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WAIE (whatamieating.com)  
This is the  searchable online international food dictionary with 67,413 terms in 307 languages plus 42,027 plurals. Just type in the word that you're looking for and press enter or click on search.
There are other types of search; see search help for more information. The database behind this site was the loving creation of Suzy Oakes, who has since passed away. She is greatly missed.  You can see her obituary in the Guardian A cookbook, featuring Suzy's favourite recipies, is available.  People who are interested should contact Mun Flint. Currently, the cost is £12.50 plus postage and packing.  All proceeds go to the Suzy Oakes Trust for Mill Road. 
  
 |  | wood ear fungus 
  
 Plural: wood ears or wood ear funghi  Language: English
 
  
 Description: The wood ears commonly include the Judas's ear fungus, so-called as it is usually found on elder, the tree from which Judas is reputed to have hanged himself. It may also refer to the cloud ear mushroom. These mushrooms are often grown on oak logs and are available fresh or dried. If dried they are black and are broken into small pieces. They swell hugely when soaked. If fresh, they are slightly crunchy and have a bland flavour but take up the flavour of the foods with which they are cooked. Silver ears are an albino variety of these large dark mushrooms. They should not be fried as they explode, but should be stewed for at least an hour. If dried they may be ground to a powder, in which form it may be used to flavour soups and stocks. Unlike most mushrooms this can be found all year round. (If gathering mushrooms you must be absolutely certain what you have before you eat them as many are very poisonous.)  
  
  
 
| Fresh wood ear funghi, photographed at the extraordinary market in Luang Prabang in northern Laos |  | 
  Latin: Hirneola auricula-judae/Auricularia auricula-judae/Auricularia polytricha or Auricularia polytricha/Hirneola polytricha
 Ethnicity: Chinese
 
  Substitutes: wood ear fungus, maitake, shiitake - Remember to soak dried mushrooms before use
 
  See foods and dishes: cloud ear fungus, Judas' ear fungus
 
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