Ultra creamy, ultra dreamy, Vegan Garlic Mushroom Risotto that feels like a fancy restaurant meal. So unbelievably rich, creamy, and delicious it's hard to believe this vegan risotto is completely dairy-free!
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Vegan Garlic Mushroom Risotto has the most amazing flavour and is creamy, rich, and feels so special. The subtly sweet, golden, tender mushrooms, and the amazing flavour of the roasted garlic...Oh the garlic....This one's a REAL treat!
This is a vegan risotto recipe that is perfect for a special date night, or for when you really need really impress someone with your vegan cooking skills! In fact it's always my number one choice when I want a really special, treat myself kind of meal.
We're talking woody, earthy dried mushrooms, mellow sweet roasted garlic, and buttery, creamy risotto rice. All of that combined with the slight acidity from the white wine makes heaven in a bowl.
What Makes This Vegan Risotto Special?
Before I was vegan I made my risottos with lashings of butter and parmesan cheese. They are generally added to a risotto at the end of cooking to give an extra glossy, creamy richness to the cooked rice.
In this Vegan Mushroom Risotto recipe I use rich, creamy, cashew cream and it gives amazing results. Stir it through near the end and you really won't believe the glossy creamy texture and the extra rich flavour it gives until you have tried it for yourself.
Success Tip - Vegan risotto is quite a fast moving dish so make sure everything is prepared and ready before you start. The garlic and the cashew cream can be prepared up to a couple of days in advance which can help save time on the day. Remember too that when risotto is ready it needs to be served immediately so again have everything ready, table set etc, so you can enjoy the fruits of your labour at it's very best.
Be prepared to dedicate twenty to twenty-five minutes of your time to standing with the pan and stir a lot. This stirring helps to break down the starch in the rice which in turn makes the risotto extra creamy. If you're not up for that take a look at my Risi e Bisi recipe which is just as decadent but much simpler to make.
I tend to have a wooden spoon in one hand and a glass of wine in the other while preparing my risotto though, and it's strangely therapeutic to stand there stirring and sipping!
Be sure to serve your vegan risotto with lots of vegan parmesan cheese and a big glass of red wine!
Vegan Risotto FAQs
You need risotto rice (a short grain rice) to make this recipe. Arborio rice, carnaroli rice or Vialone Nano. You can usually find at least one of them in most grocery stores although the most commonly found is arborio.
Risotto is amazing with garlic bread or no knead focaccia, lots of vegan parmesan, and a crisp green salad, lemon orzo salad, or some extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar tossed peppery arugula leaves. Or just serve it simply on it's own with a big glass of red wine!
Recipe
Vegan Garlic Mushroom Risotto
Author:Ingredients
For the roasted garlic
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 whole garlic bulbs (not cloves, whole bulbs)
- 2 squares of baking foil
For the cashew cream
- ½ cup (75 grams) raw cashew nuts
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ½ cup (120 mls) water
For the risotto
- ½ cup (15 grams) dried mushrooms (I used chanterelles & morels but porcini, oyster or a mixed blend would also be good).
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion , diced
- 1 cup (200 grams) risotto rice such as Arborio, carnaroli, or Vialone Nano
- 1 cup (240 mls) dry white wine ( use more stock instead if you prefer)
- 2 cups (480 mls) vegetable or mushroom stock , (use the water you drain off the dried mushrooms and make it up to 2 cups)
- 3 cups (225 grams) sliced crimini mushrooms , or white/portobello
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
- 1½ teaspoons sea salt , plus more to taste
- ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper , plus more to taste
To serve
- vegan parmesan
INSTRUCTIONS
For the roasted garlic
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Brush the foil squares with olive oil. Cut the top quarter off each garlic bulb (not clove, the whole bulb) so the cloves inside are exposed. Discard the top, and pop the rest in the middle of the foil. Draw it up around the bulbs and squeeze tightly shut.
- Place on a tray and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes. Check they feel squishy through the foil. Return to the oven for a few more minutes if not. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool a bit. This step can be done up to 4 days ahead. Just keep them unopened in the fridge.
For the cashew cream
- Soak the cashews in boiling water for 15 minutes, then drain.
- Squeeze the roasted garlic out of the cloves (If you squeeze from the base up the little soft cloves will pop out easily) and put them into a high powered blender. Add the soaked cashews, nutritional yeast, and water and blend until completely smooth.
For the risotto
- Put the dried mushrooms in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak for at least 15 minutes then squeeze, drain and chop, reserving the liquid to use as part of the stock.
- Warm the olive oil in a wide shallow pan over a medium heat. Add the onion sauté until translucent.
- Add the risotto rice to the pan and stir for a minute or two until it starts to make little popping noises, then pour in the white wine and the dried mushrooms. Stir constantly until the wine is almost absorbed. It will only take a minute or two.
- Gradually add 1½ cups of stock, half a cup at a time, stirring constantly between each addition. Only add the next half a cup when the previous one has almost been absorbed. The stirring when making risotto is really important. It breaks own the starch and will make your vegan risotto irresistiably creamy!
- Add the fresh mushrooms to the pan, stir and gradually add the last half a cup of stock. Keep stirring until almost absorbed again. Check that the rice is tender. If not add a little more stock and continue cooking until it is.
- Turn down really low and add the cashew cream, salt and pepper. Stir until it has warmed through then turn off the heat, check the seasoning adding more salt and pepper as needed, then add the vegan butter and fresh thyme leaves. Stir them through then serve immediately with lots of vegan parmesan.
NOTES
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Natalie says
I want to try this recipe and already have cashew cream made. How much cashew cream should I use in the risotto?
Melanie McDonald says
I'm not sure of the exact quantity that part of my recipe makes but it doesn't need to be exact. I'm guessing it would be between ½ and ¾ of a cup. Add as much as you need to make it really creamy.
Adrienne Portia Stocks says
Oh my days! This is such an amazing recipe. I didnt use your cashew cream recipe as I cannot bear nutritional yeast. I used a different version which had a whole roasted garlic bulb :) Very garlicky.
My non vegan husband declared 'this is the best risotto I have ever had'. We had it as a main on day 1 then as there was some leftovers (it is very rich) we had it as a starter the next day when he repeated his declaration of the day before. It is a real keeper of a recipe, so rich and creamy. I am planning to make it for visiting friends as a starter as I think it works well. I used violife grated parmesan. Thanks for such a fab recipe
Karen says
Made this omitting oil, salt and vegan butter and it was absolutely delicious! Leftovers were eaten for breakfast! My meat eating husband also approved!
Emma says
WOW. This is just fantastic. Made it tonight for family brunch tomorrow - I know its going to be a hit! I love the cashew cream.
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Emma! I'm so glad you think so and I hope your family enjoys it tomorrow!
Jenn says
One word. INCREDIBLE!
Kourtney says
This is such a wonderful recipe!! I cook this risotto atleast once a month. Being vegan I so miss those creamy yummy risottos. But this does all of that and more.
Thankyou so much for sharing this recipe it's so easy to follow and not a bit overwhelming.
x
Lisa says
This is one of my all-time favorites! The risotto adds so much taste. After cooking this the first time, my son has requested it again and again.
A Virtual Vegan says
That's great to hear Lisa! It is also one of my all time favourites. It is so rich and delicious. I do wish my son would eat it like yours though. He doesn't 'do' mushrooms!
Stefania says
If you think that making risotto is scary, totally understand as I stayed away to as it seem to take forever with the stirring and ingredients but let me tell you this: MAKE This ONE. So amazing. Exactly as said, creamy, smooth and oh so easy. If you are Italian like me and can't eat any of the great recipes, throw them out and make this. Not kidding. And yes, I used David Rocco 's wine. Thank you for this recipe. Will be made againHad to physically walk away as I stood and ate half as I was typing. You go, girl with these recipes.
A Virtual Vegan says
Oh Stefania I am so pleased that you loved the recipe! And you're Italian too, I am honoured. I too had the problem you did with not being able to stop eating it! It's dangerously delicious.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and for sharing a picture on Facebook. Your version looks fabulous!