Having a black truffle and not using its aromas for other dishes can almost be considered a waste. Yes you can grate, shred and shave it over and into a dish, but allowing it to sit with fresh eggs or rice is another way to bring that glorious flavour to your plate.

I did consider the egg method but I decided to bury the fresh truffle in a sealed jar of arborio rice for several days. The rice actually mimics the soil that the truffle came from, slowing down the drying out process and, at the same time, infusing the rice with its aroma.

For the risotto itself, I’ve kept it quite simple. I could have introduced a variety of mushrooms, even pancetta, but I wanted the risotto to be all about that gorgeous little nugget of black fungus.

Ok, perhaps the duck fat roasted heirloom carrots I garnished it with brought some root vegetable love as well – made even tastier with a dusting of porcini salt I whipped up in the spice grinder.

Truffle was supplied by Lilydale

Print Recipe

Truffle risotto with duck fat carrots

Get fancy with this delicious truffle risotto toped with baby carrots.

Course

Starters

Servings

servings

Ingredients

Carrots

• 160 g Baby carrots washed & unpeeled
• 1½ tbsp duck fat
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Porcini salt see notes

Risotto

• 1 litre vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 leek (100 g) thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic finely grated
• 1 cup truffle infused arborio rice
• ⅓ cup white wine
• 15 g pecorino cheese finely grated
• 5 g truffle thinly sliced - plus extra to garnish
• 1 tbsp butter
• ¼ cup carrot leaves roughly chopped
• virgin olive oil to garnish

Course Starters Servings servings Ingredients Carrots 160 g Baby carrots washed & unpeeled 1½ tbsp duck fat Freshly ground black pepper Porcini salt see notes Risotto 1 litre vegetable stock 2 tbsp butter 1 tbsp olive oil 1 leek (100 g) thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic finely grated 1 cup truffle infused arborio rice ⅓ cup white wine 15 g pecorino cheese finely grated 5 g truffle thinly sliced - plus extra to garnish 1 tbsp butter ¼ cup carrot leaves roughly chopped virgin olive oil to garnish

Instructions

Carrots

1. Preheat oven to 200°C.
2. Place the duck fat into an ovenproof dish big enough to hold the carrots in a single layer. Place the dish into the oven for 2 minutes to melt the fat. Remove the dish from the oven, place the carrots into the dish and turn to coat in the fat. Season with black pepper and roast in the oven for approximately 40 minutes, turning once during cooking.

Risotto

1. Pour the stock into a small saucepan and heat to a very gently simmer.
2. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Add the leek and garlic and sauté for 3 minutes, or until soft. Add the rice and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour in the wine and stir until all of the liquid has been absorbed.
3. Add a ladle (or ¾ cup) of the hot stock to the rice and stir continuously until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Continue adding the stock one ladle at a time, allowing each to be absorbed by the rice, as you continually stir. When all of the stock is used, turn off heat and add the Pecorino, truffle, butter and carrot leaves. Stir to combine.
4. Garnish with the roasted carrots seasoned with the porcini salt. Finely grate over a little more Pecorino, truffle and drizzle over some virgin olive oil. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

To make the porcini salt - put 15 g dried porcini mushrooms and ¼ cup sea salt into a dry spice grinder. Pulse until very fine. Store in a jar.

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