Mushroom Risotto with Peas

Ingredients

• 6 to 7 cups chicken, vegetable, or garlic broth
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely chopped onion, or 2 shallots, minced
• 3/4 to 1 lb wild mushrooms, cleaned and torn or sliced into smaller pieces
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves or chopped sage
• 1 1/2 cups arborio or carnaroli rice
• 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed (optional)
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, or a mixture of Parmesan and Pecorino Romano

Instructions

1. Bring stock or broth to a simmer in a saucepan with a ladle nearby. Make sure stock is well seasoned and keep it simmering on the stove.
2. Heat oil in a wide, heavy nonstick skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add onions or shallots and cook gently until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Turn up heat and add mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until they begin to sweat, about 3 minutes, then add garlic and thyme or sage. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Season mushrooms with salt and pepper and continue to cook over medium heat until they are soft. Taste and adjust seasoning.
4. Add rice and stir until grains begin to crackle. Add wine and cook, stirring, until wine is no longer visible in pan. Stir in enough simmering stock to just cover the rice. The stock should bubble slowly. Cook, stirring often and vigorously, until stock is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of stock and continue cooking, stirring often and adding more stock when rice is almost dry, for 15 minutes.
5. Add peas, if using, and continue adding stock and stirring for another 10 minutes. Rice should be tender all the way through but still al dente. Taste and adjust seasoning.
6. Add another ladleful or two of stock to rice. Stir in parsley and Parmesan, and remove from heat. Season with black pepper and serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates.