Scientific name: Agaricus Arvensis
About the horse mushroom:
Horse mushroom has been reported from Australia, Netherland, New Zealand, Britain, Ireland and as well as parts of Asia and North America. This mushroom appears in meadows, roadside verges, any organic matter at summer time, large fungi continuing fruiting end of autumn in warmer climate. They have a great beauty and superb flavour. Horse mushroom is a good edible species and served with rissotto dishes and omelette with strong odour. Sometimes the horse mushrooms periods can be 10 to 100 years old and it has rich, strong taste and grows so large in rings in the field. Horse mushrooms contain high amount of vitamin D and they are used in Chinese medicine.
Description of horse mushroom:
The horse mushrooms are medium size to large size and 10-25 centimetres in diameter and the cap of the mushrooms are 8-20 centimetres in diameter and brown or grey in color with smooth in nature. The caps are spherical like an oval knob and opening out flat. The thick flesh is white and has an aniseed smell.
The gills are white/ Pale pink but quickly turns into darken brown and they are free and crowded.
The solid white stems grow 4-10 cm tall becoming hollow with ages and its diameter ranges from 2-3 cm. stout with large double ring. The spores are dark brown or purple and smooth type. The wonderful combination of the horse mushrooms are light, crisp and succulent and look like that is toxic and yellow stainer.
Storage of horse mushroom:
They are stored in a paper bag in the refrigerator for a week in 20 C.
Taste and use of horse mushroom:
Taste not distinctive. The smell of the horse mushrooms are pungent anise, licorice aroma and inky odour. When it’s cooked, emits sweet and mild flavour is a good way to identify this mushroom. Before cooking the mushrooms, wash mushrooms with clean water, removes the stems and chop the caps into slices. Horse mushrooms are best suited for delicious dishes – soups, stews, salads, pasta, risotto, eggs, beefs, cappers, sauces, nettle crisps cheese, garlic, meats, onion. It should be cooked before consumption.