“Creamy Wild Mushroom Risotto with Herb-infused Butter and Grilled Asparagus”

Allergens

Dairy (Butter, Parmesan Cheese)

Ingredients

• 1. 2 cups Arborio rice 2. 4 cups vegetable broth 3. 8 oz wild mushrooms (such as porcini, chanterelle, or morel) 4. 1/4 cup unsalted butter 5. 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, and rosemary) 6. 1 lb asparagus, trimmed 7. 2 shallots, minced 8. 3 cloves garlic, minced 9. 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 10. Salt and pepper to taste 11. Olive oil 12. Fresh lemon juice

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, warm the vegetable broth over low heat.
2. In a large pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced shallots and garlic, sautéing until translucent.
3. Add the Arborio rice to the pan, stirring constantly for 1 2 minutes to toast the grains.
4. Ladle in 1 cup of warm vegetable broth, stirring until absorbed. Continue this process, adding broth 1 cup at a time, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding more.
5. Meanwhile, in another pan, sauté the wild mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter until tender and golden brown. Set aside.
6. In a small saucepan, melt the remaining butter with chopped herbs over low heat, allowing flavors to meld for about 5 minutes. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a fine sieve.
7. When the risotto is creamy and cooked al dente, stir in the reserved wild mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, and half of the herb infused butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium heat. Toss the asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Grill until tender yet still crisp, about 2 3 minutes per side. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the grilled asparagus and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
9. To serve, divide the risotto among two plates, topping each with a drizzle of the remaining herb infused butter. Arrange the grilled asparagus alongside the risotto.

Chef’s Insight

The secret to perfect risotto is constant stirring and adding broth gradually until the rice has reached its desired consistency.

Notes

If wild mushrooms are unavailable, use a mix of button or cremini mushrooms.