Song Eun-i harvests and cooks mushrooms at Gyeonggi Province farm

Broadcaster Song Eun-i visited a mushroom farm in Gyeonggi Province this autumn to harvest fungi and prepare a four-course meal, including a mushroom burger that she highly praised despite previously stating she did not prefer mushrooms.

Broadcaster Song Eun-i, who previously stated she does not prefer mushrooms, visited a mushroom farm in Gyeonggi Province this autumn. In a video released by VIVO TV, Song harvested mushrooms in the cool autumn weather and demonstrated various cooking processes using the harvested mushrooms.

"Choose those full of spores"... Mushroom harvesting methods learned at the farm

Upon arriving at the sunlit mushroom farm, Song Eun-i began the harvest. At the site, methods for checking the condition of mushrooms and correct harvesting techniques were shared. Mushrooms contain seeds called spores inside their gills, and it is recommended to choose mushrooms where the spores are full rather than "youthful" mushrooms where the spores have all flown away. The harvesting method involves grasping the stem and shaking it gently to pick them.

It was also mentioned that harvesting at low temperatures allows moisture to escape slowly, resulting in a firm texture and added chewiness. The video also captured the harvesting process on-site, such as using rails to prevent harvested mushrooms from being left on the ground, which could be difficult.

During the harvesting process, Song Eun-i mentioned interesting facts about the characteristics of mushrooms. The conversation included the fact that mushrooms belong to "fungi" rather than plants, and that they are rich in ingredients that provide umami. In particular, regarding the history of umami, it was mentioned that the Ajinomoto technology developed through research on kelp was introduced to Korea during the Japanese colonial period, and subsequently, a domestic company produced MSG based on this technology.

From salad to burger, a four-course transformation of mushrooms

After finishing the harvest, Song Eun-i prepared a four-course meal using the mushrooms she picked herself. The first menu is "mushroom salad." A knife skill for slicing mushrooms smoothly like meat was introduced, and the microwave was used to prevent potential side effects from consuming raw mushrooms. The video explained that cooking with a microwave results in the least nutritional loss, and the dish was completed by cooking for 40 seconds and adding oriental sauce.

The second dish is "mushroom jeon" (mushroom pancake) accompanied by vegetables. This method involves mixing carrots, paprika, chives, and Cheongyang chili peppers and frying them like pancakes. The third menu is "mushroom pickles." It was suggested that filling a jar with mushrooms to make pickles that can be eaten immediately is good for use as a wine snack, as the pickles develop liquid and absorb seasoning the following day.

The final course is a "mushroom burger." Using mushrooms simmered in bulgogi seasoning as a topping, this menu earned high satisfaction from Song Eun-i—who had previously said she did not like mushrooms—as she remarked, "This is the real deal," and "I want to eat five of these." It was evaluated that the flavor of the mushrooms simmered in bulgogi seasoning was good enough for children to enjoy.

Mushroom trivia quiz and nutritional characteristics

During the cooking process, a mushroom trivia quiz session was also held. Various information was presented in a question-and-answer format, such as the fact that mushrooms are fungi rather than plants and that king oyster mushrooms are a type of oyster mushroom rather than pine mushrooms. Through the quiz, the nutritional characteristics of mushrooms were also covered, introducing facts such as the fact that while mushrooms are not a high-protein food, they are rich in amino acids.

Source: original video (YouTube)