Balsamic Risotto With Tomatoes And Basil Food

BALSAMIC TOMATO PARMESAN RISOTTO WITH BASIL OIL & ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• • In a medium pot, combine 4 cups water (7 cups for 4 servings) and stock concentrates. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer. • Wash and dry all produce. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens.
• • Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add scallion whites; cook until softened, 1 minute. • Add rice and 2 tsp Tuscan Heat Spice (4 tsp for 4 servings). (You'll use the rest of the Tuscan Heat Spice in the next step.) Stir until rice is translucent, 1-2 minutes. • Add ½ cup stock; stir until liquid has mostly absorbed. Repeat with remaining stock-adding ½ cup at a time and stirring until liquid has mostly absorbed-until rice is al dente and mixture is creamy, 25-30 minutes.
• • Once risotto has cooked 20 minutes, trim and dice zucchini into ½-inch pieces. Halve tomatoes. • Heat 1 tsp basil oil (2 tsp for 4 servings) in a second large pan over medium-high heat. (Save the rest of the basil oil for serving.) • Add zucchini and remaining Tuscan Heat Spice. Cook, stirring, until tender and lightly browned, 4-6 minutes.
• • Add tomatoes and half the vinegar (all for 4 servings) to pan with zucchini. Cook, stirring, until tomatoes have softened, 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat.
• • Once risotto is done, stir in 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) and half the Parmesan (save the rest for serving). Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• • Divide risotto between bowls. Top with veggies, scallion greens, and remaining Parmesan. Drizzle with remaining basil oil to taste and serve.

TOMATO AND BASIL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Put your stock or broth into a saucepan and bring it to a simmer over low heat, with a ladle nearby or in the pot. Make sure that it is well seasoned.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet or a wide, heavy saucepan. Add the onion and a generous pinch of salt, and cook gently until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the rice and garlic and cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate and beginning to crackle. Stir in the grated tomatoes, sugar, thyme, and salt to taste and cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down slightly and coat the rice, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add the wine and stir until it has evaporated and been absorbed by the rice. Begin adding the simmering stock, a couple of ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover the rice, and should be bubbling, not too slowly but not too quickly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock and continue to cook in this fashion, adding more stock and stirring when the rice is almost dry. You do not have to stir constantly, but stir often and when you do, stir vigorously. When the rice is just tender all the way through but still chewy (al dente), in 20 to 25 minutes, it is done. Taste now and adjust seasoning.
• Add another ladleful of stock to the rice. Stir in the additional finely diced tomatoes, basil and Parmesan and remove from the heat. The mixture should be creamy (add more stock if it isn't). Serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading the risotto in a thin layer rather than a mound.

SLICED TOMATOES WITH FRESH BASIL AND AGED BALSAMIC

Steps:

• Arrange tomato slices on a plate. Layer with basil leaves. Drizzle vinegar and oil. Sprinkle salt and black pepper over top.

BAKED TOMATO, MOZZARELLA & BASIL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat half the oil in an ovenproof pan or casserole dish, then stir in the onion and cook over a low heat for 8-10 mins until golden. Scatter over the rice and mix well until coated. Pour over the wine, if using, and cook for 2 mins until absorbed. Pour over the hot stock, then give the rice a quick stir. Put the dish in the oven and bake the rice for 10 mins.
• Remove from the oven and stir through the tomatoes, basil, half of the parmesan and some seasoning. Flatten everything out roughly with the back of a spoon, then nestle the chunks of mozzarella evenly into the risotto. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and the remaining parmesan, and drizzle with the rest of the olive oil. Put the dish back in the oven, and bake everything for another 10-15 mins until the rice is just cooked through, heating it under the grill if you want a deep, golden crust. Leave to stand for a few minutes, scatter with a few extra basil leaves and serve scooped straight from the dish.

TOMATOES WITH FRESH BASIL AND AGED BALSAMIC

Steps:

• Arrange tomato slices on a plate.
• Layer with basil leaves.
• Drizzle vinegar and oil. Sprinkle salt and black pepper over top.

TOMATOES ROASTED WITH PESTO

Steps:

• *If Making the Homemade Pesto:.
• Put walnuts, pine nuts and garlic into a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Process for 30 seconds. Add the basil, salt and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil in through the feed tube and process until the pesto is pureed. Add the parmesan and puree for a minute. Use immediately or store in the fridge or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Core the tomatoes and then slice them across (not through the stem) in 1/2 inch thick slices. Arrange the slices in a single layer on a sheet pan and drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the oregano, salt and pepper.
• Bake the tomatoes for 10 minutes. Remove them from the oven and spread each slice with pesto and sprinkle with the parmesan cheese.
• Return the tomatoes to the oven and continue baking for 7-10 minutes, until the parmesan is melted and begins to brown. Using a flat spatula, put the tomatoes onto a serving platter, sprinkle with extra salt and serve hot, warm or at room temperature.