Easy Fried Morel Mushrooms
Fresh morels are simple and quick to fry and enjoy. These mushrooms are a treasure of the woods hunted by many in the early spring here in Missouri. They can be very hard to find but well worth the work once you get lots of them to eat.
fresh morel mushrooms - dirt gently brushed off and mushrooms halved lengthwise
1
pound
all-purpose flour
1
cup
vegetable shortening
1
cup
salt to taste
 Place halved morel mushrooms in a large bowl; cover with cold, lightly salted water. Refrigerate mushrooms for about 5 minutes to loosen any dirt; pour off salted water, rinse, and repeat twice more. Crevices of the mushrooms may harbor tiny stones or even insects. Thoroughly rinse mushrooms a final time and allow to drain on paper towels.
  Place flour in a shallow bowl. Heat vegetable shortening in a large skillet until very hot.
  Roll mushrooms in flour and tap off excess; gently lay mushrooms in the hot shortening.
  Pan-fry until golden brown and flour coating is crisp, 5 to 8 minutes, turning often. Drain morels on paper towels, salt to taste, and enjoy your treasures!
