Jews Ears

[queeg9000]

I've just been out for a lunchtime break from work, and took a short walk along the Taff trail, a loop of about 1 mile from the office. I came across a nice collection of Jews ears growing on an elder branch, and collected a handful.
I've read that the best way to use them is to dry them and then add to soups, stews etc, but is there any other method that would suit them?

Sorry everyone, I'll get the hang of these forums soon, just done a search on old threads, and found some useful advice on using Jews ears......Doh!

 

[andyn]

My grandad used to cook them and other wild mushrooms, well fry to be specific, with onion, garlic and crushed peppercorns and cream cheese (e.g philidelphia) and serve it over pasta and a nice bit of steak on the side Yum.

 

[queeg9000]

Andyn,

that sounds lovely, I'm getting hungry already, just thinking about it

Are the older Jews ears any good too, I left a fair few there that looked a bit older, and just picked the younger looking ones, I may go back tomorrow, and take a longer lunch break!

 

[andyn]

Hiya,

Not sure about the older ones to be honest, I was always the consumer and never the cook

Just a word of advice though, try not to deplenish the stocks too much from the same area otherwise (if i understand correctly, and im no fungi expert) there will be no spores released so there will not grow back. I'm not sure of the growth period of jews ear, but I know they can survive winter so they may have been growing for some time.

Enjoy

 

[Snufkin]

I got my first jews ears on Sunday, I just sliced them into strips and put them in my rabbit stew so they lost their individual flavour. Nice though.

 

[Ralph]

In a book of mine there is a recipe for Chinese style Jews ear soup:
25g (1oz) Jews ears
800g (2lb) Brown sugar crystals
500ml (1 pint) water

Clean, soak and roughly chop the ears.
Heat the sugar and water until the sugar melts and the water is almost boiling
Drain the ears, add to the syrup and steam for 1.5 hours. Serve hot or cold.
Never tried this myself, if you do, hope you enjoy it!

 

[queeg9000]

Andyn,

some good advice there, I'll leave the older fungi alone, then check again later in the season. I've rad a bit more on them from some of the links given on BCUK, and there's some very useful info there.

 

[queeg9000]

Ralph,

sounds like a nice recipe, I'll let you know what they're like if I try it, thanks.

 

[queeg9000]

Snufkin,

rabbit stew with added fungi sounds really tasty, was it good?

 

[stuart f]

You can use them in chinese recipes as an alternative to Cloud ears,Wood ears, slice finely and add to stir fries.

 

[Toddy]

Putting my politically correct hat on here They are referred to as Jelly ears nowadays, especially when working with young people and the GP.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[eraaij]

Hmmm, Yews Ears. I have a 'secret tree' where I harvest a batch each year:

Good recipes given! I just fry them with the other fungi and improvise.

 

[queeg9000]

Wow, some excellent replies again, thanks to Stuart F for recommending adding to stir fries, that's gotta be worth a try! Also Toddy for adding the care point on political correctness, I guess we can't be too careful eh?
And Toddy, secret tree eh? sounds like a good move, I've noted todays find, so I'll check it throughout the year, and there's more than one!

 

[Toddy]

Y'know, political correctness is too often just a poor attempt at courtesy; but in this case I do think it's a better name for the fungi. It really does look like a jelly ear.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Hawkeye The Noo]

Here is my understanding of the names origin.

Latin name: Auricularia auricula-judae
Size: Approximately 60mms across.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK.
Months seen: All year round.
Habitat: Frequently found on elder and beech trees.
Special features: The name comes from the story that Judas Iscariot hung himself from an elder tree, and this type of fungi is often found growing on elder trees.

So to be correct to the latin you could call them Judas ears which refers to the individual rather than the race. My fathers side of the family are Jewish and it does come across as offensive. Personally as a retired treckie I think they look more like Ferenghi ears. I can see them on that alien behind the bar selling drinks.

Hawkeye The Noo

 

[eraaij]

The Dutch name is 'Echt Judasoor' which translates to 'real Judas ear'. Still too biblical to me, but certainly less offensive and more in tune with the Latin name.

-Emile

 

[Jackdaw]

It is also thought that the name "Jews Ear" derived from the fact they were called Judas Ears (because of the Elder connection) and because in the middle ages all mushrooms and fungas were referred to in a derogatory manner as Jews Meat.

I call them Judas Ear Fungus or use their latin name, but always give the history of the names as I know them.

Jelly Ear sounds a bit babyish to me.

 

[Toddy]

It's accurately descriptive. The older term is considered racist and offensive.

Toddy

 

[Jackdaw]

My niece's call them pig's ears! Told them about Jelly Ears and they have now adopted that so will be changing my usage of terms to reflect this.

Who says I don't consult the public?

 

[Toddy]

Toddy