Chicken of the woods

Laetiporus sulphureus · Fungus

40 pairings

Chicken of the woods (Laetiporus sulphureus) is a vivid orange-and-sulphur-yellow bracket fungus that grows in overlapping, fan-shaped shelves on the trunks and stumps of living and dead trees. Soft and succulent when young, its dense, layered flesh has a texture and mild savoury flavour so reminiscent of chicken breast that it has become one of the most popular of all foraged mushrooms for the table.

Picking a good onedrag

Soft, damp, juice at a squeezeChalky, crumbling, sour

Shop freshTrim off the woody inner core and cook the rest right through. Reported upsets cluster on raw or barely cooked pieces; whether the host tree adds to it is still argued.Everyday best

ColourColour flattening, the margin paler

Press the fleshFirm, dents slowly, still moist inside

The cut baseDamp at the cut, juice only if squeezed

SmellMild, mostly wood, almost neutral

What to look for, from soft, damp, juice at a squeeze to chalky, crumbling, sour.

Preparing