Morel - Morchella
By: Eshed Haklai
Morels are consumed worldwide when cooked or sautéed, and many consider them premium wild mushrooms. In Europe, their culinary use has been documented since the 18th century, mainly as gourmet mushrooms. In Turkey, morels are regarded as a “gift from the gods” and are traditionally harvested in spring. Some communities believe that morels bring luck and blessing to the home.
There are many species of morels, as well as similar-looking mushrooms that are not edible, making accurate identification essential
Morels as medicinal mushrooms - main research findings
Anti-cancer activity: A study published in 2024 examined the effects of extracts from three Morchella species on breast cancer and colon cancer cells. Morel extracts significantly reduced cancer cell proliferation. The authors concluded that morels may promote apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells.
Immune system support: A 2023 study on Morchella esculenta investigated how mushroom-derived polysaccharides affect immune activity. The polysaccharides were found to enhance macrophage phagocytic activity and help regulate inflammatory responses.
Metabolic syndrome: A 2022 animal study evaluated the effects of morel polysaccharides on the gut microbiome and lipid profile in mice fed a high-fat diet. Treatment resulted in improvement of metabolic disturbances, including reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels, decreased inflammation, and improved gut microbiota composition.
An additional study from 2023 examined the impact of morel consumption on gut bacteria and observed significant changes in microbiome composition following dietary intake of morels.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity: An in vitro study from 2022 evaluated three Morchella species grown under different conditions. Extracts from the mushrooms inhibited lipid peroxidation and suppressed the activity of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, which play a key role in inflammatory processes (the same enzymes targeted by NSAID pain relievers).
Summary
Morels are not only prized culinary mushrooms but also show promising medicinal potential. Although human clinical trials are lacking, in vitro and animal studies demonstrate antioxidant, immune-supportive, microbiome-modulating, anti-cancer, and metabolic benefits. During foraging, precise identification is critical, as some similar species are not edible.
Recipe
Stuffed Morels – recipe by Yaara Aviran
Ingredients:
12 morels
1 onion, finely chopped
3 green onion stalks, finely chopped
1 package cottage cheese
1 egg
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
80 g grated Parmesan
80 g grated Gouda (or another hard cheese of choice)
50 g finely chopped walnuts
Nutmeg
Salt
Black pepper
Preparation:
Clean the morels thoroughly and boil them whole briefly (about 1 minute). Cut off half of each stem.
Prepare the filling:
Sauté the chopped onion. Finely chop the morel stems and add them to the pan for a short sauté. Add the garlic about one minute before finishing.
In a bowl, mix the remaining filling ingredients: cottage cheese, sautéed onion with morel stems and garlic, green onion (reserve some for garnish), Parmesan (reserve some for topping), Gouda, egg, walnuts, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Transfer the filling to a piping bag and cut off the tip. Fill the morels and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.
Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C (350°F) for about 30 minutes, or until golden. Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped green onion, and serve.
The cheeses can be replaced with dairy-free alternatives to make the recipe pareve.
