Mushrooms from the NorthEast

There are some mushrooms that are widely available, and quite popular in our cuisines too. I couldn't get to photograph any fresh Mushrooms when I went to Manipur. These are some Dry Mushrooms which are available mostly throughout the year. I took the pictures from a Village market. The above Mushroom is locally known as Uyen, it is like the Shitake Mushrooms also available mostly everywhere, the taste however is a little different. This is had with mattar or peas. We also add this in Daal, makes good eating ;-)

Below is called Uchina, well it looks the ear of mice, so the name. not the best name for something you eat, but it kinda stuck. This is had by boiling with Peas and Potatoes with chilli, and mash the whole thing and do a tadka, usually with the garlic Chives. Quite tasty, it is....



There are some other dried variety besides this. And more popular than button Mushrooms, are a longer stemmed variety, which is stir fried with small fresh water shrimps, Ah!! a delicacy I haven't had in a long time. Mushrooms are called Chengum in Manipur...