Mung Bean And Baby Basmati Risotto Flavored With Green Cardomom Wild Mushrooms And Shahi Jeera Recipes

PERSIAN RICE WITH FAVA BEANS AND DILL (BAQALA POLOW)

Steps:

• Wash the rice by placing it in a large container and covering it with water. Agitate gently with your hand, then pour off the water. Repeat 5 times until the water is no longer cloudy. Drain, using a fine-mesh colander, and set aside.
• If using fresh fava beans in the pod, shell and remove second skins. If using frozen favas with second skins removed, place in a colander and rinse thoroughly. Set aside.
• Heat ¼ cup (60ml) oil in a large, non-stick pot over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the cinnamon stick, leek, and garlic, and stir-fry for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the leek is wilted. Add the rice, salt, pepper, turmeric, cardamom, and rose water, and stir-fry for another 1 minute.
• Add the water, tip in the skinned fava beans and bring back to a boil, stirring gently twice with a wooden spoon, to loosen any grains that may have stuck to the bottom of the pot. Cover firmly with a lid to prevent any steam from escaping. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed.
• Add the dill and fluff using 2 forks. Drizzle the remaining oil and the saffron-infused rose water over the rice. Cover again, reduce heat to low, and cook for another 10 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and allow to cool, still covered, for 5 minutes.
• Serve with fried eggs and Yogurt and Persian Shallot Dip or alongside roasted lamb or fish.

SHIITAKE AND BABY BELLA MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in shallot and cook for 30 seconds, then add shiitake and cremini mushrooms, and cook until they begin to brown. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and Arborio until rice is well coated in oil; reduce heat to medium, and cook until the shallot and mushrooms have turned golden brown.
• Pour in white wine, and simmer until evaporated, stirring constantly. Season with thyme, celery salt, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low; pour in 1/3 of the hot vegetable stock, and cook until evaporated, stirring constantly, about 7 minutes.
• Pour in another third of the vegetable stock, and continue to stir until evaporated. Repeat once more with the remaining third of stock. Stir constantly until the rice is tender and creamy. Add hot water if needed to continue cooking until the rice has softened.
• Stir in butter, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley before serving.

WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Put the dried ceps in a bowl and pour in the warm water. Soak for 20 minutes, drain (reserving the stock) and chop. Add water to make it up to 700ml. Heat the olive oil and butter in a pan. Adding one ingredient at a time, frying for a minute between each one, add the cumin seeds, garlic cloves, ginger, green chilli and chopped shallots.
• Lower the heat, add the basmati rice and fry until glossy. Tip in the chopped wild mushrooms, add the ceps and fry for a minute. Stir in the stock. Keep on a low heat for 20 minutes, stirring.
• Add salt and fold in the yogurt, butter and a drizzle of truffle oil. Sprinkle over chopped coriander.