Make Crispy Roasted Hen of the Woods

After reading the name of this dish you'd be forgiven if you were expecting a crispy skinned roast bird. Hen of the Woods (a.k.a. Maitake) are a variety of mushroom with a robust earthy aroma and caps that fan out like a feathered plume. These thin caps make them perfect for roasting, which concentrates their bold flavor and renders the tips golden brown and crisp.

Wild looks and delicious taste aside, these mushrooms also contain a relatively rare vitamin that our bodies need to function properly. Aside from a few fatty fish, most foods we eat don't contain much vitamin D. That's why the human body is capable of producing its own vitamin D. But there's a catch... In order for this to happen, our skin needs to be exposed to UV-B radiation (sunlight). This means being outside, in shorts and a tanktop without sunscreen. Not only is this impractical in winter, it's counterintuitive given all the advice we get about protecting ourselves from the the sun.

That's probably why over three quarters of Americans are deficient in this essential vitamin. So what does all this have to do with roasted mushrooms? Well, hen of the woods happens to be one of the few foods that contains a significant amount of Vitamin D. 100 grams of these little guys holds about 1,123 International Units (280% of the daily recommended value) of Vitamin D!

So as we head into fall, keep these tasty mushrooms in mind. While it requires some oven time, this dish comes together in mere seconds, making it a perfect side for dinner parties.