Ultimate mushroom risotto

With nutty spinach salad

Ultimate mushroom risotto

Ultimate mushroom risotto

Serves Serves 4
Time Cooks In40 minutes
DifficultyNot too tricky
Nutrition per serving Plus
  • Calories 569 28%
  • Fat 23.9g 34%
  • Saturates 7.1g 36%
  • Sugars 5.7g 6%
  • Salt 0.5g 8%
  • Protein 16.5g 33%
  • Carbs 73.2g 28%
  • Fibre 4.7g -
Of an adult's reference intake
Tap For Method

Ingredients

  • 1 onion
  • 2 sticks of celery
  • olive oil
  • 1 bunch of fresh thyme , (30g)
  • 20 g dried porcini mushrooms
  • 350 g mixed mushrooms , such as chestnut, button, wild, shiitake
  • 1.2 litres organic vegetable stock
  • 300 g Arborio risotto rice
  • 125 ml white wine
  • 40 g Parmesan or vegetarian hard cheese
  • 20 g unsalted butter
  • SALAD
  • 30 g blanched hazelnuts
  • 1 lemon
  • 4 tablespoons natural yoghurt
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • 100 g baby spinach
Tap For Method

The cost per serving below is generated by Whisk.com and is based on costs in individual supermarkets.  For more information about how we calculate costs per serving read our FAQS

Tap For Ingredients

Method

  1. Peel 1 onion, trim 2 sticks of celery, then finely chop both and place in a large high-sided pan on a medium heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
    Strip in half the thyme leaves (15g) and cook for 10 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally.
  2. Put 20g of dried porcini mushrooms in a bowl, cover with boiling kettle water and leave to rehydrate.
  3. Tear up or halve any larger mushrooms (350g in total), keeping any smaller, delicate ones whole, then stir into the pan. Drain, roughly chop and add the porcini, reserving the soaking liquor.
  4. Simmer 1.2 litres of vegetable stock in a pan on a low heat, adding the reserved soaking liquor, discarding the last gritty bit.
  5. Stir 300g of risotto rice into the mushroom pan for 2 minutes, then pour in 125ml of white wine and stir until absorbed.
  6. Add a ladleful of stock and wait until it’s been fully absorbed before adding the next. Repeat this, stirring and massaging the starch out for the rice for 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked but still holding its shape and the risotto is oozy.
  7. Meanwhile, toast 30g of blanched hazelnuts in a frying pan over a medium heat until golden, then roughly bash in a pestle and mortar.
  8. Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon into a small bowl, then mix in 4 tablespoons of natural yoghurt, 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper.
  9. Divide 100g of baby spinach between 4 plates, dot over the dressing, then sprinkle over the hazelnuts.
  10. Turn off the heat under the risotto, finely grate in 35g of Parmesan and strip in the remaining thyme leaves (15g), then beat in 20g of unsalted butter and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  11. Cover and leave to relax for 2 minutes so it becomes creamy and oozy. Beat again, then serve right away with the salad, finishing it with a fine grating of Parmesan (5g).

Tips

HANDY HINT
The important thing is not to rush this recipe. Take your time, give it some love, and add the liquid little and often – it’s all about massaging out the best of the flavours as it cooks.