Pickled Saffron Milk Cap Mushrooms

When you read about preserving milkcap mushrooms, you might read about salting, fermenting or brining, which if you're not already an intrepid experimenter can sound like some strange wizardry.

One of my favorite things to do with mushrooms is to pickle them, after which I add them to salads, stir fries, and whatever else I want, they're not something I generally serve cold, rather pickling is the best way to keep the texture of fresh mushrooms.

I use the pickles just like I would fresh, taking into account the fact that they will have a little bit of a bite, which can be just what the doctor ordered sometimes.

Pickling saffron milk caps, also known as niscalos or rovellones in Spain, is also traditional. When my little sister studied abroad in Catalonia, she and her host mother went out to pick wild mushrooms to pickle, and they sent me a recipe. I adapted it a bit here, so feel free to adjust the seasonings to your taste. 

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5 from 1 vote

Pickled Saffron Milk Caps

Basic pickled saffron milk cap mushrooms. Great with a plate of cured meat, warmed in a butter sauce, sauteed and put on a steak. Pickled mushrooms are more than something to eat cold. Makes two pint canning jars.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Appetizer, Condiment

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 20kcal

Author: Alan Bergo

Equipment

• 2 Pint mason jars

Ingredients

• 1 lb young saffron milk cap mushrooms
• 3 cups water
• 1.5 teaspoon salt
• 1-2 large cloves of garlic
• A few sprigs of fresh thyme
• Two dried bay leaves
• 1 cup of champagne or white wine vinegar

Instructions

• First trim and clean your hen of the woods, separating it into small leaves
• Bring the water, salt, garlic, and herbs to a boil in a large pot. Add the mushrooms, cover and cook until the mushrooms are wilted and cooked through, about 5-10 minutes
• When the mushrooms are cooked, add the vinegar
• Lastly, pack your canning jars full of the mushrooms and then top the jars off with the pickling liquid
• If you want to process them in a a water bath canner, you can do so for 15 minutes.

Notes

The best pickled saffron milk caps will be young, and clean mushrooms. Save larger mushrooms for making Fresh Wild Mushroom Duxelles.

 

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz | Calories: 20kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 200mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 0.05IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

More

Forager's Guide to Saffron Milk Cap Mushrooms