Lukes Wild Mushroom Orzo Recipes

ORZO WITH MUSHROOMS AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place walnuts on a baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until they release their aroma. Stir once or twice for even toasting.
• Heat oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute onion and mushrooms until tender and golden brown.
• Pour in broth, and bring to a boil. Stir in orzo, reduce heat to low, and cover. Simmer until orzo is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. If after 15 minutes there is still liquid, remove cover, and cook until liquid is gone. Remove from heat, and stir in walnuts. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

WILD MUSHROOM AND ORZO "RISOTTO"

Steps:

• Rinse mushrooms briefly with cold water. Place in small bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups hot water and let soak until softened, about 30 minutes. Drain mushrooms, reserving soaking liquid. Squeeze mushrooms and chop.
• Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until tender, about 8 minutes. Add orzo and stir until coated with oil. Mix in chopped mushrooms.
• Meanwhile combine 4 cups broth other medium saucepan. Bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low and keep hot.
• Add 1 cup liquid to orzo, adjust heat so liquid simmers slowly and cook until orzo absorbs liquid, stirring occasionally. Continue adding liquid 1 cup at a time, simmering until each addition is absorbed before adding next and stirring occasionally until orzo is just tender and liquid is creamy, about 30 minutes. Stir in Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley.

MUSHROOM ORZO

Steps:

• Melt 1/2 the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onions, and cook until golden brown. Mix in orzo, mushrooms, and remaining butter. Cook and stir 5 minutes, until butter is melted and mushrooms are tender.
• Pour water and wine into the skillet, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook 7 to 10 minutes, until orzo is al dente. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and parsley to serve.

ORZO RISOTTO WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Cover dried mushrooms with 1 1/2 cups boiling water in a heatproof bowl; let soak 20 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to a cutting board and roughly chop. Strain soaking liquid; add to a large pot along with stock, milk, and cardamom. Bring to a low simmer over medium heat and keep stock warm.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a medium pot over medium-high. Add wild mushrooms and chopped dried mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove mushrooms from pan; set aside.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in same pot over medium heat. Cook garlic, shallot, leek, coriander, and red-pepper flakes until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in orzo until well combined.
• Ladle 2 cups reserved stock over orzo and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until almost completely absorbed. Continue adding stock, 1 cup at a time, stirring often and waiting for each addition to be almost completely absorbed before adding the next, until orzo is just al dente, about 20 minutes. Stir in sauteed mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in fava beans, 1/4 cup parsley, 2 tablespoons dill, lemon zest and juice, and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon orzo into serving bowls, top each with a soft-poached egg, and sprinkle with remaining herbs.

LUKE'S WILD MUSHROOM ORZO

Steps:

• TO PREPARE THE MUSHROOM STOCK:
• 1. In a small pot, immerse the dried porcinis in 4 1/2 cups of water. Add the sprig of thyme whole.
• 2. Bring the mushroom mixture to a boil over high heat, then remove immediately from the stove and set aside for 5 minutes.
• TO PREPARE THE ORZO:
• 1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepot. Add the onion and cook over medium heat until it takes on a light golden color, about 3 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent burning.
• 2. Add the mixed wild mushrooms and stir well to combine. Saut&ecute; on medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until the mushrooms are just starting to color. At this point, but not before, add the salt and pepper (if you do it earlier, before the mushrooms have opened up, the salt will pull out all the moisture). Mix well to combine and continue cooking for another 30 seconds, until the mushrooms have started to reduce and color.
• 3. Move the pan well away from the heat (so you don't catch fire) and add the vermouth. Stir to combine and then return to the heat for just a few seconds, until the vermouth and mushroom juices form a syrupy mixture in the bottom of the pan.
• 4. Remove the pan from the heat, add the orzo, and mix well, so the grains are all coated with the pan juices.
• 5. Remove the thyme sprig from the porcini mixture and discard. Pour the porcinis and liquid over the orzo.
• 6. Return the pan to medium-high heat and bring up to a low boil, stirring well to combine. Turn the heat down to low, and keep the mixture at a very lazy bubble for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The orzo is done when it's swelled up and become tender, but still has a bit of a bounce between the teeth. There should be just a little bit of syrupy liquid on the bottom, but the orzo mixture should be a bit wet. (If you cook it till the liquid is completely absorbed, you'll have a sticky mess.)
• TO FINISH THE DISH:
• 1. Remove the pot from the heat. Add the butter and mix in well; then add the Parmigiano-Reggiano and continue stirring. Add the parsley and thyme leaves and mix well, until the texture of the dish is softer and richer from the butter and cheese and all the ingredients are well combined. If you're using the truffle oil, add it and mix well so the oil is absorbed.
• 2. Serve as quickly as possible, topped with a little more of the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.