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Creamy Morel Mushroom Risotto

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A cozy and elegant risotto featuring creamy arborio rice, earthy morel mushrooms, fresh thyme, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for easy homemade dinners that impress without stress.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (300 g) arborio rice
  • 8 oz (225 g) fresh morel mushrooms or dried morels, soaked
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 small shallots, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3–4 fresh thyme sprigs
  • ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine (optional but recommended)
  • 5 cups (1.2 liters) vegetable or chicken broth, kept warm
  • ¾ cup (75 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. If using dried morels, soak them in warm water for 20-30 minutes until softened. Drain, reserving the soaking liquid, then rinse mushrooms to remove grit and chop roughly. If fresh, clean gently with a brush and slice.
  2. Pour broth into a saucepan and keep it simmering on low heat throughout the cooking process. Add reserved mushroom soaking liquid to broth if available.
  3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic, cooking until translucent and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
  4. Add the morels and 2 sprigs of thyme. Sauté until mushrooms release moisture and start to brown, about 5-7 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  5. Stir in the arborio rice, coating each grain with the mushroom mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes until edges turn translucent but center remains opaque.
  6. Pour in the white wine and stir until mostly absorbed, about 2 minutes.
  7. Add a ladle of warm broth to the rice. Stir gently but constantly until the liquid is mostly absorbed. Repeat ladle-by-ladle addition, stirring frequently, for about 18-20 minutes until risotto is creamy and rice is al dente.
  8. Turn off heat and stir in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and grated Parmesan until melted and silky. Add remaining thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Let risotto sit for 2 minutes before serving. Serve warm with extra Parmesan on the side.

Notes

Use warm broth to avoid shocking the rice. Stir gently and frequently to release starch and achieve creamy texture. If risotto is too thick, add a splash of broth or water at the end; if too thin, cook uncovered a bit longer. Fresh Parmesan melts best for smooth texture. Dried morels should be soaked and soaking liquid reserved for broth to enhance flavor. For vegan version, substitute butter with plant-based alternative and Parmesan with nutritional yeast or vegan cheese. Arborio rice is naturally gluten-free.

Nutrition

Keywords: morel mushroom risotto, creamy risotto, mushroom recipe, easy dinner, arborio rice, thyme, Parmesan, vegetarian option, gluten-free

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/creamy-morel-mushroom-risotto-recipe-perfect-for-easy-homemade-dinners/