Soups American and European
Shaggy ink cap soup
A light, milky soup of young shaggy ink caps cooked with spring onions and butter; ready in 25 minutes on the day you pick them.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Serves
- 2
- Difficulty
- Easy
Shaggy ink caps (Coprinus comatus) are soft and delicate when young; as they age their gills blacken and the cap dissolves itself. That's why they're cooked quickly, on the day they're picked. This soup, shared by the Colorado Mycological Society, shows them at their simplest.
Never eat a mushroom you haven't identified with certainty: coprine, which causes a reaction with alcohol, is found in the common ink cap (Coprinopsis atramentaria); according to Wikipedia, C. comatus has no such effect. Because the two can be confused, it's still safest not to drink alcohol with this soup.
Ingredients
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For the soup
Method
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-
Use only caps that are closed with pure white gills; throw away any turning pink or black. Brush off the soil, chop and cook straight away: shaggy ink caps blacken within hours.
~5 min -
Melt the butter in a pan and soften the spring onions for 5 minutes.
~5 min -
Add the mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes, then add the garlic.
~3 min -
Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.
~3 min -
Gradually stir in the milk and stock and simmer over a very low heat for 10–20 minutes until thickened. Season with salt.
~15 min
Enjoy!
The mushroom in this recipe
Mushroom swaps
Button mushroom Agaricus bisporusUse the same amount of white button mushrooms; the soup comes out a little darker and denser.
Tips
- Pinkish gills mean the mushroom has started to turn; don't use it.
- Don't pick beside busy roads.
- No need to blend: the mushrooms break down on their own as they cook.
Storage
The soup keeps for 1 day in the fridge. Raw shaggy ink caps don't keep; cook them within a few hours or throw them away.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Shaggy ink cap soup take?
It takes 35 min in total: 10 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking.
Which mushroom is used for Shaggy ink cap soup?
This recipe uses Shaggy ink cap.
What other mushrooms work for Shaggy ink cap soup?
Button mushroom: Use the same amount of white button mushrooms; the soup comes out a little darker and denser.
How do you store Shaggy ink cap soup?
The soup keeps for 1 day in the fridge. Raw shaggy ink caps don't keep; cook them within a few hours or throw them away.
What should you watch for when making Shaggy ink cap soup?
Pinkish gills mean the mushroom has started to turn; don't use it. Don't pick beside busy roads.
How many does Shaggy ink cap soup serve?
The quantities serve 2; change the number of servings on the page and the ingredients adjust.
Adapted from: Colorado Mycological Society — Shaggy Mane Soup, Jason Salzman; alcohol note: Wikipedia, Coprinus comatus
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Before you cook: clean, store, dry
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