King oyster mushrooms, also known as eryngii, king oyster mushrooms, or false porcini.
This mushroom, native to the Mediterranean, grows naturally at the base of thistles, which are prickly plants in the Apiaceae family. It belongs to the saprophytic mushroom family, which breaks down dead organic matter, like most cultivated mushrooms.
It keeps very well thanks to its firm, dense flesh and low water content. The stem has a texture similar to that of Bordeaux ceps. It has a subtle almond or hazelnut flavor.
They can be prepared in various ways: as scallops or in carpaccio , for example.
In terms of cultivation, it is sometimes more finicky than its cousin, the oyster mushroom. For one thing, it is more demanding when it comes to the substrate: it prefers softwood sawdust to straw. For another, it is relatively susceptible to disease, and its yield is less predictable than that of the oyster mushroom. That said, it is a variety that can be very productive.
