• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
West Coast Kitchen Garden
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
      • Albacore Tuna Ceviche With A Side Of Guacamole
      • Arugula Crostini With Boerenkaas Cheese
      • Asparagus and Red Pepper Prosciutto Bundles
      • Basil Aioli For Garden Veggies
      • Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Dip
      • Crab Cakes (The best classic cakes!)
      • Dungeness Crab Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce (Low Carb and Gluten Free)
      • Crispy Fried Oysters With Lemon Caper Aioli
      • Fresh Salsa (Pica de Gallo)
      • Grilled Peel And Eat Spot Prawns With Garlic Herb Butter
      • Guacamole (Fast, Vegan, 5 Ingredients)
      • Healthy Hummus
      • Miso Baked Oysters-A Quick And Easy West Coast Appetizer
      • Olives-Warm Marinated Olives
      • Roasted Eggplant Dip (Skinny Dipping)
      • Savory Spring Rhubarb Salsa
      • Shrimp Cocktail Mexican Style! (Coctel De Camarones) With Wild West Coast Shrimp
      • Skinny Dipping (Into Eggplant)
      • Use-It-Up Fruit Salsa
      • Zucchini Cheddar Fritters
      • Canada Day!!! 8 Fun Recipes To Celebrate Our Country
    • Salads and Side Dishes
      • Apple Fennel Salad with Grainy Mustard Dressing
      • Carrot Apple Ginger Salad Dressing
      • Cauliflower Mushrooms And Wild Mushroom Gratin
      • Celery Apple Salad
      • Fresh Fig Fennel Salad
      • Garden Salad With Orange Vinaigrette
      • Ketchup-Make Your Own (Easy and Healthy) Homemade Ketchup From Your Garden!
      • Microgreen Salad on Carrot Risotto
      • Radicchio and Orange Salad
      • Radicchio Grilled with Cambazola
      • Raspberry Salad Dressing
      • Strawberry Vinaigrette with Arugula, Hazelnuts and Goat Cheese
      • Thai Flank Steak Salad
      • Zucchini Salad with Feta and Hazelnuts
      • Zucchini Tomato Salad
    • Main
      • Chirashi Sushi Bowl (aka Superfood Bowl)
      • Crab Cake Recipe-Pure Crab!
      • Crispy Fried Oysters With Lemon Caper Aioli
      • Fish Tacos With BC Cod
      • Foraged Food! How to find and cook wild foods.
      • Halibut Cheeks
      • Lemon Herb Marinade For Chicken
      • Peanut Sauce Baked Chicken
      • Perfectly Baked Salmon
      • Salmon-Roasted Miso Glazed Salmon
      • Scallops Vongole Style
      • Seafood Alfredo
      • Seared Tuna Nicoise Salad with Asparagus and Arugula
      • Thai Flank Steak Salad
      • Wild West Coast Prawns In Tomato Fennel Broth And How to Grill Them Simply
    • Vegetarian Main
      • Basic Pizza Dough and Easy Zucchini Pizza
      • Best Meatless Monday Recipes- 35 Dinners That Aren’t Salad!
      • Easy Lemon Asparagus Risotto
      • Fiddleheads-A Wild Spring Vegetable and a Delicious, Easy Tart
      • Pesto-Mint Basil Pistachio Pesto (Vegan, GF)
      • Pesto- Sorrel Pesto, Bright, Citrusy, Delicious And Easy
      • Mushroom Gratin-Cauliflower and other Wild Mushrooms
      • Mushrooms-Wild Chanterelle Mushroom Croustade
      • Mushroom-Wild Mushroom and Lentil Stew
      • PNW Fiddleheads with Garlic, Ginger and Sesame
      • Risotto-Carrot and Microgreen Salad
      • Risotto-Best Ever Wild Mushroom Risotto
      • Vegan Italian White Beans
    • Soup
      • Beet And Beef Borscht Inspired By Grandma
      • Broccoli Cheese Soup (GF, Healthy, Easy)
      • Easiest Creamy Tomato Soup
      • Laksa-Easy Authentic Homemade Snapper Laksa
      • Oyster Stew-West Coast Oysters, East Coast Stew!
      • Potage Parmentier (Potato Leek Soup)
      • Roasted Cauliflower Soup With Hazelnuts
      • Roasted Sweet Pepper Soup
      • West Coast Wild Mushroom Soup
    • Herbs and Recipes to use them
      • Herbes De Provence
      • Lavender-20 Recipes To Use and Preserve Lavender
      • Vegan Mint Basil Pesto with Pistachios (Gluten Free and Dairy Free too)
      • Mint-25+ Best Fresh Mint Recipes
      • Parsley-20 Best Parsley Recipes
    • Drink, Sauce, Syrup, Etc
      • 3 Ways To Preserve (And Use) Your Lavender
      • Blackberry Barbecue Sauce
      • Classic Canadian Caesar Cocktail
      • Fresh Squeezed Lime Margarita
      • Kate’s Fresh Peppermint Tea
      • Lavender French 75
      • Lavender Simple Syrup
    • Baked, Preserved and Condiments
      • 3 Ways To Preserve (And Use) Your Lavender
      • Apple Brown Sugar Cake With Cardamom
      • Apple Oatmeal Cake-Best Ever Easy Cake Recipe
      • Blackberry Yogurt Popsicles
      • Blackberry Apple Jam-Makes 1 jar, no canning required!
      • (One Bowl!) Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
      • Chocolate Almond Brownies
      • Chocolate Hazelnut Tart
      • Christmas Collection-Easy Festive Drinks To Keep Your Holiday Merry And Bright
      • French Apple Beignets- And Easy Apple Fritter
      • Ketchup-Make Your Own Easy and Healthy Sauce From Your Garden!
      • No Knead Bread-A Fast And Easy Rosemary Boule
      • Plum Clafoutis Recipe- Classic French Dessert That’s Fast and Easy
      • Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins with oatmeal and Greek yogurt
      • The Raspberriest Raspberry Sauce with Quick Chocolate Cake for 8
      • Rhubarb Snack Cake with Yogurt and Olive Oil
      • Ultimate Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake
      • Zucchini Muffins
      • Easy Healthy Recipes From The West Coast
  • Shop
  • About
    • About
    • Portfolio
    • Contact and Media

Wild Mushroom Season

September 19, 2018 by SabCurrie 18 Comments

Wild Mushroom Season and Best Ever Wild Mushroom Risotto!

Mushrooms are my favourite thing about fall and a consolation prize for all the rainy days here in coastal BC.  After a very dry summer, the rain has come with a vengeance and the mushrooms have started popping up like crazy.  Little jewels in the mossy forest 🙂 and they’re FREE!  Who doesn’t want some free food?!?!

Frying Small Button Chanterelles

Frying Small Button Chanterelles

Learning To Forage For Wild Mushrooms

I first learned to pick mushrooms from my dad and although we picked quite a few varieties over the years the type I pick the most now are chanterelle mushrooms. They are easy to find, identify, don’t have very close look-alikes that are poisonous and they are very delicious.  Others I have picked on Vancouver Island are oysters, shaggy manes, lobster (my very favourite for eating) and morels though I have a harder time finding these ones.  I have picked boletes and cauliflower mushrooms with my dad but am not confident ID-ing them on my own.  The Homesteading Huntress has a great post about harvesting wild mushrooms with many more links to identifying and finding them if you’re interested.

*Please note that wild mushrooms should always be cooked before eating and never eat any mushrooms you have not been able to identify 100%.

Chanterelle Mushrooms Growing In The Forest

Chanterelle Mushrooms Growing In The Forest

BC is a great place for mushroom picking and if you have the time you can pick a lot and sell them to the mushroom buyers that set up shop during mushroom season.  I had an aunt and uncle who would fund their yearly trip to Mexico by mushroom picking!

Chanterelles Are Ridiculously Simple And Easy To Cook

There are many ways to cook wild mushrooms and really you can just use any mushroom recipe that appeals to you but for chanterelle mushrooms I recommend a recipe that really highlights their flavor without overpowering them and also showcases their beautiful texture.  They are more tender than store bought white mushrooms and have a sweet, earthy flavor that really tastes like fall to me.

Simple Chanterelle Mushrooms At The Pointe Restaurant At Wickaninnish

Simple Chanterelle Mushrooms At The Pointe Restaurant At Wickaninnish

For the first mushrooms of the year, I always saute them gently in butter with a little salt and sometimes garlic.  Served with a side of crusty bread and a glass of white wine, it heralds the arrival of fall and puts me in the mood to start appreciating the rain. A few other ways I use them are in soup (a no-brainer), on top of salad, in a white lasagna, on crostini, in stuffing for turkey, and in pasta.  (Follow West Coast Kitchen Garden on Instagram to see what else I’m cooking up with these mushrooms!)

Wild Mushroom Risotto And 40 Knots Wine

Wild Mushroom Risotto And 40 Knots Wine

Make Like A Squirrel And Store Up For Winter

To store for the winter there are multiple ways to preserve.  Some mushrooms are good for drying but chanterelles seem to lose a lot of flavor this way and don’t keep quite as nice a texture. For storing the chanterelles, I clean them, coarsely chop and saute them, pack them into freezer bags or containers with some stock or butter to cover and freeze.  I’ve had a lot of success with this method.

Classic Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto

Sometimes A Classic Recipe Is The Best Recipe

Today’s recipe is a fairly classic risotto.  I have kept the flavor profile simple so you can really taste the unique flavor of the wild mushrooms and then garnished the top with some browned and slightly crispy ones for a concentrated flavor on top.  I hope you get a chance to get out mushroom picking this year or procure some at your local farmers market or grocery store because they really are a seasonal treat.

Ingredients for Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto

Ingredients for Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto

Best Ever Wild Mushroom Risotto Recipe

Best Ever Wild Mushroom Risotto Recipe

Easy Wild Mushroom Risotto

Classic Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto

Saute times for wild mushrooms will vary greatly depending on type, age and how much recent rain there has been.  As you saute, the mushrooms will release their juice.  Continue to cook them until the liquid has reduced and been reabsorbed by the mushrooms and then continue longer if you want them to brown. 
5 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner, Main, Rice, Side Dish
Cuisine: canadian, Italian, PNW, West Coast, Wild Food
Keyword: Chanterelle, Mushroom, Risotto, Wild Mushroom
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Sabrina Currie

Ingredients

  • 1/2 medium Shallot, Finely Chopped
  • 1 clove Garlic, Minced
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 3 c Chanterelle Mushrooms, Cut Into 1/2" Pieces Or other wild mushrooms
  • 1/2 tsp Each, Salt And Pepper
  • 1/2 c Dry White Wine (Unoaked) I used 40 Knots Unoaked Chardonnay
  • 1 Large Sprig Thyme
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 1 c Arborio Rice A short grain variety of rice is imperative
  • 3 c Vegetable Stock, Kept Hot In Pot On Stove Or Microwaveable Measuring Cup Could also use chicken or mushroom stock
  • 1/2 c Parmesan, Packed Grated About 1/4 c before grating
  • 1/4 c Heavy Cream
  • 1/2 c Parsley, Finely Chopped
  • 1 tbsp Butter

Instructions

  • In a fairly large (12" diameter +/-) saute pan, heat oil on medium and add shallots and garlic. Cook until translucent and then add 2 c mushrooms reserving 1 c for the topping.
    Shallots and Garlic
  • Saute mushrooms until liquid is reduced and absorbed, then add salt, pepper and white wine and reduce wine by half.
    Deglazing Mushrooms With White Wine
  • Reduce heat to medium low.  Add in rice and stir until liquid is absorbed. 
    Adding Rice To Aromatics For Risotto
  • Next add the thyme and bay leaf and start adding the hot vegetable stock.  Add about 1/2 c, stirring frequently until liquid is absorbed, then add another 1/2 c of hot stock, stir and repeat until rice is al dente.  (Approximately 20-25 min)  You may not need the full 3 cups so test the rice after 20 min or when you've used 2.5 c of the stock and adjust accordingly.  
    Making Wild Mushroom Risotto
  • Turn heat to lowest setting and add the Parmesan, cream and parsley and stir until incorporated and melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper and turn heat off.
    (Risotto should be a fairly loose consistency, if it gets too thick while waiting to serve, simply add in a little more hot veggie stock to correct.)
    Finishing Mushroom Risotto
  • Meanwhile, melt butter on medium in a small pan and then add the reserved mushrooms and saute until some start to get browned with a few crispy edges.  
    Crispy Browned Mushrooms On Risotto
  • To serve, spoon into bowls, top with browned mushrooms and garnish with more thyme or parsley if desired. Mushroom risotto can be served as a vegetarian main course or a perfect side dish for roast chicken.
    Easy Wild Mushroom Risotto
  • This is great with a dry minerally white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Blanc as well as Chardonnay. Although you should not use an oaky wine in the risotto, it would be a great pairing to drink with the risotto as it would play well off the rich butter and cheese flavours.  (I enjoyed a locally grown and made unoaked Chardonnay from 40 Knots located in the Comox Valley with this)
    Ingredients for Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto
Chanterelles - Wild Foraging
Chanterelles – Wild Foraging
Gills Of Wild Chanterelle Mushrooms
Gills Of Wild Chanterelle Mushrooms
Chanterelle Mushrooms Growing In The Forest
Chanterelle Mushrooms Growing In The Forest

Simple Mushrooms In Butter
Simple Mushrooms In Butter
Classic Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto
Classic Chanterelle Mushroom Risotto
Wild Mushrooms With Steak And String Beans
Wild Mushrooms With Steak And String Beans

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Foraging, Photography, Recipe, Vancouver Island Tagged With: British Columbia, Cauliflower, chanterelles, easy recipe, Foraged Food, Foraging, kitchen garden, lobster, Mushrooms, organic, pnw, PNW Food, potager, recipe, risotto, Vancouver Island, West Coast, West Coast Food, West Coast Kitchen Garden, Wild Food, Wild Mushrooms

Previous Post: « An Apple A Day!
Next Post: Fall(en) Apples And Easy Apple Beignets »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lizzy

    September 25, 2018 at 4:06 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe looks amazing! I love mushrooms and have started foraging myself (so far only with a guide!) but I would love to make this. Thank you for sharing such a delicious looking recipe!

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      September 25, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Thanks Lizzy! I find mushroom picking both meditative and rewarding, such a great hobby, I hope you get a chance to try this recipe, one of my fall favourites 🙂

      Reply
  2. Elaine Nessman

    September 25, 2018 at 6:17 pm

    5 stars
    This chanterelle recipe sounds fabulous! We’ve foraged for chanterelles (and others) a few times here on Southern Vancouver Island–sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much! Pinning this to try next time we find some!

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      September 25, 2018 at 6:23 pm

      Thanks Elaine! Good luck mushroom hunting!

      Reply
  3. Denise | Urb'n'Spice

    September 25, 2018 at 7:23 pm

    5 stars
    I have had a craving for risotto lately and your recipe is exactly what I want right now. Chanterelles are one of my favourite mushrooms, too. This is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing Sabrina!

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      September 25, 2018 at 7:25 pm

      Your welcome Denise! Thank you so much for your kind comments, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did 🙂

      Reply
  4. Bernice Hill

    August 13, 2019 at 11:01 am

    5 stars
    Great post!! You are definitely living in the promised land when it comes to fresh mushrooms. This is by far one of the best ways to eat chanterelles…gotta keep it simple! BTW Opinel knives are amazing…I have the bread knife and it cuts through my sourdough bread like it’s butter!

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      August 16, 2019 at 4:42 pm

      Thanks Bernice! I agree, we love our Opinel mushroom knife 🔪

      Reply
  5. Leanne @ Crumb Top Baking

    August 13, 2019 at 5:12 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve never tried chanterelles and I’ve never gone foraging for wild mushrooms! I know some people do it around here, but I definitely wouldn’t be confident! Sounds like quite the market for mushrooms in BC. That’s amazing that your aunt and uncle funded their travel by selling them!

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      August 16, 2019 at 4:44 pm

      Thanks for reading Leanne! Definitely best to go with an experienced mushroom picker your first few times but it doesn’t take long to learn a few delicious mushrooms. I love walking through the woods looking for them 🙂

      Reply
  6. Kristen

    August 14, 2019 at 9:36 am

    5 stars
    I absolutely love wild mushrooms of any sort. I’ve always wanted to go forage for mushrooms, still on my bucket list.

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      August 16, 2019 at 4:46 pm

      You should, I just love it. Watch for a guided mushroom walk in your area to be sure of identifying them properly and prepare to be addicted to hunting them! Thanks for reading along Kristen!

      Reply
  7. [email protected]

    August 17, 2019 at 9:39 am

    5 stars
    Wonderful recipe! As a reformed mushroom hater, I’m always on the look out for great wild mushroom recipes. Turns out I just wasn’t (and still am not) a big fan of button mushrooms, but wild mushrooms have been such a joy to discover and work with. Always great to have a great West Coast recipe to work with! Cheers!

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      August 18, 2019 at 11:15 am

      Thanks Sean, I totally agree that wild mushrooms are sooo much better than button mushrooms.

      Reply
  8. Ayngelina

    September 17, 2019 at 8:51 am

    5 stars
    Chanterelles are one of my favourite, this looks like a gorgeous recipe.

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      September 18, 2019 at 4:16 pm

      Thanks Ayngelina! It’s a delicious fall treat for sure 🙂

      Reply
  9. Terri

    September 23, 2019 at 5:21 am

    5 stars
    I used to pick mushrooms with my Dad too and wish I knew which ones to pick (I’m always too scared of poisoning myself haha). This looks delicious and the next time I’m in BC, I’ll have to give mushroom picking a go (and risk it) just so I can make this 🙂

    Reply
    • SabCurrie

      September 24, 2019 at 7:11 am

      Thanks Terri, but don’t risk it, if you’re on Vancouver Island I’ll be your guide! If you are elsewhere you can take your mushrooms to a mushroom buyer and ask them to check 🙂 or just pick up some wild mushrooms at the grocery store when in season. I too am extremely cautious when looking for new types of mushrooms, always better safe than sorry:-) Happy fall and maybe I’ll see you out here for mushroom picking one day!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Join Us On Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Shop West Coast Kitchen Garden

West Coast Kitchen Garden Homewares Shop

West Coast Kitchen Garden Homewares Shop

West Coast Kitchen Garden on Facebook

West Coast Kitchen Garden on Facebook
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2021 West Coast Kitchen Garden on the Foodie Pro Theme