Black Trumpet Mushrooms
Black trumpet mushrooms (Craterellus cornucopioides), also sometimes called black chanterelles, are one Canada’s most desired mushrooms for a very good reason: they have a sublime, full-bodied aroma and flavour, reminiscent of chocolate. Like a chanterelle, they have the distinctive shape of a trumpet: hollow in the middle and narrowing to a short stem. A fall mushroom, they hug the forest floor and although they are easy to identify, their colour means they often go unseen. They reconstitute quickly from the dried forms we sell and add a rich base note to soups, sauces and stews.
Try them whole or in pieces in slow-simmered dishes such as beef or lamb-shank stew, or get the powdered version to use in a bolognaise sauce or a chilli. They also serve as an excellent meat alternative in casseroles, pasta dishes and risottos. Not surprisingly, they are just as good in sweet dishes, adding a chocolatey flavour to a caramel sauce. Some particularly creative chocolatiers showcase them in truffles and ganaches.