Shiitake are one of the only Thai mushrooms sold fresh in the United States.
Thai mushrooms are used fresh or dried in a variety of native dishes. They range from small, common and mild, to large, expensive and flavorful. Many varieties do not ship well. Others only grow wild or have unique relationships with their surroundings, which makes them difficult to cultivate. Consequently, few are found fresh in American grocery stores. Nevertheless, you can find some native varieties, especially the more popular ones, canned or dried in Asian markets.
Straw Mushrooms
Straw mushrooms are one of the most common types of mushroom in Thai cooking. They are small, tan mushrooms with a brown or gray cap and a mild, meaty flavor. They are usually harvested before their caps open, when they are more nutritious, and are sold raw in local markets. Because they are too perishable for commercial transportation and have not been successfully grown in the West, most varieties sold in the United States are canned or dried. Their English name describes the rice straw on which they often grow. Their Thai name is het fang.
Ear Mushrooms
Several types of ear mushrooms are used in Thai cuisine, including the Jew's ear, cloud ear and silver ear, or white jelly fungus. Jew's ears are reddish brown or gray. Cloud ears, also called wood or tree ears, are dark on one side and light on the other. Silver ears, as their name suggests, are white. All varieties are thin and wrinkled. They are often sold dried and must be soaked in water before use. Even when reconstituted and cooked; however, they add a crunch to the dish. In Thai, cloud ear, Jew's ear and silver ears are called het hu nu, het hu nu si nam tan and het hu nu khao, respectively.
Oyster Mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms, or hed nang ROM, appear to have a cap that is a widened extension of the stem. They are white or light with a yellow, gray, pink or blue tint, and taste somewhat like oysters. They are often found in soups and stir-fries.
Shiitake
Shiitake are large mushrooms, often two to four inches wide, with a light to dark brown cap that flattens as it matures. These caps are often sold fresh in American markets, although ironically, many Thai prefer them dried. The name is Japanese for "oak mushroom," reflecting one of their usual hosts. The Thai name is het hom.
Termite Mushrooms
These unusual fungi only grow near termite mounds. They have tall light stems with brown caps, and are crisp and meaty when cooked. Because they only grow in the wild, they must be hunted on foot, often at night. Their rarity and popularity make them an expensive delicacy. Their Thai name is het kone.
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