Add pine nuts to the frying pan and heat over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, you’ll need to stir frequently so they don’t burn. Fry until golden. Then, set aside but keep the pan on the hot plate.
Meanwhile, dice the onion, chop or slice (whichever you prefer) the garlic cloves and slice the mushrooms or cut them into quarters.
Using the same pan as before, add about 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil and turn up the heat to a medium-high setting. Add the mushrooms and fry until browned and cooked. Once done, set aside.
Again, use the same pan, and add 3-4 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion turns translucent. You can now add the herbs as well if using.
Add Arborio rice and pour in the white wine and allow it to boil and be absorbed into the rice. This takes about 2-3 minutes.
Then you add about 50ml/¼ cup of the veggie broth and stir it in. Wait for the liquids to be fully absorbed by the rice, before adding the next lot. Lower the heat to a medium setting that allows a constant, medium simmer.
Now, we continue in the same manner,adding about 50ml/¼ cup of broth every time the rice absorbed the liquids,for the next 25-30 minutes. Once all the broth is used up, try the rice if it’s tender enough. If not, add some more broth and/or cook for a bit longer.
Turn off the heat, add the mushrooms and stir them through. Leave the risotto in the pan on the stovetop for another 5 minutes.
Serve the mushroom risotto warm and garnish with fresh parsley and toasted pine nuts if you like.
Notes
White Wine: Always make sure the wine is vegan and preferably preservative-free! The wine does make a difference in the taste, but if you don’t drink alcohol, you may leave it out.
Herbs: I like adding some fresh or dried herbs if I can, such as rosemary, thyme or oregano. I like to add them when I start to cook the rice so they can fully release their flavours.
Storage: This vegan mushroom risotto keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for several days up to one week. Alternatively, you can also freeze it for up to 6 months.