The Oft Overlooked Dryad’s Saddle Mushroom: Don’t Pass This One By!

Written By Jenny Dunklee

This weirdo-looking mushroom is Dryad's Saddle, also known as Pheasant's Back, and it is one of my absolute favorite wild edible mushrooms. It was one of the first I learned how to identify. And I was shocked to hear that it is largely scorned in the mushroom foraging community because it's too tough to eat. But guess what?! When you catch it super young, like this one, it is one of the best wild mushrooms, in my opinion. It is super dense, holds its shape while cooking, and has a very slight, crisp mushroomy flavor. It is incredibly tasty sauteed with butter and garlic!

Key Identification Points:

  • Grows from trees

  • Overlapping brackets

  • Brown, decorated cap (like pheasant feathers)

  • Smells like cucumber or watermelon (depends on your nose)

Jenny Dunklee