Mushroom Risotto Paired with Mercator Reserve Marquette
Deep and complex, mushroom risotto is the perfect side dish for steak and chicken. Parmesan and cremini mushrooms pair to create a decadent risotto bursting with umami flavour profiles. This side dish pairs perfectly with Mercator Vineyards’ Reserve Marquette with its rich dried fruit and spice notes.
Ingredients
Serves 4
| 1 cup | Arborio rice |
| 3 cups | cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced |
| 3 cups | white mushrooms, thinly sliced |
| 2 | shallots, diced |
| 2 tbsp | olive oil, divided |
| 1/4 cup | local white wine |
| 4 cups | chicken stock, warmed |
| 2 tbsp | butter |
| 2 tbsp | chives, finely chopped |
| 1/4 cup | parmesan cheese, freshly grated |
| sea salt, to taste | |
| freshly ground black pepper, to taste |
Directions
- Warm chicken broth in a saucepan over low heat.
- Add 1 tbsp olive oil to a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; cook and stir until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove mushrooms and their liquid to a bowl and set aside.
- Add remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to the pan. Stir in shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add rice; stir until rice is coated with oil and pale, golden in colour- about 2 minutes.
- Add wine, stirring constantly until wine is fully absorbed. Add 1/2 cup warm broth to the rice and stir until the broth is absorbed. Continue adding broth a little at a time, stirring constantly, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender yet firm to the bite- about 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Stir in reserved mushrooms and their liquid, butter, and chives. Add parmesan cheese, keeping some aside to top off the risotto when serving.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately. Serve with Mercator Vineyards’ Reserve Marquette and a hearty main, like beef tenderloin, rack of lamb, or grilled vegetables.
Wine Pairing
Mercator Vineyards’ Reserve Marquette is a wine with depth and complexity, making it a great complement to this hearty mushroom risotto.
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Local Source Guide
Mercator Vineyards Reserve Marquette: Available for sale directly from Mercator Vineyards.
Mushrooms: Souce local produce from Masstown Market, Noggins Corner Farm Markets, Stirling Farm Markets, Uprooted Market & Café, or one of the many Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia locations.
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Recipe provided by: Mercator Vineyards
Photography provided by: Alexa Cude, @seriouslyalexa
This recipe is featured in our 2023 Taste of Nova Scotia Culinary Guide.