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Recipe: Shiitake & Water Buffalo Cheddar Risotto

You can make risotto with just about anything! I typically use mushrooms and parmesan cheese. I am looking forward to experimenting with other ingredients. (Blackened Brussels).

Here's a basic risotto recipe:

2 cups Aroborio Rice

Organic Vegetable Broth, 2-3 cups, to taste

Cheap White Wine (Pinot or Chardonnay) 1-2 cups, to taste

Vegetable or meat of choice

1 cup hard cheese

Salt & Pepper

Butter

Olive Oil

This recipe features shiitake mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, water-buffalo cheddar and chardonnay. It was was rich and creamy with subtle flavours. So delicious!

2 cup Aroborio Rice

Organic Vegetable Broth, 2-3 cups, to taste

Cheap White Wine (Pinot or Chardonnay) 1-2 cups, to taste

1 handful Organic Shiitake Mushrooms*

1 handful Organic Cremini Mushrooms*

1 chunk of Onion*

1 cup Water-Buffalo Cheddar, grated*

1/4 cup Fresh or Grated Parmesan

Salt & Pepper

Fresh Thyme

Butter

Olive Oil

*From St Lawrence Farmer's market

  1. Simultaneously or before, prepare mushrooms: Chop (or food process) mushrooms and onions into small pieces. Cook in a saucepan, with olive oil, on low heat until soft. Set aside and cover if preparing before.

  2. Prepare vegetable broth and white wine beside your stove with a half-cup measuring cup.

  3. Heat olive oil in a pan/wok/pot* over medium heat.

  4. Add rice and stir constantly until oil is absorbed.

  5. Add a half cup of liquid (broth or wine) to the wok. Stir constantly until liquid is absorbed. Alternate wine and broth until desired consistency is reached. This is to taste - if you want a boozier risotto, use more of wine. This recipe used 2 cups of wine and 2.5 cups of broth.

  6. Turn heat to low and add mushroom mixture to rice. Throw in a big ol' slab of butter. Stir.

  7. Add grated cheeses to rice and stir.

  8. Serve immediately with salt, pepper and thyme to taste. Garnish with a sprig of thyme.

*I make risotto in a non-stick wok. I like the surface area the wok gives me.

Risotto can be a meal unto itself, or serve with chicken or as a side. Pair with a nice white wine (or the rest of the cheap bottle) and enjoy! This makes about 4 servings as a main or 6-8 servings as a side.

Vendors etc

Most ingredients purchased from St Lawrence Market & Saturday Farmer's Market

Rice: Rube's Rice

Water-Buffalo Cheddar: Monforte Dairy

This recipe is vegetarian.

#recipe #risotto #rice #mushrooms #shiitakemushrooms #cheddar #cheese #stlawrencemarket #farmersmarket #organic #vegetarian

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