Herb. No. 096 · Pleurotaceae
Pleurotus of southern Europe and West Asia, now a supermarket stem.
Native · Mediterranean · West Asia · Europe
Native Also grown
LegalGentlefungus
King oyster
Pleurotus eryngii
The steak of the oyster clan — a fat stem you sear, with the same gentle glucan bonus as its cousins.
King oyster is a Mediterranean and West Asian Pleurotus grown for its thick stem. Medicine here is mostly ‘eat mushrooms.’ It is one of the best beginner gourmet fungi after pearl oyster. Cook it hot and brown.
Flavor
Meaty, umami, faintly seafood-anise when browned — a pan mushroom, not a tea.
Parts used
Fruiting body
Helpful
- Superb eating
- Kits exist
- Stem is the prize
Cautions
- Goes rubbery if stewed grey
- Needs a hot pan