September 15th 2025

Huitlacoche

Our corn crop has been abundant this year with the added bonus of several cobs infected by the edible fungus huitlacoche, also known by the much less savoury name of 'corn smut'.  This is regarded as a delicacy in Mexican cuisine and is described as having a smoky, earthy and mushroom-like taste with 'umami overtones'.  What is more, it contains the essential amino acid lysine, which the body requires but cannot manufacture and has a protein content equal or superior to most edible fungi.

I was surprised, therefore, when the rest of the family said that they were not especially keen for me to include it in a communal dish and I had to enjoy it myself in my own devised recipe of 'huitlacoche eggy bread'.  Delicious!