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Porcini Farro Risotto





Yields
Serves 10 to 12



Total Time
2 hrs 30 mins

Farro (emmer wheat) can be used instead of rice to make a creamy, nutty-tasting risotto--as long as you use the semi-pearled type (the seed's tough outer layer has been partly removed). This dish is good with whole, unpearled farro too, but will be tender-chewy, not creamy.

su-Porcini Farro Risotto




Photo: Brown Cannon III
 2 1/2 cups dried porcini, black trumpet, or mixed wild mushrooms
 1/4 cup unsalted butter
 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
 1/2 cup roughly chopped onion
 1 garlic clove, minced
 2 cups semipearled or regular farro*
  About 1 tsp. kosher salt
 10 sprigs thyme, leaves minced
 1 cup very roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley
 1 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
Step 1
1

Bring dried porcini and 8 1/2 cups water to a boil over high heat, covered. Remove from heat and let sit 1 hour. Lift mushrooms from soaking liquid and chop coarsely; set liquid and mushrooms aside.

Step 2
2

Meanwhile, melt butter with oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and farro and cook, stirring, until onion is translucent and farro turns toasty brown, about 7 minutes. Stir in 1 tsp. salt.

Step 3
3

Strain porcini soaking liquid through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a bowl. Pour 1 cup liquid into farro and cook, stirring, until nearly absorbed, about 5 minutes. Repeat until all liquid has been used and farro is tender, about 1 hour.

Step 4
4

Stir in thyme, parsley, reserved porcini, and cheese, and cook another few minutes to meld flavors. Season with salt to taste.

Step 5
5

*Find semipearled farro at amazon.com, or use regular farro: Soak 1 hour in 2 in. of water to cover, then drain and cook as directed--except add all the liquid at once (no amount of stirring will make it creamy, so save yourself the trouble).

Nutrition Facts

Servings 0

Amount Per Serving
Calories 339Calories from Fat 34
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 13g20%

Saturated Fat 5.4g27%
Cholesterol 19mg7%
Sodium 206mg9%
Total Carbohydrate 39g13%

Dietary Fiber 8.5g34%
Protein 17g34%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.