Wild Mushroom Arroz Brut

Wild Mushroom Arroz Brut

There is a stew here in Mallorca called Arroz Brut which directly translates at Dirty Rice. The name coming from the offal and blood once used in the cooking process. It’s one of those hearty dishes that they do so well in the Mediterranean. Think of it like a Mallorcan version of Minestrone but made with rice instead of pasta.

It’s the kind of traditional, peasant-style dish that’s made all year round with ingredients that change with the seasons and much like a minestrone, there are more recipes for this than there are stars in the sky.

It’s usually loaded with various meats, but I’m making a vegetarian wild mushroom version but however you make it, it’s always finished with saffron which gives the whole dish a wonderful fragrance and elevates it to imperfect beauty.

Ingredients:

• Olive oil and butter
• 150g mixed wild mushrooms – roughly pulled apart
• 2 cloves garlic – peeled and finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon rosemary leaves – finely chopped
• ½ onion – chopped
• 1 stick celery – chopped
• 1 pinch saffron
• 3 tablespoons boiling water
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper
• 250g chopped tomatoes
• 1 litre vegetable stock
• 100g French beans – chopped
• 100g frozen peas
• 150g short-grain rice

In a large pan on a medium heat, add some olive oil and butter and then throw in the mushrooms and saute for at least 8 minutes until they begin to colour.

Stir in the garlic and rosemary followed by the onion and celery. Allow to saute for another 5 mins.

Place the saffron into a small bowl and add the boiling water.  Set aside.

Stir in the oregano and season with a little salt and pepper, then add the tomatoes and stock.  Bring it to a gentle simmer and add the beans and peas.  Allow it gently simmer for 5 minutes, then add the rice.  Finally pour in the saffron and stir well.

Allow it to gently simmer for 10 – 15 minutes until the rice is soft and cooked through.  Let the soup cool for 10 minutes before serving with freshly torn coriander.

For more Mallorca inspired recipes, check this out on Dom in the Kitchen.

Eat and of course, enjoy!