Fungus is responsible for many of the food world’s most dynamic flavors. Exhibit A: Inky-black Mexican *huitlacoche*.

This cream of huitlacoche or cuitlacoche soup is so good! It's the ultimate comfort food and it's such an easy soup recipe!

A simple quesadilla made with huitlacoche or corn mushrooms, instead of meat. The huitlacoche mixture makes more than you need, enough for 2-3 quesadillas depending on size.

Huitlacoche, aka cuitlacoche or Mexican corn truffle, is corn that's been infected by a specific type of fungus. It's much more delicious than it sounds, I promise! Huitlacoche is tastier and more nutritious than regular corn. It's often used in quesadillas and as a taco filling. Most huitlacoche recipes are gluten free, and I highly recommend you try some if you can find fresh huitlacoche in your region.

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Nancy Lopez is a food writer, photographer, videographer, and author of the cookbook Mexican Tamales Made Meatless. She has followed a meatless diet for almost 10 years and it is her passion and mission to share all she has learned about vegan Mexican cooking and vegetarian Mexican recipes with her readers and followers.

A delightful "Mexican truffle"-appetizer or a light main course, perfect for entertaining, or simply as a beautiful gourmet meal at home.

This chicken and huitlacoche soup with sweet potatoes is big and bold, sweet and spicy, earthy and rich at the same time.

Huitlacoche Quesadillas recipe from Mexgrocer.co.uk