King boletes are large, swollen-looking mushrooms, although they can be difficult to find in the wild as the fruiting bodies often remain hidden under forest duff.
The primary health benefit of eating king bolete is nutritional; like many mushrooms, they have no cholesterol or fat and are low in calories. The king bolete is a good source of protein, and is an excellent source of both dietary fiber and iron. It is also a good source of some minerals, such as selenium, manganese, and zinc, as well as B-complex vitamins. Given the flavor, which is improved and intensified by drying, this is a health food people want to eat.
King boletes are excellent sautéed, fried or even microwaved. The flesh is crunchy with a somewhat nutty flavor. They occasionally have a slight bitter edge. When powdered, they impart rich flavor that is great for soup, gravy, meat loaf, pasta sauce etc. This mushroom has a high protein content, which makes them a great meat substitute in vegetarian dishes.