Mushroom and mascarpone risotto

Name: Mushroom and mascarpone risotto
Yield: Serves 4 - 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 20 gm dried porcini mushrooms; 80 gm butter, coarsely chopped; 2 tbsp olive oil; 300 gm Swiss brown mushrooms, thickly sliced; 5-6 sage leaves, coarsely chopped; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 400 gm risotto rice, preferably carnaroli; 125 ml (½ cup) dry white wine; 85 gm (⅓ cup) mascarpone, plus extra to serve (optional); 35 gm (⅓ cup) finely grated parmesan, plus extra to serve

This fast mushroom risotto recipe, made rich and creamy with mascarpone, is sure to become a favourite.

Jun 13, 2016 2:00pm

By Lisa Featherby

Serves 4 - 6

There are several types of risotto rice. The easiest to find is arborio; it needs the least cooking time and tends to break down easily. We've used carnaroli here, which is worth seeking out - it holds its shape nicely.

Ingredients

20 gm dried porcini mushrooms
80 gm butter, coarsely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
300 gm Swiss brown mushrooms, thickly sliced
5-6 sage leaves, coarsely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
400 gm risotto rice, preferably carnaroli
125 ml (½ cup) dry white wine
85 gm (⅓ cup) mascarpone, plus extra to serve (optional)
35 gm (⅓ cup) finely grated parmesan, plus extra to serve

Method

1
Soak porcini in a bowl with 700ml boiling water for 10 minutes to soften. Drain, reserving soaking liquid. Finely chop mushrooms and reserve. Keep soaking liquid warm.
2
Meanwhile, heat half the butter and half the oil in a saucepan over high heat, add fresh mushrooms and sage and sauté until tender and golden brown (3-5 minutes). Set aside. Add remaining butter and oil to pan along with onion and sauté until golden brown (4-5 minutes). Add rice and stir to coat in oil, then add wine and simmer until evaporated (1 minute). Add reserved soaking liquid a ladleful at a time, stirring continuously between additions until most is absorbed before adding the next, until rice is al dente and creamy (13-15 minutes; you may not need all the soaking liquid). Season to taste, stir in mascarpone, parmesan and three-quarters of both mushrooms, then serve risotto topped with remaining mushrooms and extra grated parmesan.