Food tastes best when served with perfect companions. Pairing your dish with appropriate wine can turn even a regular meal into a celebratory affair!
Mushroom risotto is a warm comfort food that requires a lot of patience to cook slowly on low to medium heat, flavored with fresh herbs, condiments, and plenty of robustly flavored broth. This Italian dish needs plenty of love and support of just a few simple ingredients to turn the humble rice into a restaurant-worthy delicacy!
Wine is one of the few exclusive ingredients that can be both added to and served with risotto!
Of all versions, mushroom risotto is especially flavorful owing to its typical umami flavor and a slightly chewy texture. You may use dried porcini, maitake, enoki, shiitake, or even button mushrooms to enjoy this fungi flavored rice-based dish.
Pairing unique versions of risotto with an appropriate wine will enhance your dining experience by many folds. Interestingly, mushroom risotto works well with most types of wines, including white, dry, and light to a medium red. Here are some wine pairing recommendations that you may consider with different versions.
Classic Mushroom Risotto
Of all the risotto variations you might enjoy, this one is the simplest and easiest to prepare. Serve this classic mushroom-based preparation with chardonnay, white burgundy, Barolo, or even pinot noir to complement the savory flavors of this dish.
Bacon and Sausage Risotto
A lovely combination of strongly flavored and rich meats enhances the risotto experience. Besides opting for white wine, you may also pair this dish with light red and sparkling wines. To make the dish even more decadent, add any of these wines to this meatier flavored mushroom risotto.
Creamy Risotto
For creamy preparations, choose a light apple-flavored wine that also has a touch of sweet and smooth notes, such as vanilla and butter. This classic risotto recipe pairs best with a smooth yet full-bodied white wine, like a chardonnay from the Piedmont region.
Vegetarian Risotto
You may pair this vegetarian version of mushroom risotto with pinot grigio, which is a neutral wine with a crisp, dry taste. Choose from a medium-bodied wine, such as the Lagaria Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie, as your beverage companion with this dish. If added to vegetable and mushroom risotto at the time of cooking, the fruity flavors of this wine can do wonders for your dinner meal.
Crab Risotto
Any Sauvignon Blanc will work well with this dish, which is bursting with robust seafood flavors. The depth of a crab-based dish works well with the acidity of this wine. You may also consider adding a sauvignon blanc while cooking, since the acidity of this wine helps to brighten the dish and tie the risotto altogether. A Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc would be a good choice for the recipe.
Spicy Risotto
If you are one of those who like to enjoy a full-flavored spiced up meal, this wine recommendation is for you. You should consider pairing the spicy version of mushroom risotto with Dark Horse Sauvignon Blanc, which has a fresh taste, a bit of acidity, yet crisp citrus flavor.
Truffle Risotto
A richer version of risotto calls for a richer wine. Truffles have a slightly garlicky flavor and a deep musky aroma. Adding this luxurious ingredient to mushroom risotto can turn your meal into a gourmet experience. What better way to serve a truffle loaded risotto than with earthy Barbaresco.
Three Mushrooms Risotto
For a dish like this, which is prepared using a flavorful combination of different varieties of mushrooms, you should use Talbott Kali-Hart Chardonnay. Add this rich and crisp white wine to enhance the flavors of this hearty risotto.
Parmesan Risotto
Marsala wine adds a deep flavor to risottos. Pair a marsala with this cheesy and gooey version of mushroom risotto to make it even more delicious. Pellegrino dry marsala works best, both when added to or served with this dish, perhaps at a wine tasting party.
About the Author: Ligia Lugo loves experiencing new cultures through foods and travels. Her hobby is experimenting with different cuisines. Read more of her recipes at The Daring Kitchen blog.