Caramelized Onion Mushroom Risotto (Printer-Friendly)

Creamy risotto with sweet caramelized onions, savory mushrooms, and Parmesan cheese in an Italian style.

# What You Need:

→ Produce

01 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
02 - 9 oz cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Grains

05 - 1.5 cups Arborio rice

→ Dairy

06 - 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - 0.25 cup heavy cream

→ Liquids

09 - 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, kept warm
10 - 0.5 cup dry white wine

→ Oils and Seasonings

11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 0.5 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
13 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a large heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium-low heat. Add sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, for 20-25 minutes until deeply golden and caramelized. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
02 - In the same pan, add remaining olive oil. Sauté mushrooms over medium heat until browned and moisture has evaporated, about 7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in Arborio rice and toast for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent sticking.
04 - Pour in dry white wine and cook, stirring, until mostly absorbed.
05 - Add warm broth one ladle at a time, stirring gently and allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding the next. Continue until rice is creamy and al dente, about 18-20 minutes. You may not need all the broth.
06 - Stir in caramelized onions, remaining butter, Parmesan cheese, and heavy cream. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
07 - Let risotto rest for 2 minutes, then stir in chopped fresh parsley. Serve garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and additional parsley.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The caramelized onions taste like they've been simmered with time itself, sweet and complex without a hint of harshness.
  • It feels fancy enough to serve to guests but honest enough to eat alone on a Wednesday night.
  • One pan means one cleanup, and honestly that matters more than people admit.
02 -
  • The broth absolutely must stay warm; adding cold liquid will shock the rice and mess up your creamy texture, a mistake I made exactly once.
  • Don't walk away from this dish once the broth additions start; risotto demands your presence and your constant gentle stirring.
03 -
  • Keep that wooden spoon moving constantly during the broth additions; this gentle stirring is what releases the rice's starch and creates the signature creamy texture.
  • If your risotto seems too thick at the end, stir in a splash more warm broth or even a spoonful of pasta water; if it's too loose, the rice probably needs a bit more time to absorb and thicken.
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