Pied de mouton is a commonly found stout, stumpy mushroom which has a meaty off-white or cream coloured cap with brown highlights. The hefty cap protects its unusual tiny and delicate spines, which flake away from the mushroom at the lightest touch and spread the spores throughout the forest.
Pied de mouton is very distinctive-looking, but its appearance does differ slightly from country to country, depending on its habitat. The Baltic pied de mouton is the first on the market and has a dark yellow or almost orange colour then Sweden usually produces a pretty looking version, with a season in Scotland coming after that. Some have quite a bumpy appearance on the top, while others can have a flat cap. Pied de mouton is the only widely available and edible mushroom with spines. Thought to be in a tribute by some, the spines can spread flavour throughout the dish, but are considered unsightly by others. Often considered a decent substitute for girolles and chanterelles, pied to mouton have a strong taste, a little like mousserons, and a dry texture. They can be peppery and have been likened to oysters and watercress, while some people detect spice and nuttiness.
