Spring Mushroom & Pea Risotto

Recipe

Spring Mushroom & Pea Risotto

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Serving size: 6

Difficulty: Medium

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This Mushroom & Pea Risotto will get you in the mood for springtime. With rich flavors, fresh veggies and herbs, and creamy textures, this dish is the perfect way to transition into the next season.

Ingredients

6 to 7 cups mushroom broth

Salt and freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

½ cup finely chopped onion, or 2 shallots, minced

¾ to 1 pound cremini or portobello mushroom, cleaned if necessary and torn or sliced into smaller pieces if thick (small wild mushrooms should be left whole, mushrooms like maitake can just be separated into small pieces)

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or chopped sage

1 ½ cups arborio rice

½ cup dry white wine, such as pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc

1 cup frozen peas, thawed (optional)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, or a mixture of Parmesan and Pecorino Romano

Directions

Bring broth to a simmer in a saucepan, with a ladle nearby, and keep it simmering on the stove.
Heat oil in a wide, heavy nonstick skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add onions or shallots and cook gently until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
Turn up heat and add mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until they begin to sweat, about 3 minutes, then add garlic and thyme or sage. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Season mushrooms with salt and pepper and continue to cook over medium heat until they are soft. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Add rice and stir until grains begin to crackle. Add wine and cook, stirring, until wine is no longer visible in pan. Stir in enough simmering stock to just cover the rice. The stock should bubble slowly. Cook, stirring often and vigorously, until stock is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of stock and continue cooking, not too fast and not too slowly, stirring often and adding more stock when rice is almost dry, for 15 minutes.
Add peas, if using, and continue adding stock and stirring for another 10 minutes. Rice should be tender all the way through but still al dente. Taste now and adjust seasoning.
Add another ladleful or two of stock to rice. Stir in parsley and Parmesan, and remove from heat. Season with black pepper and serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates.