I’m a rice freak.
I blame my Indian heritage to a fair degree. After all, I’ve been plied with white rice from an impossibly young age.
Of course, as I grew up and my family became more health conscious, the white rice turned to brown, turned to couscous, turned to farro, barley, quinoa.
But, I digress.
The main point is, I love anything rice related, and risotto in particular has a very special place in my heart.
When I was ten, my family and I visited a resort in upstate New York: it remains today the more luxurious, extravagant, and relaxing vacation I’ve even been on. The lodge was wonderful: there were hiking trails, pedicures, heated pools, and hot tubs. But for little foodie me, the real delight was the fancy dress up dinner every night.
Although families with children were seated in a more kid-friendly hall, I was quiet and there was only one of me, so my parents and I got the full fine dining experience in the private dining room. I even ordered off of the adult menu.
Folks, we know where this is going. I had the greatest mushroom risotto of my life. Sure, they had to skip the port because I was ten, but it was my first and most cherished risotto.
I might have an issue.
Okay, okay, now that you’ve heard my relationship history with risotto, let’s hear about this one, shall we?
I set about creating this recipe with three things in mind: one, the risotto had to have that comforting, creamy consistency without any dairy. Two, the mushrooms really had to shine through as the star of the piece. And three, the rice had to be nutty and perfectly cooked. Too often is a risotto either mushy sludge or raw grains of Arborio stuck in your teeth.
And let me tell you. This baby delivered (and on the first try too!). While it takes a little patience, this risotto is surprisingly hard to get wrong.
Grab a pot, a chopping block, and a spoon and get stirring!
- 6 oz Arborio rice (about ¾ of a cup)
- ¼ cup Earth Balance vegan butter (or sub olive oil), divided
- ½ a red onion
- 4 oz shitake mushrooms, sliced
- ¼ cup dry white wine of your choice
- 2 cups vegetable broth, warm
- Salt and pepper to taste
- In a deep medium sized saucepan, heat half of your butter/oil over medium heat
- Once melted, add the chopped onion and stir until fragrant and almost translucent, about 3-4 minutes
- Add the shitakes and continue stirring for another 3-5 minutes
- Pour in Arborio rice and continue to stir until the rice is semi-transparent
- Working slowly, add increments of the wine, stirring until all the liquid is absorbed
- At this point, stir in half of your remaining butter
- Add 1 cup of the broth and continue stirring until all the liquid is absorbed
- Add the other cup and stir continuously
- When there is very little liquid remaining (but not quite dry), add the last of your butter and season with salt and pepper to taste
- Let stand off heat and covered for two minutes, then stir and serve
•When adding butter, don’t be concerned if you’re not using a whole lot. It’s intended that you use only a small spoonful each time.
•Make sure you wait until your risotto is nearly dry before you add your second cup of broth
•When stirring, don’t neglect the bottom of the pot: there could be some sticking which would not be fun.
Risotto is one of my favorite dishes, Medha! I love the mushrooms in here and the fact that it’s a one pot meal. Yum!
Thanks so much!
What a nice vacation that sounded like, giving you such great food memories. Especially the risotto! I love mushroom risotto, and this looks fantastic!
It was great! Thanks 🙂
looks fantastic! wish you a wonderful 2015 Medha!
Thanks and you too! 🙂
I love dishes with rice or anything similar to it as well, it’s like comfort food! I love this mushroom risotto, it sounds fantastic! One pot dishes are the absolute best too. Hope you have a Happy New Year!
Thank you so much and Happy New Year to you too 🙂
I love rice too! Can you believe that I’ve never made a risotto?! That has to end here because I’m really loving this recipe. I love that it’s a 1 pot wonder. And I also love that it’s vegetarian because even though I eat meat I often find myself not wanting it so this looks like a great hearty meal. 🙂
You have to make this! It was my first risotto too and was really easy to make 🙂
I am a rice freak too!! My husband has celiac so we have rice all.the.time! I especially love a good risotto!
Me too 🙂
I’ve never been a big fan of risotto but you may have just changed my mind about that lol. Very nice dish. Happy New Year!
Thanks so much! Happy New Year 🙂
We absolutely love rice dishes too! This mushroom risotto looks fabulous, Medha! Love that it’s vegan too! Happy Happy New Year!
Thank, Kelly! You too 🙂
While I’m sure my ten-year-old self would have loved risotto (I too was raised on a rice-centric diet), there’s no way I would have eaten mushrooms at that age – you were a far more tolerant child than I! This looks fantastic. I’ve never tried a vegan risotto before, but I’m looking forward to trying this!
Thanks! LMK if you try 🙂
I love mushroom risotto. This is getting pinned immediately!
Thanks so much!
Hey Medha, I came to see whats cooking! Saw your mushroom risotto, looks scrumptious!
Thanks! 🙂