Creamy Mushroom Risotto
My simple eight ingredient Creamy Mushroom Risotto is gonna shock all you rice lovers out there. The Arborio rice is a key component, but the process is equally important. So creamy and delicious!
We’re all about the risotto in our home. For something a little fancier (we call this “date night”), try my Shrimp Risotto with Bacon. Or for something with a springtime twist, try some Lemon Risotto with Peas! You can’t go wrong!
Mushroom Risotto
Risotto has always seemed like “fancy food” to me. You know, dishes that only Giada de Laurentiis would prepare. So when I ordered this Arborio Rice
Like right NOW. Don’t get the rice and let it sit in your pantry for almost a year!
Why We Love This Creamy Risotto:
- Creamy – Obviously! This risotto is unbelievably creamy due to the slow cooking method.
- Salty – The parmesan cheese gives this dish a nice salty taste. Not TOO much. Just right!
- Loaded with Mushrooms – The mushrooms cook down a lot, but there are still plenty. And we LOVE mushrooms so it’s a good thing.
Ingredients needed for Creamy Mushroom Risotto:
There are only eight ingredients in my recipe (plus the salt and pepper). It’s not difficult to make, and you should totally try it.
- Arborio Rice – I love ordering this because it can be difficult finding it in regular grocery stores.
- Mushrooms – Use white sliced or Bella mushrooms. You can also buy whole mushrooms and slice them yourself.
- Parmesan Cheese – For best results, buy a wedge of parmesan cheese at the deli counter and shred it yourself using a cheese grater.
- Onion and Garlic – These two veggies add SO much flavor.
- White Wine – Add a cup of white wine to the rice for more of an authentic risotto. Or just use all chicken broth.
- Chicken Broth – This is added slowly to the rice, and is another flavor bomb. I use a lower-sodium version.
- Olive Oil – Used to sauté, as usual.
- Salt and Pepper – I always use kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
The first time I made it, I only used one package of mushrooms. The second time I used two, which is now what I use all the time. We adore mushrooms at our house.
How to make Creamy Mushroom Risotto:
Step 1
Brown the mushrooms. Begin by sautéing the mushrooms in olive oil. When done, remove the mushrooms to another dish.
Step 2
Sauté the onion. Using same pan, sauté the onion in a little more olive oil until soft.
Step 3
Add garlic and Arborio Rice. Add the garlic and rice, and stir for about two minutes to slightly brown the rice.
Step 4
Incorporate wine. Add one cup of white wine, and cook until it is absorbed. If you don’t use wine, use chicken broth.
Step 5
Gradually add broth. Then add 1/2 cup of chicken broth at a time, waiting until each portion is absorbed before adding more. Season with salt and pepper.
Note: Add the broth slowly, and observe the risotto getting plump and creamy. Adding all the broth at once will give you a completely different consistency and very little creaminess.
Step 6
Top with cheese. When all the broth is absorbed, add the freshly grated parmesan cheese and stir to combine.
Step 7
Serve. To serve, add the mushrooms back to the pot, and add a bit more parmesan cheese.
What is Arborio Rice?
Arborio Rice is a variety of short-grained rice. It retains more of it’s natural starch content due to less milling (than ordinary long-grained rice). The slow cooking process (and the technique below) releases this starch, giving risotto it’s creamy consistency.
This creamy risotto, along with some shrimp and broccoli, has been our dinner two Fridays in a row. However, I could easily skip the shrimp and broccoli, and eat this as a main dish.
I’m currently dreaming up several other kinds of risotto. Broccoli Cheddar, Butternut Squash, Parmesan Bacon, and so on. Do you have a favorite? If so, please let me know in the comment section below.
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Creamy Mushroom Risotto
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons olive oil
- 16 oz. sliced white or Bella mushrooms
- 1 medium onion – chopped
- 3 cloves garlic – minced
- 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
- 1 cup white wine
- 4 cups lower sodium chicken broth
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese – plus more to serve
Instructions
- Using a medium saucepan, heat two tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until done, approximately 5-6 minutes. Remove mushrooms to a separate bowl.
- Using same saucepan, heat remaining olive oil. Add onion and sauté until soft, approximately 5 minutes. Add garlic and rice, and stir. Cook for about two minutes to slightly brown the rice.
- Add one cup of white wine (or chicken broth), and cook until absorbed. Then add 1/2 cup at a time, waiting each time until the broth is absorbed. This will take 20-25 minutes.
- When broth is absorbed and rice is cooked, remove from heat and add salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. Stir until well combined. Add mushrooms and stir again.
Video
Notes
- Slowly adding the broth to the risotto is the KEY to creamy risotto.
- The entire process may take from 25 – 35 minutes.
- You can use white wine in place of the first cup of broth.
- Leftovers are great, up to four days.
Excellent!
Thank you so much!
This was delicious!!! We used 1 cup more chicken broth but that was the only change we made. We will definitely be making it again,.
Yay! Thanks Pam, for your feedback. So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
As an Italian, I find it almost sacraligus that you put KRAFT packaged parmesan cheese in a homemade risotto dish……any dish is only as good as its fresh ingredients…..ease try this eith fresh grated reggiano….what a difference!!
Hi Lisa. I’m sorry you are not a Kraft fan. I’ll try my risotto with fresh parm next time I make it!
We made the risotto for the first time tonight. It was a hit. It will definitely become a regular item on the menu.
Yes! Glad you enjoyed it, Robbie! 🙂
Risotto is one of my favorite dishes to order at a restaurant because I can’t make it at home, 🙁
but no, I can and it’s so easy and delicious!! 🙂
Haha! You CAN make it at home! 🙂
I must admit that I had not tried Risotto until this recipe and I can’t believe what I was missing. This dish is amazing and it is now in my weekly rotation. Another easy way to have an awesome meatless meal. So simple also with only 7 ingredients!