Page 234 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Orange Milkcap, Lactarius

deliciosus (RUSSULACEAE)

Ivy Hutchinson

Furtwangl, CC-BY-2.0

ORANGE MILKCAP is a Russula that is also known as or narrow at the base. Its surface may be smooth or
Red Pine Mushroom and Saffron Milk Cap, fruits pock-marked. In age, it turns hollow. Injured stems
in summer under conifers. Common and widely dis- stain green.
tributed, it appears singly or in groups. Like all milk- SPORES: 7-11 x 6-8 µ, subglobose to broadly elliptical,
caps, Lactarius deliciosus exudes a milky latex when amyloid ridges and warts; Spore print: yellowish-buff
broken.
EDIBLE PARTS: cap, stem
CAP: The cap is 2-5.9 inches (5-15cm) wide. When
KEY MEDICINAL USES: This mushroom has shown
young, it is convex to broadly convex with an inrolled
evidence of antibacterial activity.
margin. As it matures, it develops a central depression
HOW TO EAT: While highly regarded in Europe, North
and its margins begin to flare upwards. Its smooth
American varieties of this mushroom vary in quality.
surface is viscid to sticky when wet, soon becoming
Some specimens can be grainy and slightly bitter.
dry. The cap is often patterned with concentric color
bands. These can vary from orange-buff to carrot-or- CHORIZO AND MILKCAPS: Ingredients: 8 oz. (230g)
ange to brownish. Green streaks and blotches may milkcaps, ½ tomatoes (peeled, chopped), 4 oz. (113
develop on the cap’s surface. The thick, fragile flesh is g) chorizo sausage, 2 tbsp. parsley (chopped), 1 tsp.
pale orange, staining green in age. Its flavor is mild or garlic (chopped), salt, pepper, olive oil. In a pan, cook
slightly bitter. chorizo until lightly browned. Set chorizo aside. Cook
milkcaps in chorizo fat until golden (5 min.). Add salt,
MILK: The milk is orange, causing green stains with-
pepper, and garlic. (Cook 1 min.). Add tomatoes, cho-
in 5 hours of the mushroom being wounded.
rizo, and parsley. (Cook 5 min.) Serve on toast with
GILLS: The close gills are attached to slightly decur-
olive oil.
rent. They are brilliant to pale orange, staining green POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Wooly Milkcap, Lactar-
when injured or old.
ius torminosus - hairy cap margin; white milk; tur-
STEM: Measuring 1.2-2.8 inches (3-7cm) tall and 0.4-
pentine odor; acrid taste; favors birch.
1.2 inches (1-3cm) thick, the rigid orange stem is equal
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