Following ma's passing, we observed her religious practice to abstain from meat & alcohol.
I took this vegetarian class with Chef Veronica Cherry from Food-to-Serve to add new item to my repertoire. Chef V is a very patient and helpful instructor who has loads of tips for us... I enjoyed her class very much.
Porcini Risotto is a very yummy Italian mushroom rice, and best part, it is vegetarian! After you learn how to cook this, you no long willing to pay so much for the simple dish in those fancy restaurants.
300g Arborio
rice
500ml Vegetable Stock (must be hot at all time)3 tbsp Olive oil
2 Shallots
60-80g Porcini mushroom (Soak 30minutes before use), Keep the soaking water
2 tbsp Freshly grated parmesan cheese
30g Butter Cube, keep cold
1 tbsp Fresh herbs (Parsley, chives, chervil)
Salt & Pepper to taste.
How to do it:
1) Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a deep sauté pan and add the shallot
to fry for 2-3 minutes or until softened. Stir in the rice and to coat with
oil. Allow the rice to cook for 1-2
minutes.
2) Add 1-2 ladles of stock to rice. Stir the rice and allow the
rice to absorb the stock. Add the
porcini mushroom into the risotto. Cook the rice for 1-2 minute and add the
soaking water to the risotto for extra flavour.
It is important not to add too much stock to the risotto.
Only add the stock a ladleful at a time, allowing each addition of stock to be
absorbed before adding another ladle.
3) When the risotto is al dente (firm to the bite), remove the
pan from the heat. Add cold butter a few cubes at a time; stir to mix the
butter into the risotto. The risotto should be moist and creamy at this
stage. Add in some grated parmesan
cheese into the creamy risotto. Season the risotto with salt and pepper.
4) Garnish with fresh herb and grate some more parmesan cheese
if desire. Serve immediately.
Tips:
Adding cold butter to the rice allows the proper emulsifying... otherwise you may end up with oily rice.
