Birthstone Meanings

How do you cook the Amethyst deceiver toadstool (Laccaria amethystea)???????????

We found some down in the woods near our house and don't know how to cook them. Anyone know. Please don't answer unless you actually do know. Yes it is edible I just don't know how to cook it.

Public Comments

1. Opinions vary on the need to cook before eating. Cooking is a wise precaution for the popular cep (Boletus edulis) and an essential one for its cousin (Boletus luridus). Poor man's beefsteak (Fistulina hepatica), which grows from the side of oak or sweet chestnut trees, is edible but is better boiled first to get rid of the tannin. Mushrooms, whether the common, cultivated button type or the exotic "wild" mushrooms, are earthy, satisfying delights. When cooking mushrooms, follow two rules: Use high heat and sear them brown. Clean mushrooms. To clean mushrooms without soaking, wipe them with a clean, damp towel or special mushroom brush. Be sure to wipe the stems, too, if you will be using them. Otherwise, put the mushrooms in a bowl of water. Swish the mushrooms around until the dirt comes off. Rinse in fresh water. and cut into slices or chunks. You can leave small mushrooms whole. Sauté mushrooms over high heat with butter, olive oil or a mixture of the two. As the mushrooms begin to cook, they will express liquid; continue to cook until the liquid is gone and the mushrooms are tender and golden. Add a few tablespoons of sherry or red wine, let the liquid reduce for a second, and toss with chopped herbs, such as parsley, scallion or rosemary, along with salt and pepper. Or..... Alternatively, roast mushrooms, tossed with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, and perhaps garlic, in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes or until golden and tender. Tips & Warnings If you want to add mushrooms to a stew or braise, consider sautéing them first, then adding them only toward the end. Mushrooms shrink as they cook, and a long stewing process might leave you with little tiny bits. Try not to crowd the pan when cooking mushrooms, as this lowers the heat too much and makes it more difficult to brown them nicely.
2. You can use them in any number of dishes, but you should saute them in a little olive oil or butter first and I would only eat the caps as the stems can be a bit fibrous. BTW, it's a mushroom, not a toadstool.