Barefoot Contessa Wild Mushroom Risotto Recipes

WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• To make mushroom broth: In a stockpot, combine the stock, crimini mushrooms, and dried mushrooms. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes, until the flavors have infused. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to extract as much flavor as possible. Discard the solids. Return the strained stock to the pot, cover, season with salt and pepper, and keep at a simmer over low heat.
• To make risotto: In a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the butter over high heat. Add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the mushrooms have softened. Set aside.
• In a large stockpot, heat 2 more tablespoons of the butter and the olive oil over medium-high heat until the butter melts. Saute the shallots for 1 to 2 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for about 2 minutes longer. Add the rice and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 7 to 10 minutes, until it turns milky white and opaque, and begins to stick to the bottom of the pan. Add the thyme and continue stirring.
• Add the wine and stir for about 2 minutes, until nearly absorbed. Ladle about 1 cup of the simmering stock into the rice. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often, until the stock is almost completely absorbed. Add more stock, a cup at a time, stirring gently, until the broth is absorbed by the rice before adding the next cup. After about 15 minutes, begin tasting the rice. At this point, add the stock judiciously. The rice should be firm, yet cooked through in 18 to 20 minutes total cooking time.
• Stir in the sauteed mushrooms, the Parmesan, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a medium-size heavy saucepan, heat the peanut oil. Over medium-high heat, saute the onion and garlic just to soften, stirring all the while, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rice and continue to stir, using a wooden spoon, coating the rice with the oil and onion.
• Deglaze with the white wine and cook until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often. Pour in enough mushroom and/or chicken stock to cover, about 3 cups, and cook, stirring often, until the liquid is absorbed.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat the olive oil. If the mushrooms are large, cut them into bite-size pieces and saute over medium-high heat just to soften, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour 3 cups of stock into the rice, turn the flame to high, and stir in a large pinch of salt and the tomatoes. Stir until almost al dente. Stir in the mushrooms and the remaining 1-cup of stock, as necessary. Remember that the risotto should be creamy, not runny. Remove from the flame and vigorously beat in the chilled butter and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan until completely dissolved. Stir in the parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

INA GARTEN WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place the dried morels in a bowl and pour 2 cups boiling water over them. Set aside for 30 minutes.
• Scoop the morels from the water with a slotted spoon, reserving the liquid. You should have 2 cups; if not, add water to make 2 cups.
• Drain the morels and rinse once more. If some of the mushrooms are large, cut into 2 or 3 pieces. Pour the mushroom liquid through a coffee filter or paper towel, discarding the gritty solids. Set the mushrooms and the liquid aside separately.
• Meanwhile, remove and discard the stems of the porcini and rub any dirt off the caps with a damp paper towel. Dont rinse them! Slice thickly and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, heat the chicken stock with the 2 cups of reserved mushroom liquid and bring to a simmer.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the pancetta and shallots over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
• Add the morels and porcini and saute for another 5 minutes.
• Add the rice and stir to coat the grains with butter.
• Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add 2 full ladles of the chicken stock mixture to the rice plus the saffron, salt, and pepper. Stir and simmer over low heat until the stock is absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Continue to add the stock mixture, 2 ladles at a time, stirring every few minutes. Each time, cook until the mixture seems a little dry before adding more of the stock mixture. Continue until the rice is cooked through, but still al dente, about 25 to 30 minutes total. When done, the risotto should be thick and creamy and not at all dry. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan cheese. Serve hot in bowls with extra cheese.

SAUTEED WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Brush the caps of each mushroom with a clean sponge. Remove and discard the stems. Slice the small mushrooms thickly and cut the large ones in a large dice.
• Heat the olive oil in a large (11 - inch) Dutch oven or saucepan. Add the shallots and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, or until the shallots are translucent. Add the butter, mushrooms, salt, and pepper and cook over medium heat for 8 minutes, until they are tender and begin to release their juices, stirring often. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Toss in the parsley, sprinkle with salt, and serve warm.

WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Mushroom Garnish: While stock is simmering, mince the shallot and garlic. (Note: Chef Kaysen minces a whole shallot, but uses only half.) Set aside. Prepare chanterelles by tearing them into smaller pieces, like string cheese. If the chanterelles are very dirty, rinse in a bowl of water and gently wring through a clean dish towel to remove the absorbed water. Set aside. Slice the creminis and set aside. Pluck the tops of the maitakes from the base and set tops aside; add bases to stock (optional). Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and as many mushrooms as can fit in one layer. Sauté until mushrooms have just begun to caramelize, 1-2 minutes. Add a pinch of salt, remaining tablespoon of oil, and the butter. Stir and sauté another 1-2 minutes. Add shallots and garlic; stir and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Pull thyme leaves from the stem, roughly chop, and add to mushrooms. Turn off the heat and set the skillet aside.
• Risotto: Peel and trim the onion. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat; then add onions and a pinch of salt. Stir and cook until onions are translucent, 3-5 minutes. Add rice and stir constantly, until the grains are translucent around the edges, 3-5 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid is absorbed into the rice. Reduce heat to medium. Add the Mushroom Stock 1 cup at a time, stirring continually after each addition until the rice has absorbed almost all of the liquid before adding the next cup. This should take about 20 minutes total. (Make sure no grains are sticking to the sides of the pot.)
• When the rice has absorbed most of the liquid and has thickened, add ½ cup of the reserved Mushroom Purée and a pinch of salt; stir to combine. (Remaining purée can be frozen for up to 2 months.) Stir in Parmigiano and Pecorino, then turn off heat. Add mascarpone; add more Parmigiano and salt to taste. Stir until combined and creamy.Divide the risotto into 6 serving bowls. Evenly divide warm Mushroom Garnish on top of each. Garnish with a final dusting of grated Parmigiano and serve immediately.
• Set a medium pot over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Clean mushrooms by gently wiping away the dirt with a clean towel. Set aside. Smash and mince the garlic. To the pot, add the minced shallot, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Stir and sweat until translucent, 5 minutes. Meanwhile, roughly chop the mushrooms and add to the pot along with the thyme leaves. Turn heat to high, add the Madeira, and stir to deglaze the pan; continue cooking until the liquid has mostly evaporated (called au sec in French), 5 minutes. Add the water, bring to a simmer, and cook over low heat, uncovered, 30-45 minutes.
• Part 2: After 30-45 minutes, taste the stock and add salt to taste. Pour the stock through a fine-mesh strainer into a large container; add warm water until you have 8 cups of liquid. Set Mushroom Stock aside. In a blender or food processor, puree the solids from the stock )adding a bit of stock as needed). Season to taste with salt and set aside.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel the butternut squash, remove the seeds, and cut it into 3/4-inch cubes.
• You should have about 6 cups.
• Place the squash on a sheet pan and toss it with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, tossing once, until very tender.
• Set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock in a small covered saucepan.
• Leave it on low heat to simmer.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the pancetta and shallots on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until the shallots are translucent but not browned.
• Add the rice and stir to coat the grains with butter.
• Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add 2 full ladles of stock to the rice plus the saffron, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Stir, and simmer until the stock is absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Continue to add the stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring every few minutes.
• Each time, cook until the mixture seems a little dry, then add more stock.
• Continue until the rice is cooked through, but still al dente, about 30 minutes total.
• Off the heat, add the roasted squash cubes and Parmesan.
• Mix well and serve.

WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat stock in pan over medium heat. Add dried mushrooms; cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon; chop finely. Keep stock at a simmer over medium heat.
• Remove stems from fresh mushrooms; chop finely. Slice caps 1/4 inch thick. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add mushroom caps; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and soft, about 3 minutes. Transfer to bowl. To pan, add remaining 6 tablespoons oil, mushroom stems, and shallots. Cook, stirring, until translucent. Add rice; cook, stirring, until rice begins to sound like glass beads, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add wine. Cook, stirring, until wine is absorbed by rice. Using a ladle, add 3/4 cup hot stock to rice. Using a wooden spoon, stir rice constantly, at a moderate speed. When rice has absorbed most but not all of liquid and mixture is just thick enough to leave a clear wake behind the spoon when stirring, add another 3/4 cup stock.
• Continue adding stock in this manner, stirring constantly, until rice is mostly translucent but still opaque in center. Continue cooking until rice is al dente, but not crunchy. As rice nears doneness, watch carefully; add smaller amounts of liquid. The mixture should be thick enough that grains are suspended in liquid the consistency of heavy cream. The risotto will thicken slightly when removed from heat.
• Add dried mushrooms and mushroom caps; warm over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Divide among four bowls; grate Parmesan over risotto. Serve immediately.