Courgette Pesto And Goats Cheese Risotto Food

COURGETTE & BROAD BEAN RISOTTO WITH BASIL PESTO

Steps:

• To make the pesto, crush the garlic to a paste with a pinch of salt using a pestle and mortar. Add the pine nuts and pound to a coarse paste, then tear in the basil and mint, pounding again until they've broken down. Stir in the oil and cheese, then taste for seasoning - add more cheese if you like.
• Heat the oil and butter in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add the courgettes, sprinkle in the chilli flakes and nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper. Fry for 3-5 mins until the courgettes are golden and softened. Add the spring onions and lemon zest, and stir for a minute or two. Tip in the rice and stir to coat in the oil until translucent, about 2 mins.
• Pour in the wine, then cook for a couple of minutes until it's mostly evaporated. Add a ladleful of the stock and stir for a few minutes until it's absorbed. Continue adding a ladleful at a time for 20-30 mins, stirring continually, until all of the stock is absorbed.
• Stir in the blanched broad beans and flowers, if using, and warm through for 2 mins. Remove from the heat and stir through the parmesan. Allow to sit for about 5 mins, then swirl through half of the pesto. Any remaining pesto will keep chilled for up to two days.
• Divide the risotto between bowls and scatter with the extra basil leaves, extra cheese and another spoonful of the pesto, if you like.

CREAMY COURGETTE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a sturdy frying pan, add the onion and gently fry until softened. Stir in the grated courgettes and rice, increase the heat and sizzle while stirring for 1-2 mins.
• Add the lemon juice and a ladle of hot stock, and bubble over a medium-high heat while stirring constantly. When the liquid has just about been absorbed, add another ladleful of stock. Keep cooking like this for 20-25 mins until the rice is just tender and is creamy. Stir in the Parmesan, mascarpone and some seasoning, cover with a lid or baking sheet, and set aside for 5 mins while you cook the remaining courgettes.
• Heat the remaining butter and a splash of oil in a small frying pan. Add the diced courgettes, and fry over a high heat for 2-3 mins until golden and just softened. Divide the risotto between shallow bowls or plates, then scatter with the diced courgettes and any buttery juices, the pine nuts and a few pinches of lemon zest.

WATERCRESS RISOTTO WITH GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Blitz most of the watercress in a food processor with the basil and 1 tbsp of the olive oil until you have a smooth purée. Set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil and the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook on a low heat for 15 mins or until softened. Stir through the garlic and cook for 1 min. Add the rice and fry for 2 mins. Pour in the wine, simmer and reduce by half. Add half the stock and bring to a rapid simmer, stirring until the stock is absorbed. Once absorbed, add a ladleful of stock at a time and cook until the rice is al dente, stirring continuously for 20-25 mins, or until you have a loose risotto with a little bite - you may not need all the stock.
• Stir the watercress and basil purée through the risotto with the parmesan and lemon zest. Loosen the risotto with a dash more stock or hot water and season to taste.
• Top with the crumbled goat's cheese, toasted hazelnuts, reserved watercess and a drizzle of olive oil.

GOATS CHEESE AND ROASTED PEPPERS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Take the peppers and roast or grill them until the flesh is soft, the skin charred and they have a lovely smoky texture. Next put them into a food bag and seal tightly. As they cool the skin will become loose and be easy to peel off. Chop the flesh roughly and put to one side.
• In a saucepan, put olive oil, butter and the chopped onion and fry over a low heat until soft and translucent. While this is cooking, make up the stock, remembering to use boiling water.
• When the onions are cooked, stir in the risotto rice, making sure that it is becomes completely covered in oil. The grains should glisten. Allow the rice to toast for a couple of minutes and add the wine and a quarter of the hot stock. Stir and then bring the mixture to the boil, before reducing the heat so it bubbles contentedly.
• The secret to a good creamy risotto is to add the stock gradually, stirring the mixture occasionally until the liquid is absorbed and then adding some more. Continue in this way, until all the stock is used up and the grains still have a little bite to them.
• Finally stir in the desired combination of goats' cheese, roasted red peppers. Season to taste and transfer to a hot dish to serve.