Best Porcini And Barley Risotto Recipes

PEARL BARLEY RISOTTO (ORZOTTO) WITH SAUTEED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Place the dried porcini in a bowl and cover with 200ml of warm water, leave to soak for 30 minutes (you can use this time to prepare the other vegetables).
• Now start the orzotto: in a large saucepan, gently saute the onion in the olive oil until golden, then add the carrot, celery and pearl barley, turn up the heat and cook on a medium to high heat for 2 minutes.
• Add the wine and let it evaporate, then turn down the heat again to a low to medium temperature; add the stock a ladleful at a time, ensuring that the liquid is absorbed before adding the next ladleful of stock: this will take about 40 minutes and the pearl barley should be tender but with a bite.
• When the orzotto has been cooking for about 25 minutes, drain the porcini (save the liquid for other recipes) and start cooking the sauteed mushrooms: in a large lidded pan melt the butter and olive oil together and gently saute the onion and garlic until soft, stir in seasoning, add the mushrooms, porcini and parsley and cover and cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Remove the lid, turn up the heat and cook for about another 5 minutes, stirring the mushrooms, until most of the juices have evaporated.
• To serve: spoon the orzotto into a large round dish, pushing it towards the sides; spoon the mushroom mixture into the space left in the middle of the dish, sprinkle the mushrooms with parsley and pecorino cheese.

PORCINI AND BARLEY 'RISOTTO'

Steps:

• Place porcini in heatproof bowl. In medium pan, bring broth to a boil. Pour over porcini, and let sit 15 minutes. Remove mushrooms, and chop. Strain broth through cheesecloth.
• Scatter onion and garlic in a large heavy pan, and pour oil on top. Sauté until onion is translucent. Add barley, and cook, stirring, to toast barley, about 5 minutes. Pour in wine, and reduce until it is almost gone.
• Begin adding mushroom broth a little at a time, stirring until it is absorbed. (It should simmer rapidly.) Continue adding broth until barley is just tender but still firm. Remove from heat, and stir in mushrooms, butter, thyme and half the cheese. Ladle into 4 shallow bowls, and sprinkle with rest of cheese.