Place the dried mushrooms in a mug or small jug and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak for 5-10 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan or casserole. Peel and finely chop the shallots and add to the pan, along with the garlic. Cook for 3 minutes over a medium heat until starting to soften.
Thickly slice the mushrooms and add to the pan, season well with salt and black pepper and cook for 4-5 minutes.
Add the rice to the pan and stir well. Take the mug/jug of soaking dried mushrooms, and strain the liquid into the pan through a sieve. Tip the drained mushrooms onto a chopping board, chop finely and add to the pan.
Add the vegetable stock gradually, stirring frequently, over the course of about 15 minutes or until the rice is just cooked through. Taste and add more salt and black pepper if required.
Just before serving, stir through the knob of dairy-free margarine, vegan parmesan (if using), and finely chopped parsley.
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Notes
The more stirring you do during cooking, the creamier your risotto will be. At the end of cooking you can use a whisk to very vigorously beat the mushroom risotto which gives an especially creamy result.You may need a little more than 600ml stock for the rice to cook through, it will be different every time you make it. If you run out, just add boiling water instead.Try to serve your mushroom risotto as soon as you can after cooking, for the very best texture and intense mushroom flavour.