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Trombetta dei Morti, Craterello
Horn of Plenty Craterellus cornucopioides
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By Antonio Carluccio and Priscilla Carluccio
Published 1997
The macabre Italian name trombetta dei morti, meaning Trumpet of death’, is a poor indicator of the beauty and flavour of this funnel-shaped, thin and fragile fungus. Black on the inside and greyish black outside, it is very delicate and grows only a few centimetres high. It is easy to find, though, as it grows prolifically in little groups in mixed woods and on almost bare ground from summer through to autumn.
To clean it, cut away the base of the fungus until you can see through the funnel to any trapped leaves and insects. It can then be sautéed gently in butter and used to accompany steamed fish, especially in a dish of poached fillet of sole, where its black colour and delicate scent and flavour give the most dramatic contrast to the white fish. It is popular with professional chefs and can be used in the same way as the chanterelle.
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