Matsutake Mushroom Risotto with Chili Crawfish Creme
After staring at the luxurious ingredients that Marx Foods sent to me for our Thanksgiving Virtual Potluck, I first felt like I was on the show “Chopped”. Unlike the chef contestants on the TV show, I had an out. I was not forced to use “everything in my basket”, and I am allowed to share my bounty with my readers in a giveaway.
But, a people pleaser by nature, I was still at angst over what to pair with the highlighted ingredient, the Italian Vialone Nano risotto.
I decided to use the dried matsutake mushrooms within the risotto, as it would give the dish an earthy flavor I was looking for. Matsutake’s are prized by the Japanese for their distinct spicy-aromatic odor.
I also chose to incorporate the dried aji amarillo chile, a bright-orange, thick-fleshed Peruvian chile with a medium to hot heat level. I wanted the chile to be a delicious component to the crawfish cream sauce I prepared to top the risotto.
I was surprised by the subtle and sweet anise tones the mushrooms took on, which drove the dish in a direction I had not planned for. My husband loved the aroma, but I was not as convinced. After consideration, I think the black trumpets would have worked better if creating again. I’m thankful for purveyors such as Marks for bringing global ingredients to our home kitchens, so that we have the opportunity to experience such quality products.
I was going to include my recipe in this post, but since I was not in love with it, and felt it still needed tweaking, I am sharing instead my “Delicious Portabella Risotto” for you to enjoy.
The portabella and white mushrooms can be substituted with an array of interesting exotic varieties that Marx supplies. If you are a foodie, their website will leave you feeling like a kid in a candy store.
Delicious Portabella Mushroom Rosotto
Ingredients:
- 6 cups chicken broth, divided
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 pound portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 1 pound white mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 2 shallots, diced
- 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped chives
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
- In a saucepan, warm the broth over low heat.
- Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the mushrooms, and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Don’t overcrowd them or stir too often. Remove mushrooms and their liquid, and set aside.
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to skillet, and stir in the shallots. Cook 1 minute. Add rice, stirring to coat with oil, about 2 minutes. When the rice has taken on a pale, golden color, pour in wine, stirring constantly until the wine is fully absorbed. Add 1/2 cup broth to the rice, and stir until the broth is absorbed. Continue adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat, and stir in mushrooms with their liquid, butter, chives, and parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Time for a GIVEAWAY!
Do you want to get your hands on some of the smaples I have been playing with? One lucky winner will have the opportunity to win one mushroom, one chili, and one aeromatc sample pack with three amazing vanilla beans, three total samples. You can be surprised like I was when the package arrives as to what the other 2 sample specifically are!
To Enter!
Leave a comment on what recipe you might use the vamilla beans in! Contest ends Nov. 27 at midnight and is open to US residents only.
For an Extra Entry!
tweet a link to this contest including 30AEATS @fromagechick and #virtualpotluck in the tweet! Let me know you tweeted!
For Another Entry!
follow @virtualpotluck on Twitter, and tweet a link to this contest with @virtualpotluck and @marxfoods in the tweet. Come back here and tell me that you followed and tweeted.
Last!
Go to @cookistry to check out our Virtual Potluck roundup post! Then, go to one other blog post described there, leave a comment on that blog Come back here to 30A EATS, and tell me where you left the comment! So quick and easy, and what a way to get a-hold of these specialty ingredients!
MARX is giving a DISCOUNT!
If you want to buy something from Marx Foods, I have the secret code for a discount.
Any time between November 21 and 27, if you purchase from Marx Foods, just enter POTLUCK into the Coupon Code field at checkout for 10 percent off of everything. That is 10% off serious gourmet hard to find products!
Matsutake Mushroom Risotto with Chili Crawfish Creme
