Creamy Mushroom Risotto & Pan Seared Chicken

This was only the second time that I've made risotto in my life. I'm not going to lie, it's kind of a pain in the ass. It's definitely easy to make, it just takes a while. But it's SO worth it. You'll feel fancy when you eat it, I promise. Once you learn the process, it's the exact same every time. The only thing that changes are the flavors or the add ins that you want to include. This time, I made it with onion, garlic, mushrooms and a bit of spinach for some pop of color. My favorite part about making this dish is that it tastes like there's a million pounds of butter in it. I didn't use one hint of butter. WIN!

Here's what you'll need: 

• 1 1/2 cups of risotto (arborio rice)
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 2/3 cup dry white wine
• 2-3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 Vidalia onion
• 4-6 cloves of garlic
• 1 lb mushrooms
• 1 1/2 cup chopped spinach
• 4 thin sliced chicken breasts
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 1/4-1/2 cup of parmesan cheese (more or less depending on your preference. I used about 1/3 cup)
• Olive oil cooking spray
• Fresh lemon to taste

Here's what to do: 

• Chop everything first to get that out of the way!
• Heat 2-3 tbsp of olive oil in a LARGE saucepan on medium heat
• Add in mushrooms, onions and garlic
• Sautee until onions are just about transluscent
• Add in rice and stir to coat with olive oil. Let it cook until it has a golden color and looks a little translucent
• Add in the white wine and stir constantly until the wine is fully absorbed
• Here comes the pain in the ass part: add in chicken stock 1/2 cup at a time. Once your 1/2 cup is dissolved, add the next 1/2 cup and repeat until the full 6 cups are absorbed. Keep stirring throughout.
• While the rice is cooking, heat a medium pan with cooking spray on medium heat.
• Season chicken with kosher salt and pepper and add to pan. Cook about 3 minutes on each side.
• Once the chicken stock is absorbed in the rice, turn off the heat, add in chopped spinach and parmesan.
• Now you're ready to eat! I squeezed a bit of lemon on top of mine for some freshness.

Enjoy!

- Rach