Things of visual wonder, pied bleu are small with purple stems and light blue caps. They are about twice the height of button mushrooms and have a sturdy, almost chalky stem. A distant cousin of the St George’s mushroom, pied bleu differ in form according to whether it is wild or cultivated. The wild pied bleu has a dirty brown cap, a bluish lilac stem and white to flesh coloured gills, whereas the cultivated type has a purple-blue tint.
Pied bleu mushrooms are a favourite of chefs looking for something a bit unusual for their menus, predominantly the cultivated version because of its consistently good quality. They are stronger tasting with a firm texture meaning pied bleu are often paired with big flavours such as seafood, sweetbreads, onions, garlic and strong tasting fresh herbs. Their robust nature makes them a great addition to a jar of preserved mushrooms in oil.
