Place porcini mushrooms in a small bowl; cover with 1 cup boiling water. Let stand 20 minutes or until soft. Drain mushrooms in a sieve over a bowl, reserving liquid.

Place reserved mushroom liquid, 1 1/2 cups water, rice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 50 minutes or until rice is tender.

While rice cooks, heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 2 minutes. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil, 1/8 teaspoon salt, portobello mushrooms, and button mushrooms; cook 5 minutes or until mushrooms are tender and liquid mostly evaporates, stirring frequently. Stir in remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, porcini mushrooms, and chopped thyme.

Remove rice from heat; stir in mushroom mixture, cheese, and pepper.

Coat 4 timbales or 4 (6-ounce) ramekins with cooking spray. Pack about 1 cup rice mixture into each timbale; invert onto plates. Garnish with thyme, if desired.

Yield

4 servings (serving size: 1 timbale)

Nutritional Information

CALORIES 239(30% from fat); FAT 7.9g (sat 1.8g,mono 3.9g,poly 0.6g); IRON 2mg; CHOLESTEROL 5mg; CALCIUM 96mg; CARBOHYDRATE 36.8g; SODIUM 415mg; PROTEIN 9.3g; FIBER 4.3g

Maureen Callahan , Cooking Light, JANUARY 2006