Last Sunday we went searching for mushrooms in the beautiful forests of Schorfheide. Autumn is perfect for foraging mushrooms because of the temperature and humidity. My friends and I went to an area called Schorfheide, which is by car about an hour away from Berlin. It’s the perfect spot if you want to escape the city for a while and enjoy some fresh air and nature. For those interested in going, I have pinned the exact location of the spot we visited at the end of this blog post.
We picked mushrooms and filled our baskets. There were so many different kinds and all of them were photogenic. I was mainly looking for porcini mushrooms, as I really enjoy their flavour. You can find them mostly growing on the path between the grass and the moss.
It was such a nice autumn afternoon. We went for a walk in the forest and stayed longer than planned. At one point, we even got lost, oopsie. Our GPS didn’t work and all the paths looked the same, but luckily we guessed it right and found our way back.
I brought back some Porcini mushrooms (Steinpilze) but also found some Maronen-Röhrlinge (Bay Boletes), Schirmpilze (Parasol Mushrooms) and Birkenpilze (Birch Boletes).
We drove back to Berlin and once I got home, I cleaned the mushrooms with a dry brush. Then I opened my food cabinet to see what I could make and decided to make Miso Ramen. I cut the porcini in thick slices, brushed them with miso and sesame oil, fried them, and added them to a bowl together with some other ingredients.
What to bring
Here are a couple of things I would suggest to bring if you are planning to go mushroom foraging. You should bring warm boots or good hiking shoes, a thick coat, water, snacks, a basket or bucket and a sharp knife. A mushroom guidebook would also be handy, as it will help you identify what you find. Additionally, a compass can be useful in case you lose your sense of direction like we did.
Warning
A short warning here. We collected a lot of different mushrooms. The cousin of my friend has a good knowledge of mushrooms. If you are considering of going then please make sure to inform yourself upfront or book a tour. Don’t take it if you are not sure what mushroom it is! Or consider to consult a mushroom specialist. In Germany there are many “Pilzberatungsstellen” which you could contact for information. Foraging is at your own risk. We spotted several Fliegenpilz (Fly Agaric), which look beautiful but are very poisonous. Do not eat or touch those!
I end this post with a big thank you to my dearest friends who brought me there 🥰 Can’t wait to cook more delicious meals with these forest treasures! I was also gifted a giant squash that I’ll use one of these days. I’ll share what I made of it in my stories on Instagram.
Looking forward to bring you to the next culinary adventure!
Annely
