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hen of the woods

American  
Or hen-of-the-woods

noun

  1. a large, grayish-brown, edible fungus, Polyporus frondosus, forming a mass of overlapping caps at the base of trees and somewhat resembling a hen.


Example Sentences

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My steak was cooked perfectly and complemented by the numerous sides, which include hen of the woods mushrooms, Japanese sweet potato and hand-cut black truffle fries.

From Salon ● Sep. 29, 2025

A local customer gifted the chef 12 or so pounds of hen of the woods mushrooms ahead of the night I tucked into tagliatelle featuring the largesse and snowy filings of aged Parmigiano-Reggiano.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 23, 2022

Summer brings a bevy of berries — Juneberries, raspberries, blackberries — along with chanterelle and hen of the woods mushrooms.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 21, 2022

It was Thornton’s signature “Wolves in the Snow,” which looks like a feral crime scene of venison, pine gelee, cauliflower puree, cocoa coffee crumble, blueberry meringue, cabbage and hen of the woods mushroom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2014

We recommend you sample his roasted quail and hen of the woods mushrooms.

From Time Magazine Archive

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