Mushroom: season and benefits
Seasonal calendar - Mushroom
Nutritional values
One of the rare plant-based foods rich in vitamin D and selenium, mushrooms also provide B vitamins and copper.
Storage
Mushrooms keep 4 to 5 days in the fridge in a paper bag (never plastic which makes them sweat). Do not wash in advance — clean with a damp cloth or brush just before use. They freeze raw in slices or cooked as duxelles. Dried, they keep for months and develop an intense flavour.
Origin
The "champignon de Paris" actually originates from Saumur, in the Loire Valley. Its cultivation in underground quarries began in the 17th century under Louis XIV. Gardener La Quintinie discovered it grew on horse manure. Mushroom farms then moved into the Parisian catacombs, hence the name. Today, Saumur and its surroundings still concentrate French production.
Cooking Mushroom
Goes well with
Recipe ideas
- Mushrooms à la grecque
- Mushroom duxelles
- Mushroom risotto
- Stuffed mushrooms
- Pan-fried mushrooms with parsley
Did you know?
Mushrooms are the only significant plant-based source of vitamin D: exposed to sunlight for 15 minutes before eating, their vitamin D content can increase tenfold.