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Porcini Mushroom

in The Too Busy to Diet Blog on July 18, 2015

Written by RD Monica Joyce: This picture of a Porcini Mushroom was taken at a cooking school in Florence, Italy. Chris and Dick Beebe who we traveled with to Tuscany enjoyed a full day of cooking and eating. She was so impressed with the size and beauty of this mushroom that she took its picture!

Porcini mushrooms are here, there and everywhere in Tuscany. My recent visit includes eating them almost daily.
The name porcini means “piglets” in Italian. They can grow a large cap, as you can see in the picture. As much as 12 inches in diameter.
They are found on the ground in hardwood forests near pine, chestnut, hemlock, and spruce. They fruit in the summer to fall.
Porcini mushrooms have a hearty, nutty flavor that can be added to many dishes, such as pastas, soups, and sauces. We enjoyed pasta sauces made with them during our visit.
Give them a try and I am sure you will enjoy them as much as we did; or almost!

Monica Joyce, MS, RD, LD, CDE