Honee Garlic Shrimp of the Woods Recipe

We’ve got a quick and easy shrimp of the woods recipe for you all today- because sometimes after a day of foraging, doing a lot of work for dinner is just not going to happen. So here we have it- honee garlic aborted entoloma! This recipe uses the shrimp-like texture of the entoloma, in a sticky, sweet, garlicky glaze. No actual honey was used in this vegan version, instead a little apple juice and sugar, cooked down does the trick. Serve it over rice, or with some garlic noodles for the perfect meal. It takes less than 30 minutes and uses less than 10 ingredients!

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Disclaimer- use caution when foraging wild edibles, and always be certain of your identification. While I assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided on this site, I can’t be responsible for the accuracy of your information. Consult multiple websites, books and local experts, and when it doubt, do without.

Identifying Shrimp of the Woods

Imagine you’re walking through the forest, and littered across the dirt in front of you are what looks something like randomly scattered packing peanuts. You may have just discovered shrimp of the woods- or maybe someone did in fact litter packing peanuts. In the case of the latter, be a good person and pick them up and throw them away properly. But now let’s explore the possibility that you did in fact just discover shrimp of the woods, or the aborted entoloma. The aborted entoloma form weird, irregular, poofy, generally non-symmetrical, lumpy and bumpy, although typically somewhat circle-like shapes. They are white, and often have a indent in the center. If you stumble across a fairly circular one, you might at first be tricked into thinking it’s a small puffball, but as you continue to find the brain-like folds and gyri that are the shrimp of the woods, thoughts of puffballs will dissipate. They are typically between 1/2-5 inches in diameter, and show no evidence of gills or pores. They are usually found in September or October, corresponding to when the honey mushroom is in season (read more about that below). The are widespread, often found scattered on woodchips, rotting wood, the roots of trees, and grassy lawns. They also tend to frequent the same locations year after year. They do grow in a non-aborted form, where the look like a simple, gilled, greyish-whiteish mushroom, and while they are edible it is not recommended as misidentification is easy. Stick to the aborted form. Pick mushrooms that are firm, solid feeling, and white. As they age, they tend to get mushy and sometimes hollow, as well as yellowed and discolored. They can be easily plucked with your hands, but do future you a favor, and trim the small, dirty end off before placing it in your bag. When you’re looking for a shrimp of the woods recipe, make sure you find one that gets some good browning on them to really bring out their flavor. Placing them directly in a soup or stew without doing so will give you something pretty tasteless.

The Curious Case of the Entoloma and the Honey

First things first, let’s just clarify that the name, “aborted entoloma”, is pretty terrible and shrimp of the woods is a good bit better. Now let’s set that aside, because aborted entoloma is the term I use more often. The aborted entoloma was a bit of a mystery, in the 1970’s it was thought to be the result of one species, Entoloma abortivum, was being parasitized  by a second species, Armillaria mellea, or what is commonly called the honey mushroom. It was a good explanation for the fact that honey mushrooms, aborted entoloma, and the non-aborted form of the entoloma often show up together, at the same time of year. A good thirty years later, scientists decided that the evidence suggested something different, that the entoloma was in fact the parasite, and the honey mushroom was being parasitized. Which, to many, myself included, seems that a different name is in order. Which do you like better- abortive entoloma, or aborted armillaria?

Looking for Mushroom-Based Seafood Alternatives? Try one of these!

• Vegan Lion’s Mane Mushroom Sushi
• Massaged Mustard Greens Salad with King Oyster “Shrimp”
• Vegan Fish Sauce (Fish-less Sauce!)
• Wild Oyster Mushroom Tacos with Purple Cabbage Slaw
• Mushroom Vegan Po’boy (Aborted Entoloma Recipe)
• Vegan Lion’s Mane Crab Cakes with Hollandaise Sauce
• Classic New England Style Vegan Clam Chowder

How to Make Honee Garlic Shrimp of the Woods

What makes this shrimp of the woods recipe so great is how simple it is. Here are the basic steps-

1. Clean your mushrooms. You can make this a lot easier by leaving the end with dirt on it in the forest. Use a small brush (I used one meant for cleaning metal straws) to clean the rest of the mushrooms, making sure to get into any dips and creases. Don’t clean your mushrooms before you’re planning on cooking, as getting them wet causes them to spoil faster.
2. Cook your mushrooms. In order to get a nice golden color, cooking your mushrooms first and getting some caramelization on the surface is essential. After they’re cooked, you can just remove them from the pan and set aside.
3. Make the sauce. In the same skillet, mix all the ingredients for the sauce and bring it to a simmer. Let it reduce for a little while, so it becomes thick and syrupy.
4. Assemble your Honee Garlic Shrimp of the Woods. Add the cooked mushrooms back to the skillet, along with some green onions, and toss it all together.

And that’s it- you’re done!

Honee Garlic Shrimp of the Woods Recipe

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