Mushroom and Wild Rice Chowder

Ingredients :

Unsalted butter	3 tablespoons
Bacon	3/4 cup
White mushrooms	1 cup
Onion	1
Garlic cloves	3
Salt	to taste
Carrot	1
Celery stalk	1
Potato	1
Wild rice	2 cups
Thyme leaves	2 teaspoons
All-purpose flour	1/4 cup
Bay leaf	1
Vegetable broth	6 cups
Half-and-half	1 1/2 cups
Black pepper	1/4 teaspoon
Lemon juice	1 teaspoon

Directions :

• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat until foaming. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 5 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate; set aside.
• Add the mushrooms to the saucepan, stir to coat in the bacon fat, and cook over medium heat, stirring rarely, until they begin to brown and the liquid they give off evaporates, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl; set aside.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the saucepan over medium heat until foaming. Add the onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened, about 3 minutes. Add the carrot, celery, and potato, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Cover with a tight fitting lid and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender, about 7 minutes.
• Add the rice and thyme to the saucepan and stir to combine. Sprinkle the mixture with the flour. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until the flour is no longer raw-tasting and a film of cooked flour coats the bottom of the pan, about 2 minutes.
• Add the reserved mushrooms, bay leaf, and broth and stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the vegetables are cooked through, about 15 minutes.

• Uncover the saucepan, stir in the half-and-half and the measured pepper, and let the chowder simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and the flavors have combined, about 10 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice, taste, and season with more salt, pepper, and lemon juice as needed. Remove the bay leaf and serve garnished with the reserved bacon.