The Krause Hen has nothing to do with chickens. It looks more like a giant bath sponge. It is not particularly kind to its host tree, the pine tree: the fungus is a parasite and causes brown rot. Unmistakable and without poisonous counterparts, the Krause Hen is a culinary delicacy that is, however, very difficult to clean.
Where to find the Krause Hen
Sandy soil and pine trees: You can search very specifically here. Experience has shown that the Krause Hen particularly likes to grow on western or southern slopes, usually directly at the root of the pine tree. However, sometimes they can also be found on a trunk or an old tree stump. Its fruiting body is the size of a fist when young, the size of a football when ripe - and larger - and irregularly branched. The individual branches are curly and have a curved edge. A lot of dirt collects here, and in addition to sand and pine needles, beetles, snails and other smaller creatures often hide here.
Attention: Please leave the broad-leaved mother hen standing
The very similar broad-leaved mother hen, also a good edible mushroom, can be found at the base of fir and spruce trees. However, it is rare and its population is classified as very endangered in Germany's Red List of Mushrooms. Therefore, please do not take this mother hen with you, just enjoy the sight of it. You can recognize them by their wavy branches, which are whitish to straw colored.
Cleaning curly mother hen: It doesn't work without washing
Due to their special shape, sand, earth and all sorts of small creatures often get stuck in the coral-like branches of the mushroom. You should therefore not cut the Krause Hen too deeply or even twist it out of the ground, because it is difficult to free it from adhering soil. Therefore, do not take the whole mushroom with you, but only the clean, young parts. At home, further cleaning is carried out as follows:
- Cut the fruit body into thin slices, about two to three centimeters thick.
- You can also cut the mushroom into bite-sized pieces.
- Remove coarse dirt with a brush or the tip of a knife.
- Put the pieces or slices into a freezer bag.
- Add one to two tablespoons of flour (Type 405 is sufficient).
- Seal the bag and shake it gently,
- so that the flour is evenly distributed and dusts all mushroom parts.
- Now rinse the pollinated mushroom body under cold running water.
- Repeat the process until the Krause Hen is satisfactorily cleaned.
You can then prepare the meat as desired.
Don't wash Krause Hen?
In general, you shouldn't wash mushrooms because they get soaked like a sponge and lose their flavor. However, fruiting bodies like that of the Krausen Hen contain a lot of dirt inside that cannot be removed without using water.
Tip
The Krause Hen can also be preserved very well by freezing or drying. If you want it to be dried, you should avoid washing it if possible.
