Everybody loves the chanterelle mushroom but the hedgehog mushroom is often overlooked.
They’re not only just as delicious, but they’re also the best substitute for chanterelles, and even slightly cheaper.
I’d take fresh hedgehog mushrooms over older chanterelles any day of the week because hedgehogs are beautiful mushrooms.
I just LOVE the beautiful golden brown colour of the hedgehogs after cooking them in loads of hot, foamy, garlic butter!
What is a Hedgehog Mushroom?
Hedgehog mushrooms or Hydnum repandum, are wild mushrooms that are prized for their unique flavour and texture.
Other names of this wild shroom include sweet tooth, wood hedgehog or pied-du-mouton (meaning sheep’s foot in French).
As chanterelle mushrooms start to disappear from the forest, chefs often replace them with the hedgehog mushroom. [1]
How Does a Hedgehog Mushroom Taste Like?
These mushrooms are milder in flavour than black trumpet mushrooms but with way more flavour than the farmed chestnut mushroom (cremini mushroom).
For me, these mushrooms taste mild, nutty and have a beautiful sweetness that works so well with garlic butter.
You may also notice flavours similar to peppery watercress or even oysters.
How to Clean a Hedgehog Mushroom
Just like most wild mushrooms, I don’t recommend washing them in water because this tends to make them soggy.
The best technique is always to use a soft dry brush to clean away any bit of dirt or soil from the mushroom.
Hedgehog mushrooms are unique in that they have little “teeth” under their caps that fall out after cooking. These little mushroom needles are often bitter and add an unpleasant texture to whatever you’re cooking so it’s best to remove them.
To clean them:
- Snip off a small portion of the stems with a pairing knife (the bottom of the stem is often dirty and can be a little tough).
- Brush away and dirt from the mushrooms using a soft dry brush.
- Gently scrape the needles under the cap of the mushroom using a butter knife. Be careful not to scrape too hard otherwise you’ll break the mushrooms.
When to Use These Mushrooms
As mentioned above, these mushrooms work with any recipe that uses chanterelles as the texture and flavour are similar (although not the same).
Here are a few ideas for when to use hedgehog mushrooms:
- Served alongside butter-poached lobster.
- Mixed into a buttery pasta.
- Folded into a chicken pot pie.
- Hedgehog mushroom and carmelized onion tart.
- Used as a stuffing for beef wellington, roast quail or other game birds.
How Do You Cook A Hedgehog Mushroom?
Hedgehog mushrooms are best cooked just like other mushrooms – in tons of hot foamy butter!
One thing to note is that these mushrooms should be fully cooked which helps to remove the bitter aftertaste.
Tips for Cooking the These Mushrooms
- Clean the teeth under the hedgehog caps before cooking to prevent the needles from ruining your sauce. Although, if you’re pressed for time you can skip this step.
- Use a high heat in the pan to prevent soggy mushrooms and get a nice golden colour.
- Make sure the mushrooms are very dry before cooking, otherwise you won’t get a nice sear.
- Cook these mushrooms thoroughly to remove any bitter, raw taste.
Try My Other Mushroom Recipes:
- These Sauteed Black Trumpet Mushrooms with a Tarragon Cream
- These Deliciously Simple Sauteed Chestnut Mushrooms
- This Bacon Wrapped Chicken Leg Stuffed Porcini, Walnuts + Herbs
Hedgehog Mushroom FAQ
No, hedgehog mushrooms should be cooked before eating.
Chanterelle mushrooms are your best bet. They’re similar to hedgehogs in texture and flavour, although more expensive.
This mushroom has lots of soft little “needles” under the cap that look similar to the hedgehog animal.
How to Cook the Hedgehog Mushroom – The Cheaper Chanterelle
Equipment
Ingredients
- 100 g hedgehog mushrooms
- 7 g garlic (about 1 clove)
- 14 g butter (1 tbsp)
- a few sprigs of fresh chives
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by brushing off any dirt from the mushrooms using a dry, soft brush. Using either a butter knife or brush, carefully remove the needles under the cap and discard them.
- Snip the bottom end of the stem off the mushrooms. Slice the bigger mushrooms in half and leave the smaller mushrooms whole.
- Chop the chives finely, and puree' the garlic clove into a separate bowl using a Microplane.
- Heat a cast-iron pan over medium heat and wait until it gets hot. Add the butter and wait for it to sizzle and foam. Add the mushrooms and cook over medium-high heat until they begin to soften and turn golden brown (about 2-3 minutes).
- Turn off the heat and immediately add the pureed garlic. Toss to prevent the garlic from burning. Season with salt, pepper and fresh chives.Enjoy right away!
Nutrition
Try These Other Mushroom Recipes…
- These Delicious Black Trumpet Mushrooms with a Tarragon Cream
- These Humble Chestnut Mushrooms with Garlic and Butter
- This Roasted Chicken With Mushroom Gravy
Or More Keto Recipes…
- This Ultra-Comforting Keto Eggplant Parm
- Crunchy Roasted Pepitas with Cayenne, Cinnamon and Chicken Fat
- This Easy and Healthy Spiced Zucchini Dip
- Sauteed Asparagus with Citrus Mayo
- Zucchini with Olive Oil Sage and Garlic
Contents
- What is a Hedgehog Mushroom?
- How Does a Hedgehog Mushroom Taste Like?
- How to Clean a Hedgehog Mushroom
- When to Use These Mushrooms
- How Do You Cook A Hedgehog Mushroom?
- Tips for Cooking the These Mushrooms
- Try My Other Mushroom Recipes:
- Hedgehog Mushroom FAQ
- How to Cook the Hedgehog Mushroom – The Cheaper Chanterelle
- Try These Other Mushroom Recipes…
- Or More Keto Recipes…
Thanks for the recipe!
Yesterday I saw those chanterelle-looking mushrooms, but had no idea that they were any good.
Will go mushroom picking again and will definitely pick those next time