The mother of all cauliflowers

[Snufkin]

Riding over to visit my folks this evening I spied this beauty! Sparassis crispa the cauliflower fungus.

Just to give you an idea of the size it's sitting in an 11 3/4 inch skillet! I weighed it at 6lbs! lost a bit trimming it up though.
I've had a few smaller ones of late so I'll dry this one.
Sorry the cooker isn't too clean, hope my mum doesn't see ):

 

[Paganwolf]

WOW impressive matie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :biggthump :You_Rock_ thats a beauty!!!

 

[jakunen]

Holy merde! Never seen one as big as that.

I'm jealous!!!
When shall we come round for dinner?

 

[Tantalus]

nice find mate

who said it was a bad year for edible fungi??????

a nice edible one, quite leathery before cooking, which makes it one of the few fungi i would suggest washing

mmmmmmm then a creamy sauce or an omlette

Tant

 

[Stuart]

WOW Nice Find!!

 

[Snufkin]

Thanks guys! I'm finding lots at the moment, found another two today, just normal size though. So one's tomorrow lunch and the other I'll dry as well ): .

 

[Frogo]

Snufkin,

Are you doing the next series of GET STUFFED? :rolmao:

Frogo

 

[Tyr]

Man that is huge, I guess it was hard to miss. I love eating these but I think they are a pain to clean, or am I just doing it wrong.

 

[Snufkin]

Man that is huge, I guess it was hard to miss. I love eating these but I think they are a pain to clean, or am I just doing it wrong.

Yes, they can be a pain to clean. This big one in particular had alot of slugs in it. I dry them by putting them on the grill tray, under the grill on a low heat with the door ajar, the bugs and slugs drop down to escape the heat and you can blow off most of the bits that didn't wash off. I'm not too bothered about eating the odd bug or pine needle anyway

 

[Bi0]

Nice find!

I love the firm texture and nutty flavour of Sparassis crispa. I found a nice specimen in Sherwood forest last year and cultured it on agar. The mycelium looks like a little white spiky hedgehog lol. Might try cultivating it at some point.

Bi0