Shaggy Inkcap Black Pasta: A Hauntingly Good Halloween Dish

in FungiFridaylast month (edited)

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I’ve been thinking about how to truly appreciate the culinary potential of shaggy inkcap mushrooms, and what better way than by transforming them into a unique pasta? Their rich, black colour and earthy flavour are perfect for creating something special—possibly the first inkcap incorporated in the pasta dough you've ever seen!

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The village was still asleep. I set out very early to find shaggy inkcap mushrooms to make a pasta recipe for Halloween.

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Along the road, the biggest shaggy inkcap I have seen, standing tall and dripping black ink!

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The cap is as big as my palm.

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I stayed with this inkcap for a little while, admiring its beauty and marveling at its size!

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The ink is dripping!
In the last couple of years, I made mushroom ink and scribbled with it, and I am excited to try something new.

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One thing about ink caps is that they self-decompose; hence, when they are older, they drip the ink mixed with the water.

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As I was about to cut it, it fell into bits. It was just on time, and I was pleased to have seen its beauty before that happened.

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I picked the pieces and went home, looking forward to making the unique pasta recipe.

Here's how...

Homemade Black Pasta (Shaggy Inkcap Mushroom)

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Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 large or 3 medium shaggy inkcap mushrooms (in the inky stage) - 4 tablespoons black ink
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

Prepare the Shaggy Inkcap Ink:

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Gently clean the mushrooms, put them in a bowl or container, and sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of salt on top. The salt will wilt the mushrooms quicker and extract the ink.

Collect the black liquid (ink). You should get about 3-4 tablespoons of ink. If you prefer a darker colour, use more mushrooms and reduce the water by heating it.

Make the Dough:

Mound the flour on a clean surface or in a large bowl and create a well in the center.

Crack the eggs into the well and add the olive oil, and the black ink with the salt from the shaggy inkcaps.

Slowly mix until a sticky dough forms.

Knead the Dough:

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Once the mixture comes together, knead the dough with your hands for about 8-10 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic. If the dough feels too sticky, sprinkle a bit more flour. If it's too dry, add a few drops of water.

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Cover it with plastic wrap or a damp cloth and let it rest for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

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Once rested, divide the dough into manageable portions.

Roll out the dough using a pasta machine or rolling pin. Dust generously to prevent it from sticking to the surface.

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I liked how the colour turned up; the more ink, the darker the colour will be.

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Cut the pasta into your desired shape.

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Peeling off very gently.

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A beautiful shaggy inkcap pasta!

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Toss in flour so they don't stick together.

Cook the Pasta:

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Bring a large pot of salted water and a tablespoon of oil and boil for 5 minutes (fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried).

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Drain the pasta and toss with olive oil so they don't stick together.

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Serve with your favorite sauce— I topped it with bolognese sauce as "blood" and meatballs with olives for "eyeballs" and lots of grated parmesan cheese!

The shaggy inkcap mushroom brought a foraged touch and with Halloween approaching, it's the perfect time for an intriguing, visually striking dish.

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Eyeballs were fried mince meat made into balls with spices and olives.

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The black ink really does add a hauntingly beautiful touch, and pairing it with the "blood" bolognese and olive "eyeballs" is a brilliant way to celebrate the season.

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And it is very delicious! with an earthy mushroomy taste.
It added an exciting, nature-inspired twist!

A lovely Fungi Friday to all!

Mariah 😊💗

The post is dedicated to @fungifriday by @ewkaw and to all fungi friends here. 💗

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Wow 😃, that's amazing, a very original homemade pasta 👍🏻 hehehe, and that mushroom is so big, strange and beautiful 🍄, I love it.
Greetings 😺🤘🏻🤗