Creamy Risotto with Mushrooms

By: Co+op, stronger together

Total Time: 40 minutes

Servings: 6

Risotto is all about the rice and the stirring. Arborio is a short-grain rice that makes its own sauce by giving off starch as it simmers in tasty stock. Cream adds a little richness to the dish, and a pile of earthy, meaty, seared mushrooms playoff risotto's delightful creaminess.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups vegetable or chicken stock

  • 1/2 cup chopped onion

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

  • 1 cup arborio rice

  • 1/2 cup dry white wine

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • 1/2 cup minced parsley

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 8 ounces cremini or baby bella mushrooms, quartered

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons minced chives

  • Parsley and rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Warm the stock by putting it in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and have a ladle close at hand. Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat, and sauté the onion just until softened, but not colored. Add the rice and increase the heat to medium-high. Stir the rice until it crackles a little, 2-3 minutes.

  2. Add the wine and salt to the pan, and stir until the wine evaporates about 2 minutes. Add warm stock a ladleful at a time, stirring constantly. Start testing the rice for doneness at about 20 minutes; keep stirring in stock until it is just tender. If you run out of stock, add water. To check for doneness, try a grain of rice. If there's no crunch in the center, it's done.

  3. When done, stir in the Parmesan, cream, and parsley and cook just to melt the cheese and thicken the creamy sauce to the desired consistency, then remove from the heat.

  4. While you are finishing the risotto, cook the mushrooms. In another large sauté pan, heat the olive oil on high heat, then add the mushrooms and sear, stirring. Cook for about 5 minutes, until browned and softened. Season with salt and pepper.

  5. Serve risotto topped with additional sliced mushrooms, sprinkled with chives and garnished with more parsley and a rosemary sprig, if desired.

Serving Suggestion

Risotto on its own makes a simple vegetarian meal, or serve as a side with roasted chicken, fish and sautéed vegetables, such as asparagus, spinach or zucchini.

Nutritional Information

190 calories, 11 g. fat, 27 mg. cholesterol, 578 mg. sodium, 16 g. carbohydrate, 1 g. fiber, 4 g. protein

Posted by permission from StrongerTogether.coop. Find more recipes and information about your food and where it comes from at www.strongertogether.coop.