Mushroom and Chicken Risotto

Ingredients

• 1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
• 2 1/2 cups boiling water
• 3 cups chicken stock
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small shallot, minced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup brown mushrooms, sliced
• 1 thyme sprig, only the leaves
• 1 cup arborio rice (7 ounces)
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1 small bay leaf
• 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (3 ounces)

Instructions: 

1. In a heatproof bowl, soak the dried porcini in the boiling water until softened, 10 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the soaking liquid; rinse the mushrooms to remove any grit. Finely chop the porcini and reserve in a small bowl. Pour the soaking liquid into a medium saucepan, stopping before you reach the sediment at the bottom. Stir in the chicken stock and season with salt and pepper. Warm the stock over low heat.

2. In a large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil until shimmering. Add the shallot, garlic, mushrooms, and thyme and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 2 minutes. Add the rice and rehydrated porcini and stir to coat. Add the wine and bay leaf, and cook until the wine has evaporated. Add about one-fourth of the warm stock and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until nearly absorbed. Continue adding the stock in batches, stirring constantly until the rice is al dente and suspended in a creamy sauce, about 20 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the butter and cheese; season with salt and pepper.

3. Enjoy!