This is a risotto so good, it will make a grown man weep. A creamy, umami packed Mushroom Risotto fully loaded with garlicky, buttery mushrooms stirred through the risotto AND piled on top, it’s completely and utterly mouthwateringly delicious, can’t-stop-eating-it-good.
This is a fully loaded mushroom recipe – there’s 750g / 1.5 lb mushrooms in this!
Mushroom Risotto
It’s such a let down when you’re faced with a giant bowl of Mushroom Risotto, only to find you have to fish around desperately through piles of gluey rice to find a a few piddly bits of mushrooms.
Let me assure you, no fishing expedition will be required for this Mushroom Risotto!
(Let me also assure you there is no gluey rice in sight. Just creamy, silky, perfectly al dente risotto!😇)
What goes in mushroom risotto
This risotto recipe is intended to be one that makes the most of ordinary mushrooms, rather than hunting down exotic wild or Asian mushrooms, or using dried mushrooms which have a more intense mushroom flavour.
So this recipe is based around a rather large volume of either white or Swiss Brown/Cremini mushrooms!
Other than the mushrooms, there’s nothing unusual or groundbreaking in this recipe. It’s more about cooking technique (trust me, risotto is simple!).
Just a note on a few of the ingredients:
Risotto rice – to make risotto, you need to use risotto rice which is called Arborio rice, it’s different to ordinary white rice because it’s got a higher level of starch on the surface which thickens the cooking liquid used and makes the risotto beautifully creamy;
Cream – I don’t ordinarily use cream in risotto because you don’t need it to make risottos creamy (see above point). In this particular recipe, I actually use it to add a touch of richness and to make the risotto white (you’ll see in the video it’s quite brown because of the mushrooms). It’s optional;
Eschallots / French onions – baby onions that are finer than normal onions so they kind of “dissolve” into the risotto. Sub with 1/2 a normal onion, finely chopped; and
Substitute for wine? Wine adds depth of flavour into risotto as well as deglazing the pot (ie dissolving the golden brown bits on the base of the pot from cooking the mushrooms into the wine which forms part of the flavour base)
How to make Mushroom Risotto
And here’s how to make it.
Golden mushrooms – Sauté the mushrooms first to make them beautifully golden (because golden mushrooms = more flavour than colourless mushrooms!). Do this in 2 batches, else the pot is too crowded and they go watery and stew instead of golden. Then remove from the pot.
Sauté garlic and onion until the onion is cooked and the garlic smells amazing!
Deglaze with wine and add risotto – Add wine and let it simmer rapidly until mostly evaporated. Then add the risotto rice and stir so it gets coated in the butter and becomes semi-translucent – about 1 to 2 minutes.
Add stock 1 1/2 cups at a time – We’re using a total of 5 cups of chicken stock which is the amount needed to cook 1 1/4 cups risotto rice so it’s al dente (cooked through but not mushy) with enough sauce so the risotto is beautifully creamy, as pictured.
Add the stock 1 1/2 cups at a time, stir briefly then leave it for 3 minutes until the rice absorbs most of the liquid. Repeat 3 more times until the stock is used up, stirring regularly towards the end so the base doesn’t catch.
There’s no need to add the hot stock ladle by ladle, stirring constantly, which takes around 30 minutes. The end result will be just as creamy, I promise. Read next section below for why!
Add cream and parmesan – Once the chicken stock is all used up and the rice is just cooked (about 12 minutes), the risotto will still seem a little sloppy which is exactly what we want. The excess liquid will evaporate quite rapidly in the finishing steps.
Add the cream and parmesan, then give it a vigorous stir. This activates the starch in the risotto rice which gives the sauce the signature creamy consistency. In this step, you’ll also observe that the risotto transforms from being sloppy to beautifully creamy!
Creamy and white – Notice the difference in the colour and consistency in Step 6 (after cream and stirring) compared to step 5.
Add most mushrooms – Now add most of the mushrooms into the risotto, reserving some for garnish. Adding the mushrooms at the end rather than cooking the rice with the rice preserves the beautiful golden colour of the mushrooms.
Serve! Ladle the risotto into bowls and top with remaining mushrooms. Your goal is for the risotto to be beautifully creamy, it should ooze when ladled into bowls rather than piling up in a thick stodgy mound. If your risotto gets a bit thick, just add a splash of boiling water to loosen it up again.
Garnish risotto with extra parmesan (essential in my world) and a little sprinkle of parsley for a touch of freshness, if desired.
For the best flavour, cook the mushrooms until golden then stir some back in at the end and reserve the rest to pile on top. Maximum taste – and it looks better too!
Busting risotto-making myths!
There’s no need to stand over a hot stove stirring constantly for 30 minutes for creamy risotto. The liquid just needs to be added in 3 or 4 batches, and you only need to stir regularly towards the end. And I promise, your risotto is still going to be beautifully creamy and evenly cooked.
The concept of having to slowly add stock into the rice ladle by ladle for creamy risotto is a traditional method that was called for in the times when risotto was made by Italians in tall, narrow risotto pots. Tall narrow pot = high rice and liquid depth = must stir regularly for even cooking.
It’s been pretty well documented and tested by established food authorities such as Kenji Lopez-Alt at Serious Eats that if you use a wider pot, there’s no need to be so diligent.
What to serve with Mushroom Risotto
Mushroom Risotto can be served either as a starter / appetizer, or as a main.
As a starter, serve smaller portions (remembering that this is quite rich!). For a protein main, try some of these:
Crispy Pan Fried Fish – or serve this as the main with the Mushroom risotto on the side
Slow Roast Leg of Lamb – or a classic Roast Lamb Leg
I usually serve it as a main course with a simple crisp green salad like a Rocket (Arugula) Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Shaved Parmesan. The peppery flavour of the Rocket lettuce is a classic pairing with rich, creamy dishes like this risotto. Bonus that it’s possibly the fastest side salad ever!! – Nagi x
PS For a Carb Blow Out, add a side of Garlic Bread or even Cheesy Garlic Bread!
Watch how to make it
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Mushroom Risotto
Ingredients
Mushrooms:
- 500g (1 lb) mushrooms , sliced 3 mm / 1/8" thick (Note 1)
- 250g (1/2 lb) mushrooms , quartered (Note 1)
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper , each
Risotto:
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 2 eschallots / French onions , finely chopped (or 1/2 onion)
- 1/4 cup dry white wine (Note 2)
- 1 1/4 cups arborio rice , uncooked
- 5 cups chicken broth/stock , low sodium, warm (Note 3)
Finishes:
- 1/2 cup cream , optional but recommended(Note 4)
- 2 tbsp (30g) butter , optional (Note 4)
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese , finely grated
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper , each
Serving:
- Finely chopped parsley or chives
- Parmesan , freshly grated
Instructions
Garlic Butter Mushrooms
- Add 1 tbsp oil and half the butter in a large heavy based pot over high heat (Note 5). Once melted, add half the mushrooms and cook until pretty golden brown (~4 min).
- Add 1/2 the garlic, 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper, then continue to cook until golden brown (~1.5 min). Then remove into bowl.
- Repeat with remaining mushrooms, then remove.
Risotto
- Turn heat down to medium. In the same pot, melt butter then add garlic and onion.
- Cook 2 minutes until onion is translucent but not golden.
- Add wine and allow to simmer rapidly for 2 minutes, scraping the base of the pot, until mostly evaporated.
- Add rice and stir for 1 minute until semi translucent.
- Add about 1.5 cups of stock. Stir, then leave for 3 minutes, stirring just a few times, until mostly absorbed (~3 min).
- Add about 1.5 cups stock, stir every now and then until mostly absorbed (~3 min) – no need to stir constantly. Repeat twice more until all stock used up, rice is just cooked but risotto still creamy and sloppy (~10 min, Note 6).
Finishes
- Add cream and butter, stir vigorously to make creamy.
- Stir in parmesan, salt and pepper.
- Stir through half the mushrooms, then taste and add more salt and pepper if needed. Consistency should be creamy, not stodgy (Note 7).
- Reheat remaining mushrooms (I microwave).
- Spoon risotto into bowls, then top with reserved mushrooms (including a drizzle of buttery juices pooled in bowl!)
- Garnish with parsley if using, and extra parmesan. Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published October 2019. Post tidied up January 2020 – no change to recipe!
More Risotto recipes
All that creamy, cosy goodness!
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Life of Dozer
He has a pigeon hole at my mother’s house where I keep some of this things for the times when he stays over. He’s always snuffling around in there, hoping to score some treats!
Gayle says
Nagi you’ve done it again! Restaurant quality…,hubby can’t stop raving about it 😀
I’ve tried dozens of your recipes now and every one is a winner….thank you!
Gabi says
Hi Nagi, I am wanting to prepare this for a dinner party, just wondering how much I can do in advance? Or can I put the whole lot together and it will re-heat/stay warm without losing its creaminess?
Natalie Mazzawi says
Hey! I’m making this for my mom for mother’s day and I have some white truffle oil that I’ve been dying to use, do you think it could be a good addition to this recipe? Thank you!
Nagi says
Yes 100% Natalie – I’d add to taste towards the end! N X
Anna says
Hi Nagi, this tastes amazing! I use this just as it is or as a base for a bacon, chicken and mushroom version. For the chicken version I use half the amount of mushrooms (mixed variety king brown, enoki etc) two chicken breasts diced into 2cm cubes and four rashes of short cut rindless bacon cut into 1-2cm squares. I brown the bacon and chicken separately at the start then follow the recipe as is and add the chicken and bacon in at the end with the mushrooms. My (and my partners!) favourite risotto recipe, thanks so much.
Chico says
Wow just made this for my family. They all loved it!!!! Just had to cook it a little longer.. Great recipe!!! 😊
Liz says
Amazing!! I love the mushrooms in risotto.
Jesper Sloth says
I do not understand How to get a golden color on the mushrooms. There is so much water in them they just boil instead.
Help?
Nagi says
Hi Jesper – sounds like you need a higher heat so they are frying rather than stewing! N x
Karen Martin says
Or maybe putting too many mushrooms in the pan. Better to do several small if the pan is small.
Robyn says
I didn’t have wine so did as one of the comments suggested and used the rind and juice of a lemon very taste thank you for the yummy recipe
Jocelyn says
I LOVE Risotto and especially Mushroom Risotto. This recipe looks delightful! Thank you!
Sasha says
So f*ING good! Hubby wasn’t convinced on a veg risotto but he loves this! Do yourself a favor and just do it.
Fiona Agius says
I just discovered this website, that my sister told me about and I’m amazed! Today i tried the Spanish Paella and everyone loved it! Will also try this one! Amazing recipes! 5 star is not enough! Thumbs up!👍🏻
Paul Spratt says
So easy.
Fabulous taste.
Thank you
Sue Seymour says
This risotto is lovely. Had to eat with a spoon as it seemed a bit runny for a fork but so tasty. Will definitely make again.
Leora says
I’m not very good in the kitchen but what with restaurants being closed I was desperate for something different and tasty. Being a lover of risotto I decided to make it! The whole lot was finished in one sitting and my daughter even said it was as good as she has eaten in a restaurant, if not better!! Yhanks Nagi, you’re a star!!!
Ellie M says
Your recipes are the absolute best! When I plan my meals for the week I come to your website to see if you have a recipe for what I’m making, or if I’m stuck for ideas I browse and find something here! In love with your food and your style of cooking!! Thank you Nagi x
sue says
Just had to let you know that your mushroom risotto is delicious.
Thank you
Peter okeefe says
I printed this risotto recipe. I got 13 double sided sheets that did not include the actual method. I think you should have a print option for the actual recipe and not all the comments and photos. Otherwise it’s useless
Karen says
Hi Peter Not sure how you tried to print this recipe but there is a print option for the recipe and it just gives the recipe. I’ve printed off heaps of Nagi’s recipes because they are so good and we don’t have great internet.
Wendy Simmons says
Add lemon thyme and the zest of lemon and juice from half instead of wine. Chicken also works as an addition during mushroom cooking.
Wendy Simmons says
I’ve made this for clients where I couldn’t use wine so I added the zest of a lemon and juice from half..or more depending on volume. Also added lemon thyme. No creme and sometimes added chicken during the mushroom cooking phase. Divine. Must try this variation
Janet says
Hi Nagi. I just discovered your fabulous website and am completely hooked! I was wondering if you have a no-stir baked version of this recipe similar to your pumpkin risotto (which was incredible – thank you!)