GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

348 GROWTH PARAMETERS
Form of Product Sold toMarket: Fresh to local
markets and usually canned for export.
Rarely sold in a dried form.
Nutritional Content: 26-30% protein, 45-50
% carbohydrates, 9-12% fiber and 9-13% ash.
According toYing (1987), this mushroom is
rich in vitamins C & B, minerals and assorted
amino acids.
Medicinal Properties: None known to this au-
thor.
Flavor, Preparation & Cooking: Sliced thin
and stir-fried or as a condiment for soups. Used
in a wide array of Asian dishes. I like to inject onion soaked soy (or tamari) via syringe into each
Paddy Straw egg, cover with foil, and bake in an oven at 3750 F. (190° C.) for 30-45 minutes. This
mushroom, when eaten whole, explodes in your mouth creating a flavor sensation par excellence.
Canned Paddy Straw mushrooms fail to provide a flavor experience comparable to fresh V volvacea.
Comments: This mushroom is widely cultivated by farmers in China, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia
for supplemental income. The egg-form is self-preserving, limiting the loss of moisture and
extending shelf life.
This mushroom can be grown on
uncomposted straw-based substrates although
yields are substantially improved if the substrate
is "fermented" or short-cycle composted.
If rice straw is composted with supplements for
4-5 days, pasteurized, and inoculated, yields
can be maximized. "Green composting" is the
simultaneous inoculation of the compost while
it is being formulated. The heat generated
within the composting straw/cottonseed hull
mass accelerates the growth of the thermophilic
and heat tolerant Volvariella volvacea;
Cultivating the Paddy Straw mushroom is
Figure 310. Paddy Straw mushrooms are best in
their egg-form.
difficult in most regions of North America.
Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and certain
coastal regions of Texas have climates suitable
for outdoor cultivation as does regions of
Mexico. Should temperatures fall below 70° F.
(210 C.) for any period of time, fruitings will be
limited and the critical increase in temperature
Figure 311. In China, Paddy Straw mushrooms are
sold in great quantifies in outdoor markets.
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