Shiitake

Today we will talk about, perhaps, one of the most famous mushrooms in the world. It is excellent in literally every way. This mushroom brings health benefits, great pleasure to eat, and so on. So we're talking about shiitake.

The mushroom cap can have a diameter of 3 to 15 centimeters. It is hemispherical, convex shape. As the shiitake matures, the cap takes on a flat shape. Color - dark brown at first, and after maturation - lighter.

The Latin name for shiitake is Lentinula edodes, and it is relevant today. The fact is that earlier it was called Lentinus.

If we talk about the word shiitake, then it has a completely logical origin. There is a Shia tree in Japan - one of those on which this mushroom grows with great pleasure. Well, the word "take" is already translated as "mushroom".

If we talk exclusively about distribution in the wild, then these are Japan, the Far East and China. Also found in some other states in southeast Asia.

Archaeologists who conducted excavations in China (this is the birthplace of the fungus) determined that it was used here from the very beginning of the new era. Emperors used various recipes to prepare shiitake decoctions. They protected themselves from diseases and prolonged their youth.

According to research, shiitake was cultivated about 3 thousand years ago.Today it is actively grown in Asia, and from there the mushroom is already exported to other countries.

As for Russia, this mushroom does not grow here, although some gardeners are trying to grow them. For many, this is successful.

If you decide to try this mushroom, going to the store or the market for it, be sure to remember a few of the most important rules for choosing them.

• Purchase mushrooms that are slightly plump and free of any mechanical damage.
• Learn shiitake. They should not be moldy, they should not be wet to the touch.
• If the edges curl down, it's a good mushroom.
• Look at the hat. If it is velvety and its color is dark brown, then you have found a good specimen. At the same time, keep in mind that a good mushroom has a cap diameter of no more than 6 centimeters.
• The most delicious mushrooms have patterns of small cracks on the cap.
• Store them in the refrigerator, but no more than 3 weeks.

In terms of nutritional value, shiitake has the following to offer - per 100 grams of product:

Unlike many other mushrooms, shiitake is characterized by a rather complex chemical composition. However, all components are of great benefit to the human body:

• Proteins;
• Carbohydrates;
• Amino acids;
• Polysaccharides;
• Fats (poly and monounsaturated);
• Alimentary fiber;
• Vitamins (PP, groups B, C, D);
• Minerals: K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, etc.

As we have already noted, this is an incredibly useful mushroom.

Therefore, we will try to highlight the most important positive properties of this product:

• Fights viruses, inflammation, bacteria.
• Helps in the treatment of ulcers, with bleeding.
• Heals wounds;
• Strengthens the immune system, rejuvenates the body.
• Resists tumors.
• Reduces blood pressure, normalizes the work of the heart and blood vessels.
• Heals stomach and intestines.
• Strengthens the functioning of the nervous system.
• Removes bad cholesterol from the body.
• Restores strength after prolonged illness and injury.
• Normalizes the human condition after strong physical exertion.
• Extends life.

The medicinal properties of shiitake allow it to be used in the following ways:

• It treats diseases associated with blood vessels and the heart.
• Relieves chronic fatigue.
• Resists various forms of cancer.
• Helps with hepatitis, gastritis, stomach ulcers.
• Useful for diabetes.
• Brings a person out of depression.
• Acts as a prophylactic against colds, flu.
• Prevents heart attack.
• Helps restore health after a stroke.
• Beneficial for diseases of the joints, back.
• External use treats skin problems.
• Restores health after chemotherapy.
• Promotes weight loss etc.

Not so long ago, scientists from all over the world began a detailed study of this property. Unfortunately, shiitake has not yet been fully studied, but experts are making successful steps. Who knows, maybe shiitake will be the key to solving the problem of effective cancer treatment in the near future.

You can learn more about the beneficial properties of shiitake mushrooms from the program "About the most important thing."

Despite the widest list of useful properties, the fungus can still cause some harm.Therefore, let's find out about contraindications.

• It should not be used during pregnancy.
• It should not be eaten by children under the age of 12.
• With individual intolerance to the fungus or a component that is part of it.
• With bronchial asthma. All four of these cases have not been fully studied, but still not worth the risk.
• If you eat too much shiitake, you may get diarrhea.
• Do not use the mushroom along with poisonous herbs that are used in the treatment of cancer.
• It should not be eaten with aspirin.
• Do not combine the use of shiitake with drugs, in particular the effects of which include a decrease in the rate of blood clotting.

Given the main region of distribution, it is not surprising that shiitake has firmly entered the cuisine of Asian countries. Although many of us love it, especially in sushi.

Hats are mostly eaten. As for the legs, they are hard. Therefore, the legs are mainly used to prepare sauces, soups, yogurts, and so on. The extract obtained from mushrooms is excellent for sweets, drinks and confectionery.

If you decide to fry shiitake, to do this, cut off the hat and tear the leg. But only along. This will keep a pleasant smell, which during frying becomes like the smell of fried meat.

Heat a frying pan over high heat, add oil (olive or regular odorless sunflower). Pour the mushrooms and begin to stir vigorously until all the water has evaporated. If desired, add onions, almonds, walnuts and various seasonings to the mushrooms. They enhance and enrich the taste.

These mushrooms are also good for those who, when cooked with other ingredients, absorb their flavors, but do not drown out the rest of the ingredients.

Grilled shiitake can be served with pasta, baked vegetables, rice, fish, or chicken. Here, take your pick. By the way, try adding them to goulash. You will be very pleasantly surprised with the result. But keep in mind, when preparing goulash, mushrooms are added no earlier than 30 minutes before the meat is ready. Otherwise, shiitake will be very tough.

Now we bring to your attention two recipes in which shiitake is the main ingredient or simply significantly enriches the taste of the dish.

Of the ingredients you will need the following:

• Shrimps (tiger or king) - 16 pieces;
• Olive oil - 30 milliliters;
• Half a chili pepper;
• A couple of cloves of garlic;
• 1.2 liters of purified water;
• 150 grams of heavy cream;
• 150 grams of shiitake;
• Fresh herbs (basil and parsley) - 1 sprig each;
• Salt.

Cooking

• Take the shrimp, peel them from the shells and cut them lengthwise into two parts.
• Pour a little olive oil into the pan, chop the chili and garlic, fry for just a minute, then add the shrimp and fry them.
• Now add water, cream. The mixture should boil.
• Throws chopped mushroom caps, herbs and salt to your own taste.
• The soup is boiled for about 5 minutes and served at the table.

Enjoy your meal!

Now we offer to get acquainted with a very tasty way to fry mushrooms. You will get maximum benefit and enjoyment.

The ingredients you will need are the following:

• 300 grams of eggplant;
• Starch - for breading;
• 100 milliliters of vegetable oil;
• 300 grams of fresh zucchini;
• 200 grams of the white part of the leek;
• 200 grams of asparagus;
• 200 grams of green peas;
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice;
• 0.6 kg shiitake;
• A couple of cloves of garlic;
• 100 grams of oyster sauce;
• 80 milliliters of soy sauce;
• 50 milliliters of sesame oil;
• A bunch of green onions;
• Sesame - for sprinkling on the dish.
• Salt.

Cooking:

• Cut the eggplant into small pieces. Salt and set aside. This will allow liquid to be released after a while. Dry the eggplants, bread with starch and fry using a large amount of oil.
• Zucchini are cut into half rings, and leeks - into rings.
• Blanch the peas and asparagus with salt and lemon juice. Literally 2 minutes. Then chill with ice.
• The asparagus is cut into 4 parts, and the pods into 3.
• Take the caps of mushrooms, make notches on them with a sharp knife and quickly fry over high heat.
• Now add zucchini, leek, peas, garlic and asparagus. Everything is fried together for 2-3 minutes, then eggplants are thrown and the fire is turned off.
• You can fill the dish with soy sauce, sesame oil.
• Spread on plates, decorate with herbs or green onions, sprinkle with sesame seeds on top.

Enjoy your meal!

We advise you to watch the following video of the program "Live great!" from which you will learn even more about shiitake mushrooms.

Based on the beneficial properties, we have already managed to find out what this mushroom carries in itself from the point of view of medicine. Therefore, now we will tell you about very useful and popular recipes. With their help, you can cure various diseases, as well as have a preventive effect, preventing certain diseases.

• If you are overtaken by these diseases, take 1/2 tsp. dried mushroom powder every morning. Drink the remedy with warm purified water. The course lasts 14-28 days.
• Otherwise, diseases require taking from 1 to 3 tsp. in a day. Reception three times a day for half an hour before meals.The course lasts 30 days, then there is a break of 10 days and the course is repeated again as needed.
• To increase immunity, prevent stomach ulcers and normalize sexual activity, it is recommended to use 1 tsp. powder three times a day 40 minutes before meals. The course lasts 30-90 days.

To prepare it, you will need 20 grams of shiitake powder. Fill it with 500 ml of high quality vodka. Insist 14 days in a dark and cool place. Shake every day. No need to strain, use with the resulting sediment.

• From epilepsy, stomach ulcers, gastritis, hypertension, cystitis, after a stroke and heart attack, use 2 times a day for 1-2 tsp. tincture approximately 30 minutes before meals. The course lasts 30-120 days. After every 30 days break for 10 days.
• With a malignant tumor - 1 tbsp. mixture three times a day for half an hour before meals. Course - 90 days. Break - 10 days, after which the course can be repeated. Treatment can last up to a year.
• For the prevention of cancer - a monthly course of treatment once a year. Take 1 tbsp. tincture 30 minutes before meals twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.

This tincture can be prepared not only with vodka, but also with cognac. The quality of the alcoholic beverage in both cases should be high.

You will need 3 tbsp. chopped dried mushrooms. They are poured with 500 ml of high-quality Cahors. Close the container tightly and refrigerate for about 14 days. After 2 weeks, strain the wine, close tightly again and refrigerate for storage.

• For ulcers, gastritis, hypertension, hypotension, tumors, viral diseases, 1 tsp is taken. or 1 tbsp.three times a day half an hour before meals. The course lasts from 30 to 120 days.
• For flu, colds, take 1 tsp. twice a day half an hour before meals. The course lasts 7-14 days.
• For prevention - 1 tsp. before bedtime. Course - 7-14 days.

They do not make oil from shiitake, but they make an oil extract. It allows you to cope with a wide range of diseases, such as diabetes, kidney problems, ulcers, joints, hypertension, high acidity, malignant tumors, and so on.

To prepare the extract, you need 20 grams of dried shiitake. They are poured with 500 ml of olive or linseed oil. Pre-heat the oil to 37 degrees using a water bath. The container is tightly closed and infused in a warm place for 5 days. It is best to put on the battery. Then put the oil in the refrigerator for 5 days. No need to strain, drink with the resulting sediment.

Extracts are made from shiitake, which have a general strengthening effect in various diseases. Many appreciate it for its anti-cancer properties, although in fact the remedy is capable of more.

Apply the drug 5-7 drops three times a day. It is diluted with water and drunk before meals.

You can store for 2 years, but subject to the temperature regime from 25 to 5 degrees Celsius.

There is only one contraindication - this is individual intolerance.

The main areas of influence of the drug:

• Problems and diseases associated with the heart and blood vessels;
• With multiple sclerosis;
• For the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
• To solve problems with the liver and diabetes.

How do shiitake manifest themselves in cosmetology?

• Mushroom extract makes the skin elastic, relieves wrinkles, smoothing them.
• The mushroom normalizes the fat balance, eliminates the problem of oily skin.
• It has a regenerating effect, fights the expansion of pores.
• Many cosmetic companies use shiitake extracts in the manufacture of creams, masks and serums. Their main action is rejuvenation.

Most of the mushrooms that we can often eat began to grow artificially only at the end of the last century. But things are different with shiitake, as they were cultivated as early as the 12th century.

To do this, in China they took a log, rubbed a raw mushroom into it. With luck, a crop was formed in a year.

To date, two main methods of cultivation are used.

• They take husks from rice or buckwheat, or use sawdust, mix them with mycelium. As a result, briquettes of dense structure are obtained. Mushrooms begin to appear on them after a month.
• The second method involves the use of a log in which holes of small depth are made. Mycelium is poured into them, closed with a cork and smeared with wax. Harvest appears in about a year.

Obviously, the first method is much more convenient, plus it is cheaper. But then why is the second method still relevant?

The thing is that the first option allows you to get beautiful, tasty and large shiitake. However, they have absolutely no medicinal properties. They can be used exclusively in cooking, nothing more.

But the second method forms a lot of useful substances. Extracts are made from such mushrooms. The palatability is lower, plus shiitake of this growing method is more expensive.

That is why they are initially divided into medicinal and culinary.

If you are familiar with the technology of growing oyster mushrooms, you should have no problems with home-made shiitake. They are bred in an extensive and intensive way.

• Prepare the substrate using sawdust from oak, beech, maple, or willow. Do not take coniferous trees.
• Sawdust should be approximately 3 mm, mixing with wood chips is allowed.
• Sterilize the substrate. Put in a bag and pour boiling water, then leave to infuse for 12 hours. Repeat the procedure again.
• The capacity where mushrooms will be grown should be up to 6 liters - bags, polyethylene bags. Mix the substrate with the resulting mycelium, taking into account 500 g of mycelium per 10 kg of substrate. Place the mixture in bags, close with a cotton-gauze stopper and a ring.
• Growth will take about 45-60 days. Stick to the desired temperature regime within 18-24 degrees Celsius.
• Fruiting begins when the blocks are taken out to a damp and cool place. Before that, remove the polyethylene.
• Harvest is formed after 3-6 months.
• Provide indoor lighting for 8 hours a day.

Prepare logs with a diameter of 7-8 cm and a length of 1 m.

It is recommended to cut logs in winter, and it is better to place mycelium on them in early spring.

Make holes in the wood, keeping a distance of 15 centimeters between them. Add mycelium to them.

Move the logs to a room with shade and high levels of humidity.

If the mycelium takes hold of the tree, you will see white spots. But they appear only after one and a half or two years. Therefore, it is recommended to make several logs and try out different mycelium.