What does the royal mushroom look like and its description (+16 photos)

A walk through the autumn forest, searching for mushrooms, is a favorite pastime for many families. To avoid mushroom poisoning, it's important to know exactly which mushrooms are safe to eat. The royal mushroom (Amanita caesarea) is a permitted delicacy, but it's important to be familiar with its external characteristics to avoid confusing it with its poisonous twins.

Features of the species

The royal mushroom belongs to the Amanitae family and is an edible variety of agaric mushroom. It is also commonly known as the Caesar mushroom, Caesar's fly agaric, and, of course, the edible fly agaric, due to its resemblance to the poisonous red fly agaric, with which it is often confused.

Another interesting name is the egg mushroom, which it received for the cocoon from which it emerges.

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Appearance and photo

The Caesar's mushroom (or as it is sometimes called, the ovary) initially appears as a small white egg, from which an orange, semi-circular cap on a long stem “hatch”.

With age, the cap straightens and becomes flat. The mushroom has yellow, convex gills under the cap, which resemble fringe closer to the edge.

Morphology

Mushrooms have the following species differences:

• the fruiting body begins to develop in an ovoid cocoon, which forms a thick white cover;
• The cap color varies from golden to red. Its diameter ranges from 8 to 20 cm. The skin is dry. The cap shape changes as it develops, from convex to flat. There are radial grooves along the edges;
• The stalk is 16 cm long and is located in a saccular volva. It is cylindrical in shape and is orange-yellow in color, with a hanging ring of the same color and inconspicuous stripes above it.

  

• There is no distinct smell or taste. The flesh of the cap is yellowish when cut, and the stems are snow-white;
• spores are ellipsoidal and whitish in color;
• On the skin of the cap, as a rule, there are no remains of the veil, which is the very first visible difference from the poisonous fly agaric.

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Where can you find Caesar in Crimea and other habitats?

The edible fly agaric is common in countries with warm temperate climates and subtropics. In neighboring countries, it can be found in the forests of Crimea, Georgia, Transcarpathia, the North Caucasus, and Azerbaijan. It also grows in the forests of America, Africa, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany.

Consumption

The mushroom is not only edible but also considered a delicacy. It is fried, baked, dried, and the young fruiting bodies are eaten raw in salads.

When and how to collect correctly?

For this delicacy, head to sunny, old forest areas from early summer to mid-autumn. It traditionally grows under oak or chestnut trees, but can also be found under beech, birch, hazel, or coniferous trees.

To avoid harming yourself or the environment, you should follow certain rules when collecting it:

• The fruiting body should not be cut off with a knife, as the remaining stem may rot and destroy the entire mycelium. It is better to carefully unscrew it by hand, like a screw.
• If you doubt that you have identified the species correctly, do not take it or try it, as this may be dangerous;

  

• If the summer is dry, look for mycelium near the trunk; if it is wet, look at a distance from it;
• It's best not to pick old fruiting bodies, as they have no flavor. Be careful with young ones, too; if you're inexperienced in picking, they can easily be mistaken for poisonous ones.
• pick the find only when all the distinguishing features of Caesar are present;
• Do not treat children under 6 years of age with prepared dishes containing any forest delicacies.

How to distinguish from false and inedible mushrooms?

In terms of its taste, the Caesar's fly agaric belongs to category I, which includes the saffron milk cap, boletus, and other top representatives of the mushroom world.

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To taste this delicacy without getting poisoned, it's important to know the edible fly agaric's main lookalikes. When the fly agaric is small, it's easily confused with the death cap. To identify the species, cut off the cap. The edible fly agaric has yellow flesh, while the death cap's is white.

A mature Amanita caesarea resembles the poisonous fly agaric in appearance, making it easy to confuse without knowing the difference. The main differences between the two fly agarics are presented in the table.

Useful properties and restrictions on use

Like many mushrooms, the royal mushroom contains a large amount of minerals, trace elements, proteins, vitamins, and organic acids. Despite this rich composition, it is low in calories, containing only 22 kcal per 100 grams. It contains a natural antibiotic that suppresses pathogenic microflora. Scientists note the mushroom's antitumor properties, and extracts from it are used in the treatment of cancer patients.

Uncontrolled consumption will also be detrimental to health. In addition to allergic reactions, it can cause kidney inflammation, endocrine disorders, and menstrual irregularities in women.

Contraindications include children under 6 years of age, epilepsy, kidney stones, and gout. It is advisable to check for any individual intolerances before use.

Cooking instructions

This delicacy belongs to the highest category, so if you are lucky enough to find it, it is advisable to know how to cook it properly and deliciously.

Young Amanita caesarea are eaten raw, but older ones can be fried, baked, dried, or pickled. Both the caps and stems are used in cooking. The dried parts are used to make a powder. Properly prepared pickled caps are delicious. The product freezes well, both raw and in processed foods.

It's surprising that traditional Caesar salad preparations didn't recommend washing it, but merely cleaning it with a slightly damp sponge. It was believed that washing would remove some of the beneficial nutrients and flavor.

How to cook?

Every homemaker who has ever cooked forest delicacies knows how long to cook mushrooms. The same principles apply here: after boiling, drain the first water, then continue cooking the mushrooms in the second water for 25-30 minutes. The cooking water is discarded and not used in recipes.

Recipes using egg mushroom

Egg mushrooms impart a unique flavor and aroma to dishes. Let's explore the most interesting recipes:

Mushrooms in puff pastry. You will need:

• chicken fillet – 200 g;
• edible fly agarics – 200 g;
• eggs – 5 pcs.
• hard cheese – 100 g;
• puff pastry – 1 package;
• salt, spices, herbs to taste.

The meat and mushrooms are sliced ​​and fried in a pan, then the egg and cheese mixture is poured on top and fried for 5 minutes. This filling is spread on a sheet of puff pastry and rolled into a roll. Bake in a hot oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes.

Casserole:

• onions – 2 pcs.;
• Caesar – 500 g;
• potatoes – 7 pcs.;
• carrots – 1 pc.;
• eggs – 2 pcs.;
• salt, spices to taste.

The onions and mushrooms are cut into strips and fried until golden brown. Coarsely grated potatoes and carrots are added, followed by eggs and spices. The casserole is baked for an hour at 180°C.

Royal meatballs. You will need:

• Caesar – 300 grams;
• onions – 2 pcs.;
• sweet pepper – 2 pcs.;
• eggs – 2 pcs.

Boil the mushrooms in salted water and pat dry. Sauté the bell peppers and onions and combine with the remaining mixture. Cool, add the beaten eggs, salt, and spices, and mix thoroughly. Form the meatballs and bake at 185°C for about 20 minutes.

Simply fried fruit with onions and cream makes a delicious dish. Just be careful with the spices so as not to overpower the delicate flavor.

Answers to common questions about Caesar

The topic of the royal mushroom raises many concerns and questions. We will answer the most frequently asked ones:

The royal mushroom belongs to the Amanita family, but is completely edible and harmless to humans. It's important to identify it correctly and avoid confusing it with its poisonous twins. This rare delicacy will be a highlight of the table, as it adds a unique aroma to any dish, and its chemical composition makes it a true treasure trove of nutrients.