Fermented Mushrooms for Risotto

Have you ever tried fermented mushrooms? If not, it's about time! These delicious fermented delicacies will add a special touch to your risotto. And the best part is that you can easily make them yourself. In this blog post, you'll learn how to make fermented mushrooms and how to use them in a delicious risotto.

Before we delve into the world of fermented mushrooms, let's talk briefly about fermentation itself. If you are not yet familiar with this fascinating technique, I recommend reading our blog post "Getting started with fermentation - how to get started" . There you will learn everything you need to know about what fermentation is and how it works.

Fermenting in your favorite glass

Why glass weights and fermentation lids are so important

Before you start fermenting, you need the right equipment. A jar with an airtight lid is essential. But there are two other important tools that will make your fermentation process easier: glass weights and fermentation lids.

Glass weights ensure that your mushrooms stay in the brine and do not float to the surface. This ensures that they are fermented evenly and are protected from harmful bacteria. Fermentation lids allow excess gas to escape without allowing air from the outside to enter. The result is perfectly fermented mushrooms that are safe and delicious.

Which mushrooms are suitable for fermentation?

Not all mushrooms are equally suitable for fermentation, but there are a variety of varieties that are excellent for it. Here are some examples:

• shiitake mushrooms
• oyster mushrooms
• saffron milk caps
• porcini mushrooms
• chanterelles
• cremini mushrooms
• button mushrooms
• shimeji mushrooms

The choice is yours, you can also combine different varieties to create a unique taste experience.

Recipe: Fermented Mushrooms

What you need:

170 g fresh mushrooms 100 ml water

And this is how it works:

1. Sterilize all fermentation utensils. Either simmer the accessories in a water bath for 15 minutes or sterilize them in the oven at 110 °C for 15 minutes.
2. Clean mushrooms with a brush if necessary. Halve large mushrooms.
3. Bring the mushrooms to the boil with 100 ml of water and cook for about 5 minutes until soft. Stir in the salt and sugar and remove the pan from the heat. Allow the mushrooms to cool to room temperature (otherwise the microorganisms in the sauerkraut juice will die). When the mushrooms have cooled, stir in the sauerkraut juice and pour the mushrooms and mushroom brine into the jar. Place the glass weight and silicone lid on top and screw the jar shut. The mushrooms should lie in the brine without any air trapped.
4. Allow the jar to ferment at room temperature for about 6-9 days.
5. After a week, you can taste the fermented mushrooms. They should be spicy, slightly sour and wonderfully salty. Let them ferment for another 1-2 days if you prefer a more intense taste
6. After fermentation, replace the silicone lid with the stainless steel lid and store the mushrooms in a cool, dark place. They will keep for about 6 months.
7. If you have a few mushrooms left over, you can add them to the risotto. Simply chop the mushrooms and sauté them together with the shallots and rice until translucent, as described in the next recipe. Then continue as described in the recipe.

And now that you have your homemade fermented mushrooms, you can make a delicious risotto. Here is a simple recipe:

Recipe: Risotto with fermented mushrooms

What you need:

• Fermented mushrooms
• 2-3 shallots
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 300 g risotto rice
• about 1 l vegetable broth
• 200 ml dry white wine
• about 50 g Parmesan
• 25 g butter
• Salt
• pepper

And this is how it works:

1. Peel and finely chop the shallots.
2. Heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the shallots until they are translucent.
3. Add the risotto rice and fry briefly until it becomes slightly translucent.
4. Deglaze with the white wine and let it simmer.
5. Gradually add the vegetable stock until the risotto reaches the desired consistency, stirring frequently.
6. Stir the fermented mushrooms, Parmesan and butter into the risotto.
7. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Serve your delicious risotto with the fermented mushrooms as a topping.

Enjoy this aromatic risotto with your homemade fermented mushrooms and impress your friends and family with a special taste experience. Bon appétit!