Meet Alex Caspero
Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Plant-Based Chef and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.
We had an impromptu date-night-in last night, which are quickly becoming my favorite kind. Who needs a babysitter when you have dinner like this and a bottle of wine? 🍷
This is fancy pants dinner. Easy enough for a weeknight dinner date and special enough for the holidays.
Since BL and I collectively live on our island in St. Louis, hours away from any family, we’ve come to the realization that date-night-ins are going to be more and more common. We’re currently looking for an in-home part-time nanny once I return from maternity leave in January and even that feels like a terrifying step.
I’m a cliche first time mom. Nervous enough to leave my babe with someone else while I’m upstairs, let alone hire someone to watch V while we go out. This is normal, right? I know it will only get easier with time, and I’m OK being glued to the hip with my sweet babe for a while longer. His snuggles are still my favorite part of the day.
While this wild mushroom risotto requires a few steps to assemble, I assure you that none of them are complicated.
First up- make the wild mushroom broth. It’s an added touch that really elevates the entire dish. And, homemade mushroom broth sounds more complicated than it really is. Saute a few aromatics, add in dried wild mushrooms, water and let simmer until meaty and dark brown. Strain and you’re ready for risotto magic!
To my friends who cannot fathom the idea of making homemade risotto let alone homemade broth, fear not. Pacific Foods makes a super yummy mushroom broth that I recommend in a pinch. You can usually find it at Whole Foods or online.
From there, we cook the mushrooms. You can make the mushrooms at the same time you make the broth, just watch them so they don’t burn. I’m using a mixture of oyster, shiitake mushrooms and baby bella mushrooms, but find whatever combination works best for your budget. You’ll want them very browned and reduced, which may take up to 30-40 minutes depending on how small you chop them. Patience grasshopper, this is risotto.
After that you are simply making risotto. And, yes, I use the word simply. I know people freak out about the idea of risotto, but it’s not hard. It just takes a little bit of patience and stirring. You really can’t mess it up; add in a little warm broth to the rice, stir until absorbed and repeat a dozen times.
Add in the already cooked mushrooms, a generous sprinkle of parmesan and you are good to go! My dairy-free friends, you can probably guess what I’m going to say next. I was going to make this one vegan, but then the combination of mushrooms and parmesan called to me. I love my vegan parm substitute and you could try using that, a store-bought vegan parm, or leave it out completely. Up to you.
It goes without saying, but I’ll do so anyways. If you are looking for an elegant main to serve this holiday season, this wild mushroom risotto would be it.
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking!
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Wild Mushroom Risotto
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 60 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: main, dinner, healthy
- Cuisine: Italian, American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Wild Mushroom Risotto! If you love risotto, you’ve gotta try this recipe. Homemade wild mushroom stock with crispy, thyme roasted mushrooms with creamy risotto. Vegetarian, easily vegan.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 60 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: main, dinner, healthy
- Cuisine: Italian, American
- Diet: Vegetarian
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 60 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: main, dinner, healthy
- Cuisine: Italian, American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Scale
Ingredients
Wild Mushroom Stock
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 large white onion, chopped into 10–12 pieces
- 1 large carrot, chopped
- 6 large garlic cloves, smashed
- 1 ounce dried mushrooms (I used a mixture packet of shiitake, morels and porcini mushrooms)
- 10–12 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 cups water
Risotto:
- 1/4 cup butter (can use dairy-free versions. I love Earth Balance brand)
- 3 large shallots, finely diced
- 4 cups chopped mushrooms (I used a combination of 1 cup oyster mushrooms, 1 cup shiitake mushrooms and 2 cups baby bella mushrooms)
- 1/4 cup marsala wine (can also use white wine)
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- salt/pepper
- 1 1/2 cups arborio rice
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Make the stock. Heat the olive oil in a large stock-pot over medium heat. Add in the onion, carrot and garlic and stir for 1-2 minutes to lightly brown. Add in the dried mushrooms, thyme, bay leaf, peppercorns, salt and water then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for at least 1 hour. Taste for seasoning, then strain. Place back in the stock-pot and set aside for now.
- Make the mushrooms. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the shallots and cook until browned and very reduced. Add in the fresh mushrooms and cook until very browned, about 45-60 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the mushrooms have browned, add in the marsala wine and deglaze the pan, scrapping any brown bits up from the bottom as needed. Add in the thyme and cook, adding in salt/pepper as needed. I usually start with a small pinch and then go from there. Keep warm over low heat.
- Heat the mushroom broth in the stock-pan from step 1 over medium heat.
- In a new, separate sauce pan, add the arborio rice over medium heat until just toasted, about 30-60 seconds stirring the entire time.
- Add a laddle of warmed mushroom broth to the pan with the rice and stir almost constantly, until liquid has been absorbed. Continue to add in broth, a laddle or two add a time, until rice is tender and cooked through. You likely don’t need any more salt or pepper, but feel free to taste and season as needed. You may not need all the broth, but wanted to make sure you had enough liquid rather than not enough.
- If using parmesan cheese, stir in 1/4 cup cheese into the rice.
- Stir in the cooked mushroom into the risotto rice and divide among four plates. Garnish with more cheese, if desired and serve.
did you make this?
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(4 comments) leave a comment
Looks delish, however, this recipe is very confusing. Step one has you adding the same items that are in step two???
Hi Shouna, yes– you are essentially first making a mushroom broth, then sautéing fresh mushrooms. I updated the directions to make it more clear– let me know if that helps or if you have any other questions.
Any chance you know how to make this recipe with the InstantPot? It was really yummy but takes toooo long to make 🙂
★★★★★
Hi Melissa- not yet, but I’ll put this on my ‘to-do’ list!