Simple Sundays | Mushroom Quinoa Risotto
A recipe for Mushroom Quinoa Risotto. Use quinoa in place of arborio rice for healthy version of a risotto.
For a healthy alternative to a creamy risotto, try using quinoa in this recipe for Mushroom Quinoa Risotto. The quinoa cooks quickly, so a creamy risotto can be had in about half the time.
It’s been a rough winter. For many of you, incessant snow has been your been your adversary. For those of us in California, the drought has been ours.
Don’t get me started on the winter illnesses.
My daughter is home. Earlier this week, my son had another turn at resting in bed. Between the two of them, I have not left the house in days, and the groceries are dwindling. My daughter, who normally is full of energy and bounces about like a jumping bean, can’t seem to get herself out of bed, she is so weak. January and February and all your germs, I’m so over you.
When you can’t get to the store, you have to be a little resourceful in the kitchen. The refrigerator was looking a little bare, so I took the opportunity to clean it out. Literally. Shelves were pulled and washed, and I had a good chance to pick through the inventory and throw away anything past its prime. I set aside the mushrooms, however. A risotto sounded like a good idea.
Mushroom Quinoa Risotto
I’ve been thinking of making this Mushroom Quinoa Risotto for a while. And then I saw that Mark Bittman successfully used quinoa in a risotto quite recently. With just enough quinoa left in the pantry, I set to work.
You know what I love about this risotto, other than the obvious fact that it uses such a healthy alternative to rice? It comes together faster than a traditional risotto. Quinoa cooks so quickly, so a creamy risotto can be had in about half the time. I combined some dried porcini mushrooms with the fresh cremini, bringing extra depth to the flavor with the mushroom soaking liquid.
I hope you’re staying warm and healthy, wherever you are. Hang in there, spring is around the corner. We’ll get there, soon.
More Mushroom Recipes
Filipino Crispy Tofu and Mushroom Adobo
Mushroom and Short Rib Noodle Soup
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Garlicky Kale
Mushroom Polenta Breakfast Bowl
Spaetzle with Garlic Butter Mushrooms and Baby Kale | Simple Sundays
Mushroom Quinoa Risotto
Ingredients
- 1 oz dried porcini mushrooms
- 8 oz fresh cremini mushrooms sliced
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 leek cleaned and finely diced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 1/2 cups quinoa
- 1/2 cup white wine optional, otherwise use water
- 2-3 cups chicken or vegetable stock kept warm (I used a combination)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese plus additional for garnish
- Flat leaf parsley for garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, cover the dried porcini mushrooms with 1 cup boiling water and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Drain the mushrooms with a sieve and reserve the liquid. If the liquid looks grainy, you may wish to pass it through a coffee filter. Set both aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of butter with the olive oil in a deep sided sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add the leeks and cook for about two minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the fresh mushrooms and cook for about 4 minutes, or until they are wilted. Add the rehydrated porcini mushrooms and stir. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Stir in the quinoa and let the oils coat the grains. Stir in the wine (or water) and let it cook until the wine is absorbed. Stir in the reserved mushroom liquid and let it cook down. Proceed to stir in the chicken or vegetable stock, one cup at a time, letting the rice absorb the liquid between additions. Continue until the risotto is creamy and soft, about 20 minutes. You may or may not need to use all the chicken stock. Turn off the heat and cover the pan, letting it sit for about 3-5 minutes. Stir in the parmesan cheese, and adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley, shavings of parmesan cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Comments
COOKBOOK
Fantastic really tasty :-)
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Not sure if someone mentionned it already but you have written “rice” instead of “quinoa” once in the instructions. This looks absolutely delicous, I’ll probably try it tomorrow! I don’t have porcini mushromms so I’ll use shiitake instead. Not the same taste but I’m sure it will be nice still!
Love this idea. I mean, I love it! We are huge risotto fans, and it is a staple in our house. Now it will be protein packed! Hope everyone starts feeling better at your home …
Thank you so much, Denise!
Liren – I hope your little ones are on the mend to feeling 100% again! Love how you were creative and used some wonderful pantry items to make this divine dish of love! This is a must make!
Thank you, Lisa! They are all better now (whew!) – it was such a relief to have both in school for a full week!
I love mushrooms. Love them madly. I love quinoa, too, so I guess I’m saying I’ll love this!
Yes, if you love them both, then you will definitely like this :)
This looks so comforting and delicious!
Thank you, Meredith!
Ugh on all the sickness, not fun at all. This quinoa risotto is genius and my kind of food! Looks delicious!
Is it spring yet, Aggie?? I can’t wait!
Oh goodness, this is just a lovely bowl of yummy comfort. I love the idea of a quinoa risotto! So healthy and delicious I’m sure! We’ve been sick too. Hope you all are back to well soon.
I hope you’re all on the mend, Maria!
The whole winter sickness thing really bums me out. I never get sick (or, at least, rarely do I get sick) but recently Eric got a flu vaccine and then he got sick and passed it along to me. So… I’ve basically been loading up on water, ramen and bourbon the last two days. And now I’m feeling MUCH better. Obviously you can’t use that trick with your kids (not the bourbon part, at least).
I started doing quinoa risotto a few years ago… I think it was Bittman that introduced it to me, though it may have come from Food and Wine. So simple and delicious and just what we need this winter.
Water ramen and bourbon (the perfect antidote, by the way) may not work for the kids but that will surely work for me. Fingers crossed I don’t get sick. I’m just glad you and Eric are now feeling better!
You had me and mushroom.
I know you and mushrooms, dear Paula!
I love all the variations popping up on risotto lately and have been trying to find new ways to incorporate quinoa into my diet (besides the same old salad bit) – definitely will be trying this soon!
I agree, I love finding new ways to eat quinoa, it’s so good!
Pfft, i know what you mean… I thought for a minute I would escape those germs but as we speak I am having a horrible cold and feel not so well. O well, it will get spring soon. Not that we had a proper winter here btw.
That risotto looks perfect! I love quinoa and have a large bag of red quinoa in the cupboard… Might try this!
Simone, oh no! I hope you are feeling better! I can’t tell you how eager I am for spring!
So sorry that there have been so many sick ones around your parts. I know how that goes…it can be so exhausting! This risotto though? Well, it looks amazing. I know it would make me feel a lot better! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Monet. I’m relieved to say the kids are all better (for now!). I just want these winter germs to go away!
This looks so satisfying and delicious! I’m sorry your kids have been ill…my youngest had the flu this past week and it was tough. Thank goodness kids are so resilient that they bounce back quickly. :)
Oh, I hope your young one is feeling better from the flu! There have been too many nasty bugs this year!
First of all, I LOVE this photograph. Sort of perfection.
I don’t do mushrooms, (I know, it’s a defect), but I’m all over the quinoa idea. It’s sort of genius, isn’t it? And even after my previous statement, I’m making this because my family will inhale it and I can pick around the big hunks. :) I’m having visions of this with piles of oven-roasted root veggies. Oh man, now I’m hungry for dinner and I haven’t even finished my morning coffee.
Gosh, thank you, Mindy! Risotto can be hard to photograph, so thank you very much! If mushrooms aren’t your thing (I understand…my daughter picks it out), oven roasted veggies sounds amazing with this!
I think mushrooms make the most luxurious risottos of all. I’ve never tried using quinoa, sounds wonderful!
I do agree, Sue, there’s nothing like a mushroom risotto — they do seem more luxurious than all the rest, don’t they?
We just had Quinoa yesterday and we loved it :D Recipe pinned and hopefully soon tested ;)
Thanks, rebecca
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I do love quinoa and wish I would remember to cook it more. I hope you enjoy it, Rebecca!