Gorgonzola And Porcini Mushroom Risotto Recipes

PORCINI RISOTTO

Steps:

• Wipe the fresh mushrooms clean with a damp paper towel. Break into bitesized pieces and reserve. Soak dried porcini in enough boiling water to cover for about 1/2 hour, or until pliable. Drain them, reserving the soaking liquid, and rinse mushrooms under running water. Chop into bitesized pieces and add to fresh mushrooms. Strain soaking liquid, add to stock and set aside.
• Heat oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium low heat. Cook onions with salt and pepper until soft and translucent, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until aroma is released, about 1 minute. Add mushrooms and saute until golden. Add brandy, turn heat to high, and scrape bottom of pan with a wooden spoon to release brown bits.
• Light alcohol with a match. When flame subsides, add rice and saute until slightly colored, about 1 minute. Add bay leaves and 1/2 cup stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and cook until near dry.
• Once the liquid is evaporated, briefly saute rice. Then, add stock 1/2 cup at a time, constantly stirring with a wooden spoon until absorbed. Repeat procedure, stirring constantly and briefly sauteing between additions, until all stock has been absorbed. You must constantly stir while cooking rice. When done, the rice should be glazed outside and soft throughout. It takes approximately 20 minutes to add all the stock. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

TRUE ITALIAN PORCINI MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place porcini mushrooms in a bowl and cover with hot water. Let soak until soft, about 1 hour. Drain, reserving soaking liquid. Squeeze mushrooms to remove excess water and roughly chop.
• Bring beef stock to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to low and cover to keep warm.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic cloves; cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook and stir until soft, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with rosemary, salt, and pepper. Discard garlic cloves; pour in 1/2 cup wine. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer until wine reduces, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil with 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook and stir shallot until soft, about 3 minutes. Cook and stir Arborio rice until toasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Pour in remaining 1/2 cup wine. Simmer until wine is absorbed, about 3 minutes.
• Ladle 1/3 of the warm stock into the saucepan; cook and stir until absorbed. Ladle in remaining stock and reserved soaking liquid in small amounts and cook, stirring constantly, until risotto is tender and creamy, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Remove risotto from the heat; stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter and Parmesan cheese. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.

GORGONZOLA POLENTA WITH FRESH PORCINI

Steps:

• In a skillet heat butter over moderate heat until foam subsides and brown mushrooms with salt to taste, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add water and simmer, covered, 5 minutes, or until mushrooms are tender. Remove lid and simmer mixture 3 minutes, or until liquid reduces slightly. Stir in parsley and lemon juice and keep warm.
• Stir 1/2 cup Gorgonzola into warm polenta until smooth. Divide polenta among 4 plates and spoon mushroom mixture on top. Tear remaining Gorgonzola into small pieces and sprinkle over each serving.
• Garnish polenta with parsley.
• In a heavy saucepan bring water and salt to a boil and gradually whisk in cornmeal in a thin stream. Cook polenta over moderately low heat (it should be barely boiling), stirring constantly, until very thick and pulls away from side of pan, about 40 minutes for cornmeal and about 15 minutes for instant polenta. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm. Stir polenta just before using. Polenta will keep warm, covered, about 20 minutes. Makes about 3 cups.
• Note: In the traditional method of cooking polenta, forty minutes of constant stirring is required to achieve a lumpless texture and fragrant flavor. However, Italian-food expert Marcella Hazan has developed a method that involves very little stirring during this time. We believe it produces a very good polenta, one nearly as flavorful and smooth as the traditional procedure. To make satisfactory polenta in a real hurry, an imported instant polenta (precooked cornmeal) is available. This cooks in a mere fifteen minutes.