Lemon Mint Bulgur Risotto With Garlic Shrimp And Tossed Salad Food

RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS, MINT AND LEMON

Steps:

• Remove tips from asperagus and slice stalks into thin disks.
• Pour stock and water into medium saucepan and heat to low simmer. In 3-quart or larger pot, heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft and translucent. Add rice and cook, stirring constantly, until all the grains are well-coated. Quickly pour in vermouth or wine and stir until it has evaporated.
• Turn heat down to medium low and begin adding warmed stock to rice a ladleful (about 1/2 cup) at a time, stirring after each addition and waiting until the stock has been absorbed before adding more. Stir often enough to prevent rice from sticking to pan.
• When about half the stock has been absorbed, stir in asparagus slices and tips, then continue adding stock by the ladleful and stirring until it is absorbed. About 20 minutes after you began the process, taste rice for doneness. It should be tender, but not mushy, with a bit of crunch at the center. You may not need to add all the stock. The end texture should be creamy and slightly loose.
• Turn off heat and stir in remaining butter, cheese, mint and lemon zest and juice. Check seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed. Cover pan and let risotto rest for a few minutes before serving. Pass additional Parmesan at the table.

LEMON MINT RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine peppers, 6 tablespoons water, and 1/4 cup chicken stock; cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until very soft, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat, and puree peppers with liquid in a food processor. Strain through a coarse sieve into a small bowl. Set aside.
• Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil, and add asparagus. Cook until bright green and still slightly crunchy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, and place in an ice bath for several minutes. Drain, and set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, combine remaining 4 3/4 cups chicken stock with sprigs of mint, parsley, and rosemary, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and keep stock at a bare simmer.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a heavy 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots, fennel, and garlic, and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until very soft but not browned, about 6 minutes. Stir in rice and coriander, and cook, stirring constantly, until the edges of the rice are translucent, about 3 minutes. Add wine and lemon zest, and cook, stirring constantly, until nearly all the wine is absorbed, about 30 seconds.
• Remove herb sprigs from stock with tongs or a slotted spoon. Add salt and pepper and about 1/2 cup of simmering stock to rice, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until nearly all the stock is absorbed. Continue adding stock, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition to be nearly absorbed before adding the next, until rice is creamy-looking and each grain is tender but still firm in the center. This will take about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove the pan from heat, and stir in pepper puree, asparagus, Parmesan, 1 tablespoon chopped mint, all the chopped parsley, and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary. Divide risotto among six plates, and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon mint. Serve immediately.

RISOTTO WITH GARLIC, HERBS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Put the stock in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
• Heat the olive oil in another heavy saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and cook slowly until they soften but do not color. Stir in the rice and cook a minute or too longer. Stir in the lemon zest.
• Add the wine, bring to a simmer, and cook until the wine has evaporated. Then, over a medium to medium-low heat, begin to add the stock, about one-half cup at a time, stirring slowly but constantly. As each portion of the stock is absorbed by the rice, add some more, cooking until the rice is al dente and moist, which should be approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in the herbs and season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon into individual soup plates and serve at once. Pass the Parmesan cheese on the side.