Vegan freekeh risotto with mushrooms recipe
This vegan freekeh risotto recipe offers a healthy and satisfying alternative to traditional rice-based dishes. By following our easy-to-follow instructions and incorporating our tips for the best results, you can create a creamy and delicious meal that will transport you to culinary heaven.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry whole freekeh
- 380 g mixed mushrooms
- 2 tbsp Violife vegan viospread
- 1 tbsp white miso paste
- ¼ cup olive oil divided
- ½ red onion finely chopped
- salt & pepper
- ¼ cup grated Violife prosociano wedge optional
- fresh chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
Prepping the freekeh:
- Sift through the freekeh grains to look for small stones or debris and pick them up, then rinse them in cold water till it runs clear. Drain it and leave it aside.
Prep & cook the mushrooms:
- Using a damp kitchen towel, wipe them, slice and shred the oyster mushrooms into medium size pieces.
- Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the mushrooms and saute. Let it cook for about 9 minutes, and you will notice how it shrinks in size. Once cooked season with salt and pepper. For tips on cooking the perfect mushrooms, pls refer to the blog post cooking tips.
- Mix the vegan butter with miso paste and add it to the mushrooms and stir to combine. Set aside for later.
Making the freekeh risotto:
- Heat the vegan broth in a pan, don't let it boil, just make sure it is warm when you add it to the freekeh.
- Heat the remaining olive oil in a pan and add chopped onion, saute for a couple of minutes, then add the freekeh and toast it with the olive oil and onion for 5 minutes.
- Start ladling the vegan broth one ladle at a time and stir the freekeh every couple of minutes till all the broth is evaporated, keep repeating the same till the freekeh is cooked to perfection. It should retain the chewy texture, and not turn mushy, we are not making freekeh soup. It takes around 40-50 minutes till it's cooked to perfection.
- Be sure to season the risotto well with salt and pepper, tasting frequently throughout the cooking process to adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Add the pre-cooked mushroom and stir. Add grated vegan parmesan if using, then garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a pop of color and enjoy!