Caramelized Shiitake Mushroom Risotto Food

SHIITAKE & THYME MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Firstly, rehydrate the shiitake mushrooms in 300ml of boiling water and leave to sit for 40 minutes. In the meantime you can prep the other ingredients. Once the mushrooms have softened, remove from the water (do not discard the stock) and squeeze out any excess liquid, pat dry with a paper towel and rough chop.
• Heat a few glugs of olive oil in a large heavy based pan on a medium to high heat, once hot, add the shiitake mushrooms along with a pinch of red pepper flakes. Fry for 5-8 minutes or until golden and add the chopped garlic for the final minute. Transfer the mushrooms to a dish as these will be added to the risotto later.
• Using the same pan fry off your onion with a knob of butter, add salt, a generous pinch of coarse black pepper and a quarter teaspoon of the wild porcini powder. Stir until the onion is softened then tip in the risotto rice along with the glass of wine. Turn up the heat and let the liquid reduce down until absorbed then holding a sieve over your pan pour in the reserved mushroom stock. This will catch any sediment that has fallen to the bottom of of your jug.
• Add a few sprigs of dried thyme, dried thyme is more powerful in flavour so add a little and taste as you go. Adjust the heat to medium and let the stock cook down till mostly absorbed, keep stirring the rice so it remains loose and creamy. Now add the chicken stock bit by bit, add approximately half a cup or so at a time and again cook through until mostly absorbed stirring all the while. Repeat this process until the risotto rice is cooked through but still retains a bite, you may not need all of the chicken stock.
• Towards the end of cooking return the shiitake mushrooms to the pan and fold through until warm. Turn off the heat and add 50g of grated mature cheddar and a swirl of truffle oil, mixing until the cheese is melted. This is now ready to serve.

SHIITAKE MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 min. or until tender. Remove from skillet.
• Heat remaining oil in same skillet. Add onions; cook 3 min. or until onions are crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Stir in rice; cook 1 min. Add wine; cook and stir 2 min. or until wine is absorbed. Reduce heat to medium-low.
• Add 1/2 cup broth; cook, stirring frequently, 3 min. or until absorbed. Repeat with remaining broth, cooking after each addition until broth is absorbed and adding mushrooms and thyme with the last addition of broth. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in cheese.