Mycophile phood

This week's recipe was takikomi-gohan (mixed, cooked rice) in which we used three types of Japanese mushroom: buna shimeji ("brown beech mushrooms"), enoki ("velvet foot") and shiitake (the best known outside Asia of the three but with the least evocative name: "mushroom of the shii tree"). These all grow on logs or trees (except when they are artificially cultivated) and are said to have properties that lower the risk of cancer or, at least, that boost the immune system. In addition to their reputed healing properties, they are a great food for vegetarians (if the savory taste of meat is craved) as they have the so-called "umami" savory taste and are so versatile.

In addition to the mushrooms, - or as alternatives - you can use meat, vegetables (carrot, burdock etc) or fish to mix with the rice. The point is to cook it all together in dashi-infused rice in the rice-cooker. The mushrooms give the takikomi-gohan a really soft, fragant and rich quality - great autumn or winter food, and perhaps not so suited to early spring, but never mind! The shoyu/mirin/sake that are mixed into the rice also give it this warmth and after a while sitting in the rice-cooker produce a nice kogeta edge - slightly scorched, that is. When you taste it you'll see why this is one occasion when (very) slight burning is good! I matched the rice with miso soup, and Koya-dofu (freeze-dried tofu associated with the Mount Koya temple community), simmered in dashi.

While I was looking up some info on Japanese mushrooms, I found this rather fascinating presentation: according to this guy, we humans are closer to fungi than to any other kingdom! In what way...? Have a look at this for a presentation of mycilium as a proto- internet Pandora-like world...I shan't look at shiitake in the same way again after seeing this. The mycophile mind boggles! Another document of interest, again less culinary based, is the report of a 1950s American banker who delved into the world of mushroom-induced visions in Mexico: The photo caption "Allen Richardson eats a mushroom in spite of his pledge to his wife" is adorable. And finally, for those more foodie than I evidently am, there's a nice guide to edible mushrooms here.

Pictures: Shiitake, buna-shimeji, enoki

Takikomi-gohan

Koya-dofu