at home with Lyndey Milan

Have you ever wondered what food and wine professionals eat when they’re at home? In the next of the ‘at home with …’ series Australian TV radio magazine and newspaper celebrity, and cookbook author Lyndey Milan shares an easy-peasy recipe for mushroom risotto.

“Why do I like to cook this at home? It is ridiculously easy, tastes amazing (even Tets loves it) and uses pantry staples.  It breaks all the rules but is foolproof and can then be used as a basis for any risotto (for example stir through spinach or rocket leaves, left over roast vegies) and it pleases carnivores and vegetarians alike.   It is a one pot wonder – and the container washes easily.  And lastly, I find porcini mushrooms seductive, even more so with pinot noir.”

Michael’s Mushroom Risotto

A recipe from Michael Cook, who photographed my first three books. I can’t believe that something so simple and that goes against all the accepted rules could taste so good! I find any pungent European (not Chinese) dried mushrooms, such as boletus or cèpes, work equally well. No need to soak them first.

Serves: 3
Preparation time: 5 mins
Cooking time: 20 mins + 5 mins standing

1 cup (8 oz) arborio rice
3 cups water
10–20 g dried porcini mushrooms, crumbled coarsely
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper
1–1½ teaspoons Vecon vegetable extract or good quality powder like Massel
1 tablespoon olive oil (extra) or butter
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Simply place everything except the Parmesan cheese and extra oil or butter in a very large microwave-safe container with a firmly fitting lid. Cook on HIGH for 20 minutes. Remove from the microwave and stir, there should still be some liquid left. Allow to stand 5 minutes or so to complete the cooking and absorb the liquid. Add another good slosh of olive oil (or butter to be more traditional), mix through and serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Wine: The funky flavours of the porcini are miraculous with pinot noir.

Lyndey Milan is one of Australia’s most recognised food, wine and lifestyle personalities. Her style is enthusiastic, energetic and fun with a ready smile and laugh which allows her to present information, technique and concepts in an entertaining yet memorable fashion. Her no-nonsense approach has enabled her to build a solid career on television, radio and the mainstream and wine and food print media.

In late 2009 Lyndey released her sixth book: The Best Collection, Fast, Fabulous Recipes (New Holland).  She has a seventh book due out shortly, Just Add Spice (Penguin), co-authored with Ian ‘Herbie’ Hemphill.

Lyndey was enticed back to the iconic Australian Women’s Weekly late last year as Contributing Food Director – she was previously Food Director of that publication for nearly nine years. She also spent 12 months as Associate Food Director and major contributor to BBC Australian Good Food magazine. Lyndey appears weekly on Mornings with Kerri–Anne on the Nine Network and was previously co–host of Fresh on the same network for over eight years. This followed a media career encompassing all commercial TV networks, radios 2UE and 2GB, innumerable magazines and newspapers.

In acknowledgment, Lyndey was awarded the highly prestigious Australian Association of Food Professionals (formerly Food Media Club of Australia) Industry Peer Award in 1999 and 2008 – the only person to do so twice.

As well as media appearances and books, Lyndey runs a successful consultancy business that includes public speaking, appearances, cooking classes and demonstrations, food and wine appreciation classes and advising food and wine clients – in fact anything to do with food, wine, agriculture and lifestyle.

She is much in demand for personal appearances such as at The Sydney Seafood School, The Royal Easter Show, various food and wine shows, Masterclasses and as a facilitator, debater, food judge and MC.

Her unflagging energy sees her as a board member and councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society where she currently chairs the Fine Food Committee – a committee she formed in 2001 that now judges thousands of Australian products in categories including aquaculture, branded beef, branded lamb, bread, cake and pie, coffee, beer, pasta and noodle, regional food, olive oil and deli meat.

She is past President of the Australian Association of Food Professionals (formerly Food Media Club Australia), Wine Communicators Australia (formerly Wine Press Club), and a past member of the Tourism NSW Food and Wine Advisory Committee.  She is an Australia Day Ambassador, judges for many industry organisations and works voluntarily for various charities including as co-Founder and Patron of Tasting Success, a mentoring program for female chefs.

Lyndey’s website + blog can be found at www.lyndeymilan.com

Recipe from Lyndey Milan. The Best Collection. Fast Fabulous Recipes (New Holland $49.95)