Daily Idea

Porcini are the ideal mushrooms for this risotto, but any mushroom or mixture of
mushrooms will yield a delicious risotto. Porco is an Italian word for “pig,” and
porcini have the chubby, oblong shape of the body of a pig—hence the “piglet”
mushroom. Typically Italian, this is one of the most common risotto dishes served in
the United States. For more details on risotto, see the basic risotto recipe.
SERVES 4
5 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup minced onion
2 tablespoons minced shallots
12 ounces fresh porcini mushrooms, sliced
2 cups Arborio rice
½ cup dry white wine
6½ cups hot chicken or vegetable stock
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, cut into bits
½ cup freshly grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Heat the olive oil in a medium casserole, and sauté the onion and shallots until golden.
Add the mushrooms, and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the rice, and stir to
coat it with oil. Pour in the wine, stir well, and add ½ cup of the hot stock and the salt.
Cook, stirring constantly, until all the liquid has been absorbed. Continue to add hot
stock in small batches (just enough to completely moisten the rice), stirring constantly
to help the liquid absorb, until the rice mixture is creamy and al dente.
Remove from the heat, whip in the butter and cheese, season with pepper to taste,
and serve

When making this risotto, choose any vegetable that is in season. It is a wonderful
way of creating exciting new combinations of flavors that will be yours to pass on.
It can become a spring pea risotto, an autumn squash risotto, a winter beet risotto,
or a summer corn risotto. This risotto is also a wonderful way to use leftover
vegetables you might have in the refrigerator or freezer.
SERVES 6
½ pound broccoli (about 1 medium-size stalk)
1 cup blanched fava beans or frozen baby lima beans
½ teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup minced scallions, greens included (about 6)
1 tablespoon minced shallot
2½ cups Arborio or Carnaroli rice
½ cup dry white wine
6½ cups hot vegetable stock or chicken broth
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits
½ cup freshly grated Grana Padano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, or Pecorino Romano cheese
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Trim the broccoli florets from the stems, keeping them small enough to fit on a spoon.
(You should have about 1¼ cups.) Peel the stems with a small knife or vegetable peeler,
then cut them into 2-inch pieces. Steam the florets just until bright green, about 1
minute. Steam the stems until very tender, about 4 minutes. Reserve the steaming liquid.
Transfer the stems to a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. You will
probably have to add some of the steaming liquid to make a smooth mixture. Scrape out
the purée into a small bowl, and set the florets and purée aside.
If using the baby lima beans, cook them in a small saucepan of boiling salted water
for 2 minutes. Drain them thoroughly and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy casserole or pot over medium heat. Add the scallions and
shallot and sauté until translucent, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Add the rice, and stir
to coat with the oil. Toast the rice until the edges become translucent, 1 to 2 minutes.
Pour in the wine, and stir well until evaporated. Add ½ cup of the hot stock and the ½
teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until all the stock has been absorbed. Continue
to add hot stock in small batches—just enough to completely moisten the rice—and cook
until each successive batch has been absorbed. After the risotto has cooked for 12
minutes, stir in the broccoli purée and the favas or limas. About 3 minutes after that, stir
in the broccoli florets. Stir constantly, and adjust the level of heat so the rice is
simmering very gently while adding the stock, until the rice mixture is creamy but al
dente. This will take about 18 minutes from the first addition of stock.
Remove the casserole from the heat. Whip in the butter first, until melted, then the
grated cheese. Adjust the seasoning with salt, if necessary, and pepper. Serve
immediately, ladled into warm shallow bowls.