Creamy Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan (Printable)

Luxurious Italian rice with earthy mushrooms, herbs, and Parmesan. Ready in 50 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Rice and Broth

01 - 1 ½ cups Arborio rice
02 - 5 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, kept warm

→ Mushrooms and Aromatics

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 12 oz cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

→ Finishing Ingredients

09 - ½ cup dry white wine
10 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat until butter melts and foaming subsides.
02 - Add chopped onion and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent and softened, about 3 minutes.
03 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to brown.
04 - Add sliced mushrooms and thyme. Sauté until mushrooms are golden brown and their liquid has evaporated, approximately 7 minutes.
05 - Stir in Arborio rice and cook for 2 minutes, allowing grains to toast lightly and absorb flavors, stirring constantly.
06 - Pour in white wine, stirring continuously until mostly evaporated and absorbed by the rice.
07 - Add warm broth one ladleful at a time, stirring frequently. Wait until liquid is mostly absorbed before adding more. Continue until rice is creamy and al dente, about 18-20 minutes.
08 - Remove from heat. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons butter and ½ cup Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
09 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The texture is impossibly creamy without using any cream, just the natural starch from Arborio rice working its magic
  • It's one of those dishes that makes people think you spent hours in the kitchen, even though it comes together in under an hour
  • The ingredients are simple and pantry friendly, but the result tastes like something from a fancy Italian restaurant
02 -
  • Adding cold broth can halt the cooking process and result in unevenly cooked rice, so keep your broth simmering on a back burner
  • Stirring is non negotiable, it's what releases the starch that creates the creamy texture without adding any actual cream
  • The rice should still have a slight bite to it, as it will continue cooking slightly from residual heat
03 -
  • Grate your own Parmesan cheese, pre grated has anti caking agents that prevent it from melting properly
  • If you need to step away briefly, add a bit more broth than usual to buy yourself some time
  • Leftovers reheat surprisingly well with a splash of broth and gentle warming on the stove

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