Celestino's wild mushroom risotto
Dear SOS: I would love to have the recipe for the wild mushroom risotto served at Celestino in Beverly Hills. It’s the best I’ve had anywhere.
Carolyn Metcalf
La Canada-Flintridge
Dear Carolyn: The recipe is a foodie cook’s dream. Lots of stirring, lots of hip ingredients and lots of flavor. Arborio rice (available at Italian grocery stores and most supermarkets) is high in starch and provides the creaminess characteristic of risotto. If you’ve never cooked risotto, this is a good time to start.
Soak dry mushrooms in just enough chicken broth to cover for 2 hours. Remove mushrooms from broth and squeeze dry. Chop mushrooms and set aside. Reserve broth.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, chopped dry mushrooms and shiitake. Saute 3 minutes. Add wine and cook until liquid is absorbed. Add reserved broth and cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Bring remaining broth to simmer in saucepan and keep hot.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet. Add rice and stir about 2 minutes to coat grains. Add 1/2 cup broth, stirring constantly with wooden spoon. Add another 1/2 cup broth and cook, stirring until rice becomes dry. Repeat adding broth in increments, cooking and stirring until rice is tender and all broth is used, about 25 minutes. Stir in mushroom mixture, mascarpone cheese, 1 tablespoon butter and Parmesan. Add more salt and pepper if needed. Remove from heat and mix well. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.
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