Orzo with Truffles - Kritharaki with Trouffes Recipe from Thessaloniki Cookbook

KRITHARAKI ME TROUFES

Orzo pasta with truffles recipe from Meni Valle's cookbook Thessaloniki.

Truffles, with their earthy, musky notes, can transform the simplest of ingredients into a luxurious dish, even with only the slightest amount. The unique climate and soil conditions of northern Greece are conducive to the growth of truffles. While they are not a traditional staple in northern Greek cooking, truffles are increasingly being recognised and incorporated into modern dishes. They are wonderful shaved onto pasta or risotto dishes, added to scrambled eggs (or any style of egg dish), or stirred into mashed potatoes with lots of butter. Even if you are not a truffle enthusiast or are new to the flavour, give this recipe a try, adding as much or as little as you like – I think you will love it!

Serves 4

• 2 tablespoons of Greek olive oil 
• 1 French shallot, finely diced
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 4 large brown mushrooms, sliced
• 250 g (9 oz) kritharaki orzo pasta (also called risoni)
• 1.25 litres (42 fl oz/5 cups) vegetable stock or water
• 250 ml (8. fl oz/1 cup) white wine
• 150 g (5. oz) baby spinach, washed and dried

To serve

• 1 tablespoon shaved truffle
• grated kefalotyri or parmesan cheese

Method

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat and saute the shallots and garlic until softened. Add the mushrooms and saute a further 2–3 minutes. Remove from the saucepan and set aside. Put the pasta in the saucepan and stir well to coat with oil. Pour in the stock and white wine, then lower the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid has been absorbed, about 15–20 minutes. Add the spinach and return the mushrooms to the saucepan, stirring to combine. Season well with salt and pepper.

Serve in bowls with shaved truffle, a sprinkling of cheese and a little extra cracked black pepper, if desired.

Kali Orexi!

If you enjoyed this recipe by Meni Valle, we think you're going to love these delicious recipes too:

Risotto with Snails & Smoked Paprika Recipe

Kremidopita - Traditional Onion Pie Recipe

Omelette with Shaved Truffles Recipe