My family loves mushrooms, I often make garlic butter mushrooms, roasted mushrooms or this fabulous mushroom risotto. This risotto tastes like it came from a fancy restaurant thanks to a secret ingredient. Risotto is one of those dishes that you’ll find in many high end restaurants, but it can be intimidating to make at home. This mushroom risotto tastes like it came from your favorite bistro, but is actually quite easy to make. Serve it as a side dish with a roasted chicken, or as a main course option.
How do you make mushroom risotto?
This recipe starts with mushrooms, which are sauteed in garlic butter until golden brown and tender. While the mushrooms are cooking, it’s time to make the rice base. The risotto consists of short grain Arborio rice, onions, butter and chicken broth. Some mascarpone and parmesan cheeses get stirred in for a creamy finish. Mix the mushrooms with the rice and you’re ready to eat!
Can risotto be made ahead of time?
Risotto tastes best when it is made fresh, as the rice will continue to absorb liquid and soften as it cools. If you need to make your risotto in advance you can make it up to 2 days before you plan to serve it. Just be aware that it will have a softer texture than freshly cooked risotto. Another option is that you can cook the rice halfway, then cool it and finish it later on. That is a better way to preserve the texture.
How do you know when risotto is done?
Risotto takes anywhere from 15-20 minutes to cook through. The best way to gauge when your rice is done is to taste it about 15 minutes into the cooking process. The rice should be “al dente”, or just slightly firm without any hard bits. If your rice is done at the 15 minute mark, you can stop adding broth and finish the dish with cheese. If your rice is not ready yet, continue adding more broth and taste it a few minutes later to see if it’s ready.
Tips for mushroom risotto
I use an assortment of mushrooms for this dish including button, cremini, oyster and shiitake mushrooms. You can use any blend of mushrooms that you like! Risotto is traditionally made with Arborio rice, which is a short grain rice found in most grocery stores. If you can’t find Arborio rice, look for a different variety of short grain rice to use instead. Mascarpone cheese gives this risotto a silky smooth texture. This is a type of Italian soft cheese found in tubs in the cheese aisle or the deli section. If you can’t find mascarpone cheese, you can substitute cream cheese or heavy cream for a similar result.
Mushroom risotto variations
There are so many different ingredients you can add to mushroom risotto to make it your own creation!
Protein: Shrimp, Chicken, Bacon or Sausage Greens: Kale, Spinach or Arugula Vegetables: Artichoke Hearts, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Asparagus Cheese: White Cheddar, Fontina, Mozzarella
Once you try this risotto, you’ll find yourself making it on the regular! It’s elegant enough for company, yet easy enough to whip up on a busy weeknight.
More delicious side dishes
Stove Top Mac and Cheese Orzo Salad Homemade Rice-A-Roni Zucchini Gratin Honey Roasted Carrots
This post was originally published on April 2, 2015 and was updated on April 16, 2019 with new content.
