Leek and Lobster Mushroom Risotto

This Leek and Lobster Mushroom Risotto is a creamy, cheesy bowl of comfort food, brightened by the addition of a lovely Tuscan kale and pistachio pesto. I’ve shared that in separate post to make each recipe more manageable but include the ingredients list here also to make your shopping easier. 

First, let’s talk briefly about lobster mushrooms. I came across them in the bulk section of one of our fancier grocery stores in Houston called Central Market. The orange color caught my eye and then, of course, the idea of a dried mushroom that potentially tasted of lobster made me buy some. 

I’m here to report that despite the name, lobster mushrooms are actually a fungus. While I was certain they weren't crustaceans, I was surprised to learn that they are not actually mushrooms either. Learn something new every day! 

According to Wikipedia, and I quote, “Hypomyces lactifluorum, or the lobster mushroom, is a parasitic ascomycete fungus that grows on certain species of mushrooms, turning them a reddish orange color that resembles the outer shell of a cooked lobster.” And further along in the article: “They have a seafood-like flavor and a firm, dense texture.” Hence the name. 

You can see the color for yourself in my photos below. They did taste rather of seafood and were a great addition to risotto. You could easily make this a vegetarian friendly dish by using vegetable stock instead of chicken. 

Leek and Lobster Mushroom Risotto

This recipe is adapted from one in delicious magazine from the March 2022 issue. It can also be found online here. If you can’t find lobster mushrooms, substitute your favorites. 

Ingredients

For the risotto:

1.75oz or 21g dried lobster mushrooms

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 large leeks (trimmed weight 1.1 lb or 500g)

2 garlic cloves

2 cups or 410g risotto rice (Arborio or Carnaroli)

3/4 cup or 175ml dry white wine

4 1/3 cups or 1L quality chicken stock

3 1/2 oz or 100g Parmesan, finely grated, plus extra to serve

For the kale pesto:

Large bunch Tuscan kale or cavolo nero (Mine weighed 186g or 6 1/2 ozs)

1 3/4 oz or 50g shelled pistachios 

1 3/4 oz or 50g Parmesan or pecorino, finely grated

Finely grated zest and juice 1 lemon

2/3 cup or 100ml good quality olive oil

Fine sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Find instructions here: https://www.foodlustpeoplelove.com/2024/08/tuscan-kale-pistachio-pesto.html

Method

Soak the dried lobster mushrooms in 2 cups or 480ml boiling water until soft. Strain the liquid to remove any dirt or impurities and add it to the chicken stock. 

Chop the mushrooms roughly and set aside. 

Trim and discard the hard green parts of the leeks and wash the white parts well. Thinly slice them. 

Using the side of a big knife, crush the cloves of garlic then chop them roughly.

Melt the butter in a deep sauté pan over a medium heat. Add the oil, leeks and a pinch of salt, then cover and cook, stirring regularly, for 8-10 minutes until very soft. In a separate pan, heat the stock over a low heat.

Add the garlic to the leeks and cook for 2 minutes.

Add the rice and stir to coat in butter and oil. 

Increase the heat to high, then pour in the wine and cook for 2-3 minutes until absorbed. 

Turn the heat back down to medium high. Gradually add the warmed stock, one ladleful at a time, stirring continuously. Wait until each addition of stock has almost all been absorbed before adding the next. 

Continue until you’ve added all the stock and the rice is al dente (still has some bite.) 

Stir in the grated Parmesan and the chopped lobster mushrooms.  

Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Serve as is or topped with Tuscan kale and pistachio pesto. 

Enjoy!

Welcome to the 18th edition of the 2024 Alphabet Challenge, brought to you by the letter R. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the R recipes below:

• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Cheeseburger Broccoli Rice Soup Casserole 
• Food Lust People Love: Leek and Lobster Mushroom Risotto 
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Pan-Seared Scallops with Black Beans and Red Pepper Sauce 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Pineapple Fried Rice 
• Sneha’s Recipe: Pressure Cooker Rice Kheer With Homemade Masala Milk Powder 
• A Messy Kitchen: Rabrabrakake: Norwegian Rhubarb Cake 
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Ragi Shavige Uppitu 
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Raspberry Ricotta Pancakes 
• Magical Ingredients: Red lentil Paratha 
• Palatable Pastime: Ring Noodle Tuna Salad (Minnesota Style)
• Blogghetti: Roasted Rosemary Potato Peelings 
• Culinary Cam: Rose Petal-Strawberry Granita 

Here are my posts for the alphabet challenge, thus far:
A: Anchovy Deviled Eggs
B: Spicy Braised Ginger Pork Belly
C: Cecilie's Favorite Coleslaw
D: Cajun Chicken Eggplant Dressing
E: Everything Pizza Tartin
F: Baked Chicken and Feta Meatballs
G: Grape Juice Jigglers
H: Crispy Bacon-wrapped Chicken Hearts
I: Raspberry Rhubarb Ice Cream
J: Java Dry Spice Mix Chops 

K. Korean Barbecue-style Meatballs 

L. Easy Lamb and Fresh Tomato Curry 

M. Fresh Mint Sauce 

N. Miso Butter Noodles 

O. Spicy Orange Braised Short Ribs 

P. Homemade Piri Piri Sauce 

Q, Cointreau Glazed Orange Quick Bread 

R. Leek and Lobster Mushroom Risotto - this post!

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Tuscan Kale Pistachio Pesto

This Tuscan kale pistachio pesto is rich, nutty and fresh. It goes exceedingly well with my rich and creamy leek and lobster mushroom risotto. (Recipe coming tomorrow!) Or use it as you would any pesto, stirred through pasta or as a spread or dip for flatbread. 

I originally made this pesto to go with the above referenced risotto, both adapted from recipes I found in delicious magazine’s March 2022 issue, but I have since made it more than once because we loved it so much. 

The pistachios are a tasty, nutty green change from traditional beige pine nuts and who doesn’t feel virtuous eating kale? 

Tuscan Kale Pistachio Pesto

You could use curly kale for this recipe but I love the color and flavor of its dark leafed brother, Tuscan kale or cavolo nero. In my local grocery store, I only find it in the organic section so occasionally I splurge and buy some. 

Ingredients

Large bunch curly kale or cavolo nero (Mine weighed 186g or 6 1/2 ozs)

1 3/4 oz or 50g shelled pistachios 

1 3/4 oz or 50g Parmesan, finely grated

Finely grated zest and juice 1 lemon

2/3 cup or 100ml good quality olive oil

Fine sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Method

Remove and discard the woody center ribs and stems of the kale. Chop the leaves roughly. 

Put the kale in a small food processor with half the oil and process until the kale is finely chopped. 

Add in the pistachios and process again. 

Finally, add in the Parmesan, lemon juice, lemon zest and process again, adding a little more oil, if necessary. 

Stir in the remaining olive oil, then season with salt and pepper as needed.

Enjoy as a topping for your favorite risotto or pasta. 

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Raspberry Cream Cheese Muffins #MuffinMonday

Raspberry Cream Cheese Muffins celebrate the best of fresh raspberry season with a wonderfully subtle tang, perfect for brunch, breakfast or snack.

Welcome to the last Muffin Monday of summer! In the blink of an eye, it will be September then on to Autumn fruit and vegetables so I thought I’d use fresh raspberries this month as a sort of a last hurrah. 

More reasonably priced cherries, peaches, nectarines, raspberries and strawberries are the best part of summer. If I can get fresh figs, I am over the moon because that doesn’t happy very often these days. 

Raspberry Cream Cheese Muffins

This recipe makes 6 or 7 normal sized muffins. When I bake the batter in a 6-cup muffin pan, it makes six. If I use my silicon liners, as you can see, it makes seven. 

Ingredients

5 1/3 oz or 150g fresh raspberries

1 cup or 125g flour

1/2 cup or 100g sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 oz or 56g cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled, plus extra for the pan

1 large egg, at room temperature

1/4 cup or 60ml milk, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional for decorating: Pearl sugar

Method

Preheat oven to 350°F or 180°C. Prepare your 6-cup muffin pan by buttering it or lining it with muffin cups. 

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together your flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Set aside six or seven raspberries to top the muffins and cut the rest in half. 

Tip the halved raspberries into the dry ingredients and stir till they are well coated with the flour. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, mash the cream cheese with a fork, then pour in the cool, melted butter. Use the fork to mix the cream cheese and butter together until you have a mixture that looks like small soft curds.

Add in the egg, milk and vanilla and whisk until well combined. There will still be some tiny lumps of cream cheese.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold until they are just combined.

Divide the batter between the muffin cups in your prepared pan. Top with the reserved raspberries and a good sprinkling of pearl sugar, if using.

Bake in your preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the muffins are golden all around the edges and a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool in the pan for a few minutes, then remove the muffins and cool on a wire rack. These can be served warm or room temperature.

Enjoy!

It’s Muffin Monday, the last Monday of the month. Check out all the lovely muffin recipes my friends and I are sharing today. 

• Blackberry Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Boston Brown Bread Muffins from A Messy Kitchen
• Chocolate Chip Pecan Banana Muffins from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Lemon Blueberry Muffins from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Raspberry Cream Cheese Muffins from Food Lust People Love

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all of our lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday can be found on our home page.

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Caprese Prosciutto Salad

What is better than a classic Caprese salad? A Caprese Prosciutto Salad, with the addition of salty, savory ham! If you’ve been making it plain, time to level up.

I have soooo many pictures of almost this exact salad in my photo library because it’s one of our favorite things to make and eat, especially in the summer when the local tomatoes are ripe. But honestly, we make this all year round. 

Sometimes I don’t have prosciutto so I substitute either parma ham, speck or Serrano ham. They all add a welcome saltiness and flavor that goes perfectly with the ripe tomatoes and creamy fresh mozzarella. 

This summer, my basil plants have gone to flower so I’ve been adding a sprinkling of those as well. Basil flowers are pretty and so tasty! They are a great addition to just about any salad so when you are trimming and pruning, don’t just toss them out.

 

Caprese Prosciutto Salad

My typical fresh mozzarella ball weighs a little more than 1/4 lb or 125g if I’m shopping in the UK and 8 oz or 226g, if I’m in the US. In the case of the smaller ball, I use the whole thing for this salad. If you have a bigger ball, add a tomato, it’s all good. 

Ingredients

3 medium tomatoes

1 ball fresh mozzarella (see note above)

1-2 slices prosciutto

Fresh basil leaves

Optional, if you can find them, basil flowers

Freshly ground black pepper

Olive oil

Method

Slice the tomatoes and lay them out on a platter. 

Slice the mozzarella and add one piece (or part of a piece) to top each tomato slice.

Cut the prosciutto into pieces and add one on top of each mozzarella. 

Top each piece of ham with a basil leave.  Season the salad with a few generous grinds of black pepper and a good drizzle with olive oil. 

And, if you have them, add a pretty sprinkle of basil flowers. 

This salad is best served at room temperature or just slightly chilled so if you make it ahead and store it in the refrigerator, take it out about half an hour before serving so it can warm up a bit. 

Enjoy! 

It’s Sunday FunDay and since summer up here in the northern hemisphere, we are sharing salad recipes. Check out the links below. 

• BBQ Chicken Ranch Salad from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Caprese Prosciutto Salad from Food Lust People Love
• Mexican Street Corn Salad from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Roasted Beet & Blackberry Salad from Amy’s Cooking Adventures
• Roasted Beet Salad with Horseradish Dressing from Palatable Pastime
• Strawberry & Green Bean Salad from Mayuri's Jikoni
• Super Delicious Keto Salad from Sneha's Recipe
• Yam Nuea Yang (Spicy Thai Beef Salad) from Culinary Cam

 

>We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.

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Griddled Eggplant Salad

So simple, yet so delicious, this griddled eggplant salad is flavorful, garlicky and very much more than the sum of its few parts.

If you’ve been reading this space for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about how much I hated eggplant as a child. The texture, the flavor (or lack thereof), the ugly inside color. None of it appealed. 

Until one summer when I was introduced to homemade eggplant parmigiana, my gateway dish to loving eggplant. Now I like it all the ways! I first saved this recipe back in 2004, scribbled in a notebook while watching Nigella Lawson make it on her show Nigella Bites. Later I transferred those notes to a Word doc but I never got around to making it. 

Yep, saved for 20 years, it resurfaced recently when I search my own computer for eggplant ahead of this Sunday FunDay event. I thought I might have a recipe already made that I could use but when this popped up, I figured it was a sign that I should finally make it. Why did I wait so long! It’s lovely. And so easy! 

Griddled Eggplant Salad

This recipe is adapted from one in Nigella Bites: From Family Meals to Elegant Dinners - Easy, Delectable Recipes for Any Occasion. Extra garlic oil should be stored in a clean jar in the refrigerator. It is excellent in salad dressings or homemade mayonnaise.

Ingredients

For the garlic oil:

1/2 cup or 120ml olive oil

3 cloves garlic, finely sliced

For the salad:

1 medium eggplant

2 tablespoons garlic infused olive oil, plus more to serve

2 green onions

Flakey sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 lemon

Method

Slice the eggplant into circles and put them in a colander. Sprinkle the slices with salt and leave to sweat and drain for about 15-20 minutes. 

Meanwhile, finely slice the garlic and put it with the olive oil into a small pot. 

Gently heat the oil till it is warm then leave it to simmer gently for about five minutes. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Strain out the garlic and put the oil in a clean jar to store. (I saved the garlic and added it to another dish and so should you.)

Lay the eggplant slices on paper towels and use more to dry with them. 

Place the garlic oil in a small bowl and brush it on the eggplant slices. Turn them over and brush the other side. 

Preheat the griddle or stove top grill pan and then place each eggplant slice onto the grill and press down gently. Do not crowd the pan. 

Cook about 3-4 minutes per side. 

I like to turn them so that I make hashed griddle marks. Remove the grilled eggplant slices to a platter and repeat until they are all cooked. 

Drizzle with more garlic oil. Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper and a good squeeze of lemon juice. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

Sprinkle on the snipped green onions.

 

Enjoy! 

As I mentioned above, it’s another Sunday FunDay! We are sharing recipes with eggplant, prolific in everyone’s garden this time of year. Many thanks to our host, Sue of Palatable Pastime. Check out the links below.

• Air Fryer Eggplant Pizza (Aubergine or Brinjal Pizza) from Cook with Renu
• Brinjal and Tomato Chutney from Sneha's Recipe
• Dahi Baingan from Mayuri's Jikoni
• Eggplant Gratin from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Griddled Eggplant Salad from Food Lust People Love
• Grilled Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Burrata Platter from Culinary Cam
• Melitzanosalata (Greek Eggplant Dip) from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Szechuan Eggplant from Palatable Pastime

 

>We are a group of food bloggers who believe that Sunday should be a family fun day, so every Sunday we share recipes that will help you to enjoy your day. If you're a blogger interested in joining us, just visit our Facebook group and request to join.

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Cointreau Glazed Orange Quick Bread

Fresh orange juice, zest and Cointreau give this lovely Cointreau glazed orange quick bread a fresh, sweet flavor that smells amazing as it bakes.

Perfect for snack, teatime or even as a dessert, this quick bread is a family favorite. Similar recipes are best known in Great Britain as lemon drizzle cakes, but as you can see, any citrus substitution will do nicely. 

Cointreau Glazed Orange Quick Bread

For anyone who doesn’t drink or cook with alcohol, the orange liqueur can be replaced with an equal amount of orange juice for both the bread batter and the glaze. This recipe makes one  8 x 4-inch or 9 x 5-inch loaf cake.

Ingredients

For the batter:

½ cup or 113g butter, softened to room temperature, plus more for the pan

1 cup or 200g sugar

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon Cointreau or Grand Marnier 

½ teaspoon orange extract, optional

1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (from an untreated or organic orange)

1 ½ cups or 190g flour, plus more for the pan if not using baking parchment

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

½ cup or 10 ml milk

For the glaze:

½ cup or 62g powdered sugar

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon Cointreau or Grand Marnier

Method

Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C. Prepare your loaf pan by buttering it and either lining the bottom with baking parchment or dusting it with flour, tapping out the excess.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter with the sugar until blended and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, just to blend. 

Beat in the orange juice, the Cointreau, the extract if using and the orange zest.

Stir together the flour, the baking powder and the salt in a small bowl; beat in the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with dry, beating well after each addition and using a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides.

Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the bread is risen, the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven and place on a cooling rack.

To make the glaze, sift the confectioner’s sugar into a small bowl and add the juice and the Cointreau. Stir until you have a very smooth silky glaze. 

Slide a thin knife blade around the edges of the cake to loosen it and pour the glaze evenly all over the hot loaf, allowing some to dribble down the sides.

Leave the quick bread to cool completely before turning out of the pan and cutting into slices to serve.

Enjoy! 

Welcome to the 17th edition of the 2024 Alphabet Challenge, brought to you by the letter Q. Many thanks to Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm for organizing and creating the challenge. Check out all the Q recipes below:

• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Asian Quinoa Salad 
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Butternut Squash Taco Ravioli with Queso Fresco  
• Food Lust People Love: Cointreau Glazed Orange Quick Bread 
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Loaded Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
• Palatable Pastime: Quebecoise Pommes Persillade 
• Culinary Cam: Quesabirria Tacos 
• Magical Ingredients: Queso Paratha
• Sneha’s Recipe: Quick Potato Instant Sambar - Without Dal 
• A Messy Kitchen: Quinoa Crunch Bars
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Quinoa Paniyaram
• Blogghetti: Sheet Pan Quesadillas 
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Whole Wheat Quinoa Bread

Here are my posts for the alphabet challenge, thus far:
A: Anchovy Deviled Eggs
B: Spicy Braised Ginger Pork Belly
C: Cecilie's Favorite Coleslaw
D: Cajun Chicken Eggplant Dressing
E: Everything Pizza Tartin
F: Baked Chicken and Feta Meatballs
G: Grape Juice Jigglers
H: Crispy Bacon-wrapped Chicken Hearts
I: Raspberry Rhubarb Ice Cream
J: Java Dry Spice Mix Chops 

K. Korean Barbecue-style Meatballs 

L. Easy Lamb and Fresh Tomato Curry 

M. Fresh Mint Sauce 

N. Miso Butter Noodles 

O. Spicy Orange Braised Short Ribs 

P. Homemade Piri Piri Sauce 

Q, Cointreau Glazed Orange Quick Bread - this post!

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