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Purple moss is a good valuable mushroom that is good for human consumption. The mushroom is not very common, but it has a lot of useful properties and therefore is of great interest.
What do purple mushrooms look like?
Purple Mokrukha, also known as Pine or yellowfoot, belongs to the Boletov order and the Mokrukhov family, and has a rather recognizable appearance.
In the photo of a purple wet fur, it can be seen that her cap is relatively small, from 4 to 8 cm in diameter, at a young age it is rounded, convex and with a characteristic blunt tubercle in the middle, and in an adult it is prostrate or even concave. The surface of the cap is smooth, in damp weather it is covered with a slimy bloom, in color it is very unusual, brownish-lilac or with a reddish wine tint. Below the surface of the cap is covered with wide thin plates, in young mushrooms it is mauve, and in adults it is dirty brown, sometimes almost black.
The stem of purple moss is thin, rises up to 10 cm above the ground, is often curved and usually tapers slightly towards the base. In color, the leg has the same shade as the cap, but remains slightly lighter. The structure of the leg is silky to the touch, often you can see the remnants of the veil on it, especially in young fruit bodies.
If the purple moss is cut open, the flesh of the cap will be firm and mauve, with a neutral odor and taste. The stem is purple-red at the cut, and yellow at the very base.
Where do pine trees grow
Purple moss is not the most common mushroom in Russia. However, you can see it on the territory of almost the entire country - in the middle lane, in the Caucasus and in the Crimea, even in Siberia. Most often, the yellow leg grows on calcareous soils in coniferous and mixed forests. It is sometimes found in the hills, but usually forms a symbiosis with birch or pine trees.
Purple moss grows both singly and in groups. Often she comes across not far from the boletus, because it chooses similar habitats.
Is it possible to eat pine mushrooms
Purple moss is an edible mushroom. Fruit bodies must be processed before cooking, but then the pulp is allowed to be used in almost any recipe.
Taste qualities of the purple mokruha mushroom
In terms of taste, purple moss belongs to only 4 categories.This means that you can eat it, but the yellowleg will not please with its rich and original taste. Many mushroom pickers compare the taste of purple mokruha with the taste of butter. Often the edible yellowleg is used in combination with other mushrooms, the mixed assortment has a more pleasant taste.
Benefits and harm to the body
The popularity of purple mokruha in cooking is due not only to its taste. The yellowleg has many health benefits as it has a valuable chemical composition. The following substances are present in its pulp:
- vitamins B2, B1 and E;
- vitamin C;
- vitamin PP;
- cellulose;
- a large amount of high-quality vegetable protein;
- amino acids;
- organic acids and enzymes;
- potassium and iron;
- calcium, phosphorus and manganese.
With good nutritional value, yellowleg is very low in calories and contains only 19 kcal per 100 g of pulp, therefore it is found in many diets.
The use of purple moss has a beneficial effect on the body, since the product:
- strengthens the immune system and improves the functioning of the metabolic system;
- helps to relieve inflammation and fight infections;
- has a calming and relaxing effect;
- has a positive effect on the muscular system;
- promotes cell renewal;
- improves the condition of the skin and hair;
- has a good effect on blood vessels and protects the heart from the development of chronic ailments;
- strengthens memory and improves brain function.
Despite its many beneficial properties, purple moss has some contraindications. First of all, it is not recommended for pregnant women and nursing mothers. You should not offer yellow legs to young children under 7 years old, any mushroom pulp is poorly absorbed by their body due to its high protein content.
False doubles
Purple mokruha has no poisonous and dangerous counterparts. But in the absence of experience, it can be quite confused with edible mushrooms of the same type.
Spruce moss
This mushroom is very similar in structure to the purple variety. His hat is also medium in size, at first convex, and then outstretched, the leg reaches 12 cm in height and 2.5 cm in girth. But you can distinguish a spruce mushroom by its color shade, its hat is gray-gray or gray-violet, it does not have an unusual wine tint.
Spruce moss grows, in accordance with its name, mainly in spruce forests and forms a symbiosis with spruces. You can eat it, but its taste is quite average.
Pink moss
Another variety similar to the photo of pine moss is pink moss. The mushrooms are united by similar features in the structure - strong cylindrical legs, narrowed in the lower part, and convex at first, and later spread caps. But the differences between the varieties are noticeable - pink moss is much smaller and rarely exceeds 5 cm in diameter. In addition, its cap is bright pink at a young age, in old fruiting bodies - with a slight yellowish tint and dark brown spots.
Pink moss grow in coniferous forests, mainly in the mountains, and are often found next to goats. The fungus is not widespread and is quite rare. Like purple moss, it belongs to the edible category, but has a mediocre taste and needs to be peeled before consumption.
Collection rules
You need to go to the forest for purple moss during the period of maximum fruiting, from August to the end of September. It is best to choose days after prolonged rains; in humid weather, fruit bodies grow especially quickly and massively.
You need to collect purple moss in clean places, located away from cities, industrial facilities, railways and highways.Since mushroom pulp absorbs all toxic substances from the earth and air, yellow legs collected in ecologically unfavorable areas will not be able to benefit health.
Recipes for cooking purple mokruh
Purple moss is suitable for almost any cooking method. But before frying, marinating or otherwise preparing purple moss, does it need to be pre-processed?
- It is necessary to prepare fresh fruit bodies within 24 hours after collection, they are not stored for a long time and quickly begin to deteriorate.
- Before cooking, the mucous membrane on the cap must be removed from the yellow leg, and then rinsed in cold water.
Boiled mokruh
The quickest way to make Autumn Yellow Legs is to simply boil them in salted water. Peeled and washed hats and legs are placed on the stove and boiled for only 15 minutes. The water is then drained, and after cooling, the mushrooms are added to the salad, used as a snack, or subjected to further processing.
Fried mokruh
Yellowlegs fried with potatoes, meat or vegetables can please with a pleasant taste. Put the boiled hats and legs in a frying pan greased with vegetable oil and fry with onions or chopped potatoes as much as necessary until the garnish is fully cooked. At the same time, you do not need to check the yellow legs themselves, they do not require a long frying using a special technology.
Salty moss
The classic way of cooking is cold salting of purple moss, which allows you to preserve the mushrooms for the winter. The recipe looks very simple - pre-boiled hats and legs are laid in layers in a sterile glass jar. Sprinkle each layer generously with salt, and you can also add spices to the salting, for example, dill seeds and peppers, garlic and cloves.
The filled jar is covered with folded gauze along the neck and pressed down with oppression. After a few days, the mushrooms should completely cover the released juice, and after another 40 days the pickles are ready to eat. In the process of salting, the gauze on the neck of the jar needs to be changed from time to time so that mold does not start on it.
Conclusion
Purple moss is a versatile edible mushroom that can be processed in any way. The taste of the yellowleg is not considered a delicacy, however, in a mushroom platter or in combination with other products, it is quite pleasant, and it also benefits the body.
