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Cuitlacochem

Cuitlacoche (literally 'raven's excrement') is a mushroom that's considered a delicacy in Mexican cuisine, though it has not made much impact on cookery outside Mexico. It should be noted, however, that due to the presence of the chemical ustilagine consumption of this fungus can cause premature labour in pregnant women.

Cuitlacoche

Cuitlacoche (also known as huitlacoche, corn smut, maize mushroom, maizteca mushroom and Mexican truffle) is a fungus, Ustilago maydis that causes a pathogenic disease on maize (corn). The fungus causes smut disease on maize (Zea mays) and teosinte (Euchlena mexicana). Although it can infect any part of the plant it usually enters the ovaries and replaces the normal kernels of the cobs with large distorted tumors analogous to mushrooms. These tumors, or "galls", are made up of much-enlarged cells of the infected plant, fungal threads, and blue-black spores. The spores give the cob a burned, scorched appearance. In fact, the name Ustilago comes from the Latin word ustilare (to burn).

However, the fungus is a prized delicacy in Mexico, and tastes a bit like wild mushrooms. For culinary use, the galls are harvested while still immature — fully mature galls are dry and almost entirely spore-filled. The immature galls, gathered two to three weeks after an ear of corn is infected, still retain moisture and, when cooked, have a flavor described as mushroom-like, sweet, savory, woody, and earthy. Flavor compounds include sotolon and vanillin, as well as the sugar glucose.

There are problems obtaining this fungus and if it's not available in your area you can substitute a mixture of morel mushrooms and squash blossoms (either works on their own as well, but the combination is best).


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