termite mushrooms are cut clean, washed with dilute salt water and drained. Wash the sweet potato and cut it into about 3cm pieces.

Then, you bring the broth to a boil, season with seasoning powder, then add chopped sweet potatoes and mushrooms, season to taste. When the soup boils for about 5 minutes , turn off the heat and pour the soup into a bowl and enjoy.

Termite mushrooms grilled in foil

Ingredient:

• 400 grams of termite mushrooms
• Spices: 1 teaspoon salt, green chili, green onion, 1 teaspoon sugar, little seasoning, 1 tablespoon cooking oil, green pepper.
• Silver paper
• Oven or charcoal stove.

How to cook:

You take the termite mushrooms and wash them, soak them in dilute salt water, take them out and let them dry. You take scallions, chili, salt, sugar, seasoning seeds, crushed green pepper, cooking oil in a bowl and proceed to mix well. Then, you take the mushrooms and mix to infuse the spices.

Next, spread the foil and put mushrooms on top, then roll it up and put it in the oven, baking time about 20 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius.

Termite mushroom porridge cooked with shrimp

Ingredient:

• Plain rice: 100 grams
• Termites Mushroom (2 ounces)
• Plain rice, fresh shrimp or minced meat
• Necessary seasonings such as fish sauce, salt, seasoning powder, scallions, etc.
• Tools: Gas stove, pots, dishes,…

How to cook mushroom porridge:

First, you take the plain rice and soak it for about 30 minutes until soft, then rinse it thoroughly with water, mix it with finely chopped red onion , drain and then roast it, until the dry rice grains turn golden. The termite mushrooms are washed and then fried with purple onions in a pan of hot oil.

Shrimp you peeled, washed and minced with red onion, crumpled and marinated for about 5-10 minutes with fish sauce and seasoning seeds to absorb the spices and then sautéed the onions in an oil pan until the shrimp is cooked and fragrant.

Finish the preparation stage, you boil the water, put the rice into the stew thoroughly. Wait until the porridge is soft, add shrimp and termite mushrooms , season to taste.

Above is information about the uses and delicious dishes from termites that lassho.edu.vn shares with you. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below the article.

*Refer to photos and recipes from: cooky.vn and 2monngonmoingay.com