Sponge Mushroom

Botanical Name: Morchella
Common Name: Morel
Origin: Damp woodlands of temperate countries

Sponge mushroom is a mushroom with a cone shape cap and a honeycombed appearance. The cap ranges from 2 to 4 inches tall and the stem is hollow. They have an irregular pattern of pits and ridges. They are dried by slicing them into thin strips and place them on a screen in the sun or in a food dryer until dry.


Uses
Dried sponge mushrooms is a key to culiniary delight. It is used in several recipes. It is used to flavor wine. They have a nut like taste with a crisp, chewy texture that makes it a good choice for light cream sauces, pastas and egg dishes. Caps are more useful. They can be stuffed with all kind of goodies like spicy sauces. Dried stems are also excellent for stuffings. Dried sponge mushrooms are widely used for making fragrant potpourris.