Cantharellus ruber
Heinem.
What to Eat
Edible parts: Mushroom, Fungus
Chanterelles in general go well with eggs, curry, chicken, pork, fish, beef and veal, can be used as toppings on pizzas, be stewed, marinated, sauteed, or used as filling for stuffed crêpes. Of course these are just examples; chanterelles are versatile and can be added as an ingredient to most dishes. In European cuisine, chanterelles are often served with venison. A traditional method of preparing these mushrooms is sauteed and then used to make scrambled eggs. In Polish tradition, chanterelles are used for making creamy sauces that top chicken. Many mushroom enthusiasts just like chanterelles sauteed in butter, with a pinch of salt, a clove of fresh crushed garlic, and some whipping cream. This recipe is said to bring out the subtle flavor of the chanterelle without masking it with other aromas. This recipe has the added benefit of retaining flavor even after being stored frozen. It is a feature of Viennese cuisine.
Dangerous Lookalikes
This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.
Jack-O'-Lantern Mushroom: True knife-like gills, grows in clusters on wood/stumps, glows in the dark, orange throughout.
Cantharellus ruber: Blunt forked ridges (not true gills), grows singly from soil, apricot/fruity smell, solid flesh.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It can be in Miombo woodland.
Africa, Burundi, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A fungal mushroom in the Cantharellaceae family found in tropical regions, particularly in Miombo woodland.
Names & Synonyms
Kaduu, Kaleleka, Katiletile
References (7)
- Boa, E. R., 2004, Wild edible fungi and their importance to people. FAO Non Wood Forest Products Booklet 17
- Buyck, B., & Nzigidahera, B., 1995, Ethnomycological Notes from Western Burundi. Belg. Journ. Bot. 128(2): 131-138
- Degreef, J., et al, 1997, Edible Mushrooms of the Zambezian woodland area. A nutritional and ecological approach. Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Envir. 1(3): 221-231
- Degreef, J., et al, 2016, Wild edible mushrooms, a valuable resource for food security and rural development in Burundi and Rwanda. Biotechnol. Agron. Soc. Environ. 2016 20(4), 441-452
- efta-online.org, Edible Fungi of Tropical Africa, Jardin botanique Meise
- Kamalebo, H. M., et al, 2018, Uses and importance of wild fungi: traditional knowledge from the Tshopo province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2018) 14:13
- Tibuhwa, 2013, Wild Mushroom - an underutilized healthy food resource and income generator: experience from Tanzania rural areas. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 9:49
