Spinach and Herb Risotto with Oyster Mushrooms - Special-occasion-worthy risotto, three different ways. Vegan, vegetarian, or meaty - no matter which way you choose, this risotto is packed with flavor.

I have to be honest here. I felt a tad deflated when I was asked to review a brand new cookbook called “Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore: Dinner for Everyone At the Table.”

“That’s the cookbook I wanted to write someday!” I thought. But instead, an accomplished, James Beard award-winning cookbook author had written it – someone who has written cookbooks that I really like, to boot. Grr! Think The Vegetarian Epicure and Love Soup. Thankfully, my jealousy turned to excitement pretty quickly, because the truth was, I was pretty excited to crack open Anna Thomas’ latest.

Spinach and Herb Risotto with Oyster Mushrooms - Special-occasion-worthy risotto, three different ways. Vegan, vegetarian, or meaty - no matter which way you choose, this risotto is packed with flavor.

As it turns out, Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore – with loads of vegan base recipes and options for taking them in both vegetarian and meaty directions – is indeed perfect for Kitchen Treaty readers. But I find it to be more of a special occasion cookbook – a bit different than my more everyday point of view. And I love that, because even if you don’t live in a mixed-diet family, almost everyone encounters dietary differences when it comes to holidays and parties.

Spinach and Herb Risotto with Oyster Mushrooms - Special-occasion-worthy risotto, three different ways. Vegan, vegetarian, or meaty - no matter which way you choose, this risotto is packed with flavor.

Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore is the kind of cookbook you’ll enjoy reading cover to cover, then whipping out whenever you want to seriously impress guests – even better when a plethora of dietary preferences and requirements are presenting themselves at the table.

It’s packed with ambitious but doable holiday menus and recipes (with options, of course). The menus and recipes are interspersed with set-the-mood stories that transport you to, say, a golden California evening, lounging on a tree-covered patio and sipping rosé with Anna herself. (And you feel quite welcomed, thank you, regardless of your dietary preferences.)

Each dish is both familiar and different, often with one or two special ingredients you might not use in everyday cooking. For me, I like how it bumps me a bit out of my comfort zone and challenges me to try new things. I need that now and then!

Spinach and Herb Risotto with Oyster Mushrooms - Special-occasion-worthy risotto, three different ways. Vegan, vegetarian, or meaty - no matter which way you choose, this risotto is packed with flavor.

This Spinach & Herb Risotto with Oyster Mushrooms has two ingredients I’d never tried – and I’m now in love with both. Oyster mushrooms – so (for lack of a better word) meaty! And mirin – Japanese sweet rice wine. Holy moly. Glazed oyster mushrooms, cooked with a splash of mirin until golden. Such flavor.

This risotto recipe made me believe that a vegan risotto can be just as good as risotto served up with tons of Parmesan. The parm is truly not necessary, as it turns out, although in the spirit of the cookbook (and Kitchen Treaty too!) it is an option. So is chicken. My guy enjoyed his with warmed cooked chicken and a sprinkle of shaved cheese. And I rewarded myself by sneaking a few extra glorious mushrooms into my own serving.

If you’re looking for more flexibility and interesting choices for serving yourself, your family, and your guests – particularly on special occasions – consider adding both this recipe and the book to your arsenal.

One gripe I do have about the cookbook is the lack of prep and cook times. I need that! But if you read through the recipe thoroughly before starting, you should get a good feel for about how long it should take. (And I did add my own prep/cook times to the recipe I’m sharing below).

Spinach and Herb Risotto with Oyster Mushrooms - Special-occasion-worthy risotto, three different ways. Vegan, vegetarian, or meaty - no matter which way you choose, this risotto is packed with flavor.

Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore: Dinner for Everyone at the Table is available now on Amazon.

5 from 1 vote

Spinach & Herb Risotto with Oyster Mushrooms

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Author: Kare
Special-occasion-worthy risotto, three different ways. Vegan, vegetarian, or meaty - no matter which way you choose, this risotto is packed with flavor.

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces oyster mushrooms
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (plus more for garnish)
  • 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • Sea salt
  • 4 tablespoons mirin (rice wine)
  • 5 cups light vegetable broth
  • 1/2 small red onion (thinly sliced)
  • 3/4 cup thinly sliced green onions (white and green parts)
  • 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice
  • 2/3 cup dry white wine
  • 2 packed cups chopped or thinly sliced fresh spinach
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • A pinch of oregano
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (plus more for the table)
  • Freshly ground black pepper

The omnivore way ...

  • To make this as a chicken dish (dice some poached or roasted chicken - leftovers are welcome - and warm it gently in a bit of chicken broth, then stir it into individual portions before topping with the oyster mushrooms.)
  •  

Instructions

  • Clean the mushrooms and slice them lengthwise if large, or simply pull apart the clumps if small. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet and sizzle half the chopped garlic in it for about 15 seconds. Add the mushrooms and a big pinch of salt and toss the mushrooms over high heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the mirin and continue to stir and toss the mushrooms as the liquid cooks away and the mushrooms develop golden edges, 4 to 5 more minutes. Turn off the heat and leave the mushrooms in the warm pan until needed.
  • Bring the vegetable broth to a simmer and keep it hot in a covered saucepan. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick saute pan and saute the red onion, remaining garlic, and green onions over high heat, stirring, until the onions begin to color, about 6 minutes. Add the rice to the onion mixture and stir it over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the wine and keep stirring as it cooks away. Add the spinach, parsley, and oregano and gently lift and turn the rice and spinach together for 2-3 minutes, until the spinach wilts.
  • Add a soup ladle of the hot broth to the rice and stir it in, keeping it just at a simmer. When the liquid is nearly absorbed, add another ladleful. Continue this way, adding broth a bit at a time and stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until most of the broth is used and the rice is al dente, 20 to 25 minutes. A slightly creamy sauce will form around the rice kernels, which are no longer crunchy but still firm. Shortly before the risotto is ready, give the mushrooms another stir over medium heat - just a minute or so.
  • When the rice has achieved the perfect tender-firm texture, squeeze in a few drops of lemon juice, stir in a last ladle of broth and the gated Parmesan cheese (if using), and taste. Correct the seasoning with another drop of lemon or a bit of pepper if needed.
  • Spoon the risotto into shallow bowls. Drizzle a little olive oil on top of each serving and top with a spoonful of the sauteed mushrooms. Pass additional Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Vegan Option

The Parmesan cheese can be left out of this risotto - it will sill have plenty of flavor. However, if you want some of that creamy richness, you can stir in a small amount of a vegan cream cheese, such as Tofutti, or add 1/2 cup chopped toasted pine nuts.

Omnivore Option

To make this as a chicken dish, dice some poached or roasted chicken - leftovers are welcome - and warm it gently in a bit of chicken broth, then stir it into individual portions before topping with the oyster mushrooms. (Note from Kare: I used a little vegetable broth to warm the chicken - worked well.)
Recipe from Vegan Vegetarian Omnivore by Anna Thomas. Copyright © 2016 by Independent Productions, Inc. With permission of the publisher, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
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