Huitlacoche

Who among us has had the opportunity to taste "The Mexican Truffle" -- as this edible corn fungus is sometimes know -- fresh?

Not I -- I've only ever had it canned, and even that's not all that easy to find.

I was talking with a mushroom vendor at a farmers' market recently, and she suggested going directly to corn growers to see if they have any ears.

I'd love to see the ears firsthand. I've seen the pictures, and it looks like aliens have taken over the corn.

This is funny. I grew corn in my backyard. It was beautiful too. I let it go too long and when I went to shuck the corn there were fingers and nodules of fungus growing on all the ears. I threw it all out. This "Mexican Truffle" better not be a delicacy.

I contracted fungus in Mexico...but I digress.

August West said:

I contracted fungus in Mexico...but I digress.

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Fungus-a-Mungus? How did you get back across the border?

DoctorShavegood said:

Fungus-a-Mungus? How did you get back across the border?

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The Mexican authorities asked me to leave.

I had some in an excellent Mexican restaurant in NYC some years ago, and it was fantastic. It may look gnarly, but it is well worth trying if you can find it fresh.

I've had it. Comparing it to a truffle is a good way to think about it. It's very earthy. Straight up, it's pretty much like eating dirt (sort of like a truffle is). Used a little more sparingly and with other stuff, it's something like a corny, mushroomy. truffle thing. It's nice, but it's nothing I'll go out of my way for.

http://www.mexicoguru.com/articles/huitlacoche.php

In one of my fungus growing books. it has farmers spraying a whole field of corn, with an liquid culture of this..I haven't ate this yet canned or fresh.

DoctorShavegood said:

Fungus-a-Mungus?

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Then what's between us?

CurtisB81 said:

In one of my fungus growing books. it has farmers spraying a whole field of corn, with an liquid culture of this.

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Were these farmers in the U.S. or elsewhere? I wonder what the results were.

CurtisB81 said:

I haven't ate this yet canned or fresh.

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A nice simple way to have it is in quesadillas. Sautée the huitlacoche with onions.

Rory1262 said:

Were these farmers in the U.S. or elsewhere? I wonder what the results were.



A nice simple way to have it is in quesadillas. Sautée the huitlacoche with onions.

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http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt...no-more-chefs-invite-corn-fungus-to-the-plate

If I feel like it next year, I might try growing it.

Super article! Thanks, Curtis. I want the fresh stuff more than ever now.

An better one

http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/lessons/fungi/Basidiomycetes/Pages/CornSmut.aspx

Continued thanks, Curtis -- you have really elevated the discussion.

My wife and her family don't eat it - it doesn't seem to be a thing in Jalisco. Every year I have a couple of students who love the stuff, but it is only available canned around here.

I googled corn smut but must have typed something wrong.

ouch said:

I googled corn smut but must have typed something wrong.

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Clear your cache more often. Google remembers what you type.

Happens to me every third or fourth time I search for "pop corn."

I wonder if you can take a can of it, mix it with small amount of molasses and h2o and spray down a field of corn..I have to ask someone with more knowledge of mushrooms then me.I know of one guy that should know..

TexLaw said:

I search for "pop corn."

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That's gotta hurt.