Royal champignons: how they differ from ordinary porcini mushrooms, mushrooms with a brown cap

Mushrooms

1

2322

Article rating

Kira Stoletova

There are many varieties of champignons, but the royal champignons are considered the most delicious and attractive. Unlike the usual white ones we are used to, they have a brown tint to the cap and are large in size. In addition, they last longer and have a rich aroma. Their taste is reminiscent of porcini mushroom.

Description of the royal champignon mushroom

The easiest way

Royal champignons, which can be difficult to cook for the first time, go well with garlic and herbs. If you place them in a frying pan strictly in one row, the moisture will evaporate, and the mushrooms will turn out crispy and interesting in taste.

What ingredients will you need?

To prepare royal champignons in the simplest way, you will need:

• 240 g mushrooms;
• 1 tbsp. l. olive oil;
• 0.25 tsp sea ​​salt;
• black pepper.

Not necessary:

• 1 tbsp. l. olive oil;
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped;
• 2 tsp. fresh thyme leaves or 0.5 tsp.
• 1 tbsp. l. grated fresh lemon zest;
• juice of half a lemon.

Step-by-step cooking process

The simple recipe for preparing royal champignons is as follows:

1. Using a damp paper towel, clean all dirt from the mushrooms, remove all the lower parts of the stems and, if necessary, trim the plates under the cap.
2. Then you need to cut the royal champignons into cubes 5-7 mm in size.
3. After this, you need to heat the olive oil in a large wide frying pan over medium heat, add the mushrooms and arrange them in one layer.
4. Next, they need to be fried without moving them until they are browned on one side, from 3 to 5 minutes, then turn over and cook for another 3-5 minutes. or until golden brown on all sides, season with salt and pepper.
5. Next, you need to remove the pan from the heat and add lemon juice.

What can I add?

If desired, you can make an original seasoning. To do this, you will need to mix the oil, pepper, thyme and lemon zest and fry with the mushrooms until the garlic begins to release its aroma, about 2 minutes. You can also use truffle salt, which significantly enhances the mushroom flavor.

Rules for serving and decoration

Fried king champignons should be served immediately on their own or with a side dish of fried potatoes or raw vegetables.

general description

Royal champignons belong to the basidiomycetes of the order Agaraceae of the Champignon family.

A mushroom cap in the shape of a hemisphere with curved edges. In the central part it is slightly concave inward. There are remains of a bedspread on the rim. The color is light with a brown tint and brown spots. The structure of the surface can be radial fibrous or finely scaly.

In addition to this variety, white and cream varieties, which have caps with a smooth and shiny surface, are also grown under artificial conditions. The average diameter of a mushroom cap is from 5 to 15 cm.

Some specimens grow up to 30-32 cm in diameter.

Mushroom plates are often planted and free. At the initial stage of development they are gray-pink in color. Over time they become dark, brown or brown with a purple tint.

The mushroom stalk is quite thick, about 3-8 cm in length and up to 3 cm in diameter. It has a cylindrical appearance, in some specimens it tapers closer to the base. The surface of the leg is smooth, the color of the cap, covered with brown spots. The ring on the leg is narrow and thick, white.

The pulp is thick, dense, slightly pink when cut, and is characterized by a pleasant mushroom smell.

Distribution and price

The species is common in open spaces and cultivated soils, but is more often grown in artificial conditions, incl. in greenhouses. Popular in many countries. In the wild, fruiting bodies can be collected from late May to late September.

The spreading season begins in May and lasts until September. The price for 1 kg in the store is about 200 rubles.

Calorie content

Royal champignon belongs to gastronomic group 2. The calorie content is low: up to 30 kcal per 100 g. At the same time, a large proportion of protein and fiber content ensures satiety for a long time.

Stuffed in the oven

King mushrooms, which need to be cooked for their firm texture, can be successfully baked stuffed.

Stuffed royal champignons. How to cook in the oven.

This characteristic allows them to keep their shape and not crack under a thick layer of filling.

What ingredients will you need?

To prepare stuffed royal champignons with a complex filling you need:

• 18 large mushrooms, caps only;
• 3 tbsp. l. butter, separately;
• 0.5 tbsp. finely chopped onion;
• 1 tsp. chopped garlic;
• 240 g crab meat or imitation;
• 120 g softened cream cheese;
• 0.5 tbsp. grated Monterey Jack cheese;
• 0.25 tbsp. finely grated parmesan cheese;
• 3 tbsp. l. chopped green onions;
• 0.3 tbsp. breadcrumbs;
• cooking oil spray.

Step-by-step cooking process

This delicious dish is prepared as follows:

1. The oven must be preheated to 180°C.
2. Then you need to spray the baking sheet with oil spray and place the mushroom caps on it with the plates facing up.
3. Next you need to heat 1 tbsp. l. oil in a frying pan over low heat, add onion and fry for 3-4 minutes, or until transparent, then add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
4. Fried onions and garlic should be transferred to a deep container along with crab meat, three types of cheese and 2 tbsp. l. green onions, mix everything thoroughly.
5. Using a spoon, spread the crab filling over the champignon caps.
6. Melt the remaining butter in the microwave, add the breading and stir until the mixture is smooth, then place it on top of the filling over the mushrooms.
7. Bake the royal champignons with filling for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
8. Remove the finished mushrooms from the oven, sprinkle with the remaining chopped green onions and serve.

When and where does it grow?

The distribution range of boletus mushrooms is amazing - they are found on almost all continents. The exceptions are Antarctica and Australia. Japan, Mexico, Mongolia, North Africa, the Caucasus - boletus grows everywhere. You won't find it except in Iceland. In Russia it grows almost everywhere - from the southern latitudes to Kamchatka. The spruce boletus is found in spruce and fir forests.

Each area has its own fruiting time. In warm zones, the mushroom begins to grow in May-June, and bears fruit until October-November. In the north, the growth period is from June to September. It has a long growth phase - it needs to grow for a whole week to reach maturity. Grows in families, rings. Having discovered one specimen, you need to carefully explore the nearby space - there will probably be several more there.

Prefers to grow in forests:

• conifers;
• deciduous;
• mixed.

It grows most often under spruce, fir, pine, oak and birch trees. Where to look for them:

• in places overgrown with lichen and moss;
• loves old forests;
• It can grow in the shade, but the sun doesn’t bother it either – it prefers warm areas.

It doesn't grow:

• in wetlands;
• in peat bogs.

The best weather for massive growth of boletus mushrooms is passing thunderstorms, warm nights and fogs.

Rarely found in forest-tundra and steppe. His favorite soils:

• sandy;
• sandy loam;
• loamy.

Mushroom pickers tell how to find boletus mushrooms in forest-steppe conditions. They will reveal to you the secrets of mass collection, and where porcini mushrooms are hidden:

Pan-fried with garlic salt and lemon juice

Royal champignons, which are preferably cooked by frying, become much tastier with the addition of garlic salt and lemon juice.

What ingredients will you need?

To fry mushrooms with garlic salt and lemon juice, you need:

• 2 tbsp. l. butter and olive oil;
• 700 g of royal champignons;
• garlic salt;
• 1.5 tbsp. l. fresh lemon juice;
• freshly ground black pepper;
• 1 tbsp. l. fresh parsley, finely chopped.

Step-by-step cooking process

To prepare fried mushrooms you will need to do the following:

1. Royal champignons need to be quickly wiped with a wet cloth and immediately blotted with paper napkins, and cut into vertical slices.
2. In a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan, combine both types of oil and heat until slightly sizzling.
3. Then you need to spread the mushroom pieces in a single layer throughout the pan, sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper and fry until the underside is browned (about 5 minutes).
4. After this, turn the champignons over, season the other side in the same way and fry for another 5 minutes.
5. Next, you need to pour lemon juice over them and sprinkle with chopped parsley, stir and cook for 1-2 minutes, then transfer to a plate and serve.

Rules for serving and decoration

Mushrooms fried in this way turn out tender and juicy. They can be served as a side dish, appetizer, or topping on a hamburger or hot dog.

Kebabs on the grill

Royal champignons, which can be cooked like meat, turn out rosy and appetizing when fried on the grill. This is a good low carb side dish option.

What ingredients will you need?

For mushroom kebab you need:

• 500 g of royal champignons;
• 2 tsp. olive oil;
• sea ​​salt and pepper;
• 2 tbsp. l. melted butter;
• 1 tsp. chopped garlic;
• 2 tsp. chopped parsley.

Step-by-step cooking process

To fry royal champignons on the grill, you will need to follow these steps:

1. It is necessary to prepare the grill by lighting the coals in it.
2. Mushrooms need to be strung on skewers (if they are very large, you can cut them in half lengthwise), brush with olive oil and rub with sea salt and pepper.
3. Next, you need to place them on the grill and fry for 4-5 minutes. on each side, or until mushrooms are soft and browned.
4. Then put the butter and chopped garlic in a small bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. This step will need to be repeated until the butter is melted.
5. After this, you need to add finely chopped parsley to the mixture and mix well.
6. Fried champignons need to be greased with the oil mixture and served.

Contraindications

This species is classified as a heavy food due to the presence of chitin in the pulp. This substance is not absorbed by the body, so mushrooms are poorly digested. Therefore, you should not give these mushrooms to children under 12 years of age. It is advisable to eat royal champignon 3 times a week. You should stop using it if you have the following diseases:

• pancreatitis;
• ulcer;
• hepatitis;
• flatulence;
• stomach upset;
• cholecystitis;
• enterocolitis.

Like other species, royal champignons are mushrooms that actively absorb toxic substances from the soil, so you should not collect them near highways and industrial enterprises. It is better to buy artificially grown mushrooms.

Grilled

Royal champignons can also be grilled to highlight their rich flavor. To make it easier to turn the mushrooms on the grill, you should use skewers or skewers.

What ingredients will you need?

To grill mushrooms you will need:

• 3 tbsp. l. low-fat sour cream and mayonnaise;
• 2 tbsp. l. water;
• 1 tbsp. l. raw shallots, minced, and Dijon mustard;
• 0.5 tsp each coarsely ground black pepper and coarse sea salt;
• 500 g of royal champignons with trimmed legs;
• 5 shallots, peeled and cut into 3 or 4 pieces each;
• food grade oil spray.

Step-by-step cooking process

The process of cooking champignons on the grill looks like this:

1. You need to soak 6 wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes.
2. To make the sauce, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, water, chopped shallots, mustard and pepper in a small bowl.
3. Then you need to preheat the outdoor grill to medium temperature.
4. Divide the mushrooms and shallots evenly among the skewers, alternating them, sprinkle with oil spray and rub with salt.
5. Grill skewers, turning once, until mushrooms are lightly charred and tender, about 3 minutes. on each side.

After this, you need to place the finished appetizer directly on the skewers on a plate and drizzle with sauce, or simply place it next to it for dipping.

Beneficial features

Royal champignon contains in its pulp many useful elements that have a positive effect on the body. Consumption of these mushrooms:

• speeds up the digestive tract;
• improves appetite;
• prevents the formation of blood clots;
• slows down the aging of the body;
• affects the heart and blood vessels, reducing the risk of heart attack;
• relieves inflammation;
• has an expectorant effect;
• optimizes brain function;
• removes toxins from the body.

With potato

Small soft rosemary potatoes, leafy green vegetables and balsamic-spiced king mushrooms make for a wonderful vegetarian dish baked in the oven. In addition, it does not contain gluten.

What ingredients will you need?

To prepare aromatic mushrooms with potatoes you need:

• 1 kg of potatoes;
• 2 tbsp. l. refined vegetable oil, separately;
• 500-600 g royal champignons, cut into cubes;
• 1 tbsp. l. finely chopped fresh rosemary (about 2 large sprigs) and olive oil;
• 3 tbsp. l. tamari;
• 1 can canned white beans, drained, drained;
• 1 bunch mustard greens or bok choy, chopped leaves only, no stems;
• 2 tbsp. l. tahini (optional).

Step-by-step cooking process

To make baked vegetables with mushrooms, you will need to follow the instructions below:

1. It is necessary to heat the oven to 220°C and at the same time cover a baking sheet with high edges with parchment paper or place a silicone mat.
2. Next, spread the potatoes in one layer, pour 1 tbsp. l. vegetable oil, sprinkle with pepper and salt, and bake in a preheated oven for 30-45 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, you need to mix 1 tbsp. l. frying oil with balsamic vinegar and tamari, add 1 tbsp. l. chopped rosemary and lightly beat with a fork until completely combined
4. Place diced mushrooms in the container with the sauce and stir until evenly coated, leave to marinate while the potatoes bake.
5. Then you need to remove the finished potatoes and mix them with the champignons (the marinade must be saved), put the canned beans in there, and return the baking sheet to the oven for 5-7 minutes.
6. You need to add chopped herbs to the finished dish, sprinkle everything with olive oil and salt.
7. To the remaining marinade you need to add tahini with a few tbsp. l. water and beat until smooth. If necessary, add more water or 1 more tbsp. balsamic vinegar and salt.
8. The cooked potatoes, mushrooms and beans should be placed in serving bowls along with the herbs, poured with tahini sauce and served.

With buckwheat

The combination of buckwheat with king mushrooms, onions and broth is delicious.

It can be served as a separate vegetarian dish or as a side dish for meat or chicken.

What ingredients will you need?

To prepare royal champignons with buckwheat porridge you need:

• 1 tbsp. buckwheat;
• 1 tbsp. l. canola and butter oils;
• 2 tbsp. mushroom or vegetable broth;
• 3-4 large mushrooms, chopped
• half a finely chopped onion.

Step-by-step cooking process

This hearty and flavorful dish is prepared by following these steps:

1. It is necessary to rinse the buckwheat and drain well.
2. Next, heat a large frying pan over low heat, add 1 tbsp. l. canola oil, add buckwheat and fry, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a saucepan or saucepan.
3. In the same frying pan you need to put butter and onion, fry for 1-2 minutes, then add mushrooms and continue cooking until they soften.
4. After this, you need to transfer the mushrooms and onions into the buckwheat and mix, pour in the broth, bring to a boil, then cook over low heat for 15 minutes, or until the buckwheat is ready.
5. Then remove the pan from the stove and leave for 10 minutes. with the lid closed so that the ingredients absorb each other's flavors.

With cheese

These cheese and garlic stuffed mushrooms are easy to prepare and can be topped with anything. Sharp cheddar is recommended, but mozzarella, Swiss cheese, Gruyère or even mild varieties like feta, goat or brie will work.

Combining different cheeses is a great idea too!

What ingredients will you need?

To prepare royal champignons according to this recipe you need:

• 20 large mushrooms;
• 1 tbsp. l. olive oil and butter;
• 0.5 tbsp. chopped onion;
• 2 tbsp. l. chopped garlic;
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary or thyme;
• 60g grated cheese such as sharp cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss or a combination of these;
• 3 tbsp. l. breadcrumbs;
• sea ​​salt and ground black pepper;
• 1 tbsp. l. chopped fresh parsley or green onions for serving, optional.

Step-by-step cooking process

To prepare mushrooms with cheese, you will need to do the following:

1. It is necessary to preheat the oven to 190°C.
2. Next, you need to wipe the mushrooms with napkins, cut off the stems, place the caps on a baking sheet with the plates facing up in one layer, rub with pepper and olive oil.
3. Then you need to melt the butter in a frying pan over low heat, add the onion, finely chopped mushroom stems and a pinch of salt, fry, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes sweet and soft, about 5 minutes.
4. After this, you need to place the garlic and herbs there and fry with constant stirring for 2 minutes, and transfer everything to another bowl. Place the breadcrumbs in the same frying pan in which the onions and mushrooms were cooked, heat over low heat and fry stirring until crumbs dry, about 1 minute.
5. Next, you need to mix the cheese with the onion and garlic mixture, and then spread this filling equally over all the mushroom caps, sprinkle with fried breading.
6. Bake the champignons until they soften and the cheese melts, 15-20 minutes, then serve with chopped herbs.

False look-alikes of brown king mushrooms

In terms of its external characteristics, this species is similar to the yellow-skinned champignon (Agaricus xanthodermus). Therefore, you need to learn to distinguish it from its poisonous relative, so as not to cause harm to health.

A characteristic feature of the double is the dark circle in the center of the cap, which clearly stands out against the background of the main tone. In addition, when pressed, the flesh turns yellow, and then turns orange and only subsequently brown.

When broken, the flesh of the false champignon emits a strong smell of disinfectant. Also, during cooking, the liquid turns yellow.

Important! Prolonged heat treatment does not help neutralize toxic toxins, so you need to collect mushrooms with full confidence in their edibility.

The fruiting period of yellow-skinned champignons begins in mid-July. They can be found in deciduous forests and mixed plantings, as well as in a park or garden.

Mushroom beef stroganoff with sour cream

Creamy Mushroom Beef Stroganoff is an amazingly delicious comfort food that is completely vegetarian.

Plus, this dish takes only 20 minutes to prepare.

What ingredients will you need?

For this hearty vegetarian dish you need:

• 1 tbsp. l. olive oil;
• 2 tbsp. l. unsalted butter;
• half an onion, very finely chopped;
• 700 g royal champignons, diced;
• 300 g shiitake mushrooms, sliced;
• salt;
• black pepper;
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced through a garlic press;
• 0.5 tbsp. white wine;
• 30 g flour;
• 1.75 tbsp. mushroom broth (or chicken, or vegetable);
• a pinch of white pepper and nutmeg;
• 0.25 tbsp. sour cream;
• 1 tsp each chopped parsley and fresh thyme leaves;

Cooked pasta or egg noodles (about 240 g) or mashed potatoes to serve with beef stroganoff.

Step-by-step cooking process

To prepare vegetarian beef stroganoff, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Place a large, thick-bottomed frying pan over medium heat and add a mixture of two oils, add finely chopped onion and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute to soften, then add chopped mushrooms.
2. Next, you need to pepper and salt the contents of the frying pan and fry for 12 minutes, allowing the mushrooms to release their liquid and begin to brown a little.
3. Then you should add the garlic and mix everything well, pour in the white wine and leave on low heat for about 1 minute, add the flour and stir vigorously, and then pour in the mushroom broth, whisking or stirring constantly to avoid the formation of lumps.
4. At this step, you need to turn down the heat and let the mixture cook at a low simmer for another 2-3 minutes. for thickening.
5. Then you need to turn off the burner and sprinkle with pinches of white pepper and nutmeg, add sour cream and stir, sprinkle with pepper and thyme.
6. To serve, add pasta or egg noodles to the mushroom stroganoff and mix.

Royal mushrooms have a meaty texture that suits many dishes. However, cooking these mushrooms is not possible in all ways.

Regarding the preparation of royal champignons, there are the following tips and recommendations:

• When stored for a long time, royal champignons become softer, and their legs become covered with dark spots. This is due to the fact that choline accumulates in them, which can cause harm. Therefore, it is necessary to choose mushrooms that look firm and are not wrinkled or slippery.
• If mushrooms are contaminated, under no circumstances should they be immersed in water or rinsed abundantly. They will absorb the liquid like a sponge and literally turn into a slimy mass.
• Instead of rinsing, remove dirt from the surface of the king mushrooms using a damp cloth, rag or thick paper towel. It is necessary to carefully wipe the royal champignons, trying not to press too hard. After cleaning, you should rub them with a dry cloth or paper towel to dry them so they don't get too wet.
• The stems of large king mushrooms are theoretically edible, but in fact they can be very tough and fibrous. Therefore, it is recommended to cut and discard them at the mushroom preparation stage. The only successful use of the legs may be to flavor broths.
• On the inside of the caps, king mushrooms have large plates that can sometimes release dark liquid when cooked. This causes the whole dish to turn a dirty brown color. To avoid this undesirable effect, you can cut off the plates of the largest mushrooms in advance. The easiest way is to use a teaspoon for this purpose.
• For grilling, barbecuing, and pan-searing, choose mushrooms that are the same size and shape so that they cook at the same speed.
• To bake mushrooms, you need a baking sheet with high edges, since a lot of liquid can leak out.
• You can prepare various dishes from royal champignons with any herbs - both classic parsley and green onions, dill, thyme or basil. They go well with all types of greens.

Appearance of the mushroom

The cap of the royal champignon, or as it is also called the bisporous or brown champignon, has a hemispherical shape with a characteristic small depression in the center, its edges with the remnants of the cover are folded inward. These mushrooms differ from ordinary ones in their light brown color and brown spots. There are artificially bred strains with smooth white and cream caps.

The diameter of the cap reaches 7-15 cm, sometimes 25-30 cm in diameter. The plates have a gray-pink color with a brownish tint. The spore powder is brown in color.

Irina Selyutina (Biologist):

Young specimens are characterized by the presence of a dense, light-colored veil covering the hymenophore plates. As the mushroom matures, it breaks and as a result a continuous ring is formed on the stem. The plates of the hymenophore are initially gray-pink and gradually become not just dark brown, but acquire a purple tint.

By the way. The royal champignon species is characterized by a long growth period - 2-3 months.

The leg has the shape of a cylinder, narrowed at the base, and is 2-3 cm wide and 4-8 cm long. It is smooth to the touch, its color matches the color of the cap.

The pulp is white, but turns pink when cut.