Serve with homemade garlic bread for the perfect Italian meal. Risotto is so much more than a rice dish – It’s a filling, satisfying meal all on its own. There is nothing better than a creamy and decadent risotto. It’s pure comfort food. This Chicken & Mushroom Risotto is the perfect example. Many cooks are intimidated by making risotto, but if you follow this recipe, you’ll learn all you need to know to make a delicious risotto your whole family will enjoy.
What Is Risotto?
Risotto is an Italian rice dish cooked with stock or broth until it reaches a creamy consistency which is achieved by the starch released from the rice when cooked and stirred. The stock can be meat or vegetable-based. Risotto is finished with butter and grated Italian cheese such as romano or parmesan.
What Rice Is Used For Risotto?
Traditionally, risotto is made using Arborio rice, but can also be made using Carnaroli rice (sometimes called ‘Risotto Rice’ found in grocery stores). The rice needs to be high starch rice to get that creamy consistency risotto is known for.
Why Risotto Is Stirred
Stirring risotto helps the rice releases its starch into the stock which gives it the iconic creamy finish you want in a good risotto.
Step By Step Instructions
Soak the porcini mushrooms in 2-3 cups of boiled water for 20 minutes, then remove the mushrooms from the water with a slotted spoon and reserve 2 cups of the liquid. Heat the oil in a large pan and saute the mushrooms with garlic until they are soft. If needed add another tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the shallot and remaining garlic and cook until soft. Add the rice and stir to coat. Cook the rice for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently to toast. Add the wine to cover the surface of the rice and stir frequently (scraping the bottom of the pan to stir all that flavorful brown stuff into the wine) until it has completely absorbed. Add the reserved mushroom liquid and then add the stock until the has covered the surface of the rice. Stir frequently until the stock has absorbed into the rice. Repeat this process three more times. Check for seasoning, you probably will need to add salt. When the stock has absorbed remove the pot from the heat. Mix in the mushrooms, then add the butter and cheese. Mix vigorously until well combined. This method creates the perfect consistency for risotto. The rice should not be able to hold its shape and it will look very creamy. Add the cooked chicken, and serve immediately garnished with grated cheese and parsley. Erren’s Kitchen is written and produced for informational intentions only. We are not certified nutritionists, and the nutritional information found on this site has not been assessed or authorized by a nutritionist or the FDA. The nutritional information found in our recipes is offered as an estimate and should not be considered a guarantee or fact. The estimated data is provided as a courtesy and calculated through a third-party online nutritional calculator, spoonacular API. Although we do our best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered rough estimates. Many factors, such as brands or products purchased and the nutritional fluctuations that naturally occur in fresh produce, can alter the effectiveness of the nutritional information in any recipe. Furthermore, various online calculators provide different results depending on their particular algorithms and nutrition fact sources. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
