Marcella Hazan Risotto Food

PESTO - MARCELLA HAZAN

Steps:

• Briefly soak and wash the basil in cold water, and gently pat it thoroughly DRY with paper towels.
• Put the basil, olive oil, pine nuts, chopped garlic, and an ample pinch of salt in the processor bowl, and process to a uniform, creamy consistency.
• Transfer to a bowl, and mix in the two grated cheeses by hand. It is worth the slight effort to do it by hand to obtain the notably superior texture it produces.
• When the cheese has been evenly amalgamated with the other ingredients, mix in the softened butter, distributing it uniformly into the sauce.
• When spooning the pesto over pasta, dilute it slightly with a tablespoon or two of the hot water in which the pasta was cooked.
• Freezing pesto: Make the sauce through to the end of Step 2, cover with a layer of olive oil and freeze it without cheese and butter in it. Add the cheese and butter when it is thawed, just before serving.

RISOTTO COI FRUTTI DI MARE (RISOTTO WITH SEAFOOD)

Steps:

• Separate the cleaned shrimp in two equal portions. Mince or grind one portion and set aside. Cut the remaining shrimp into larger pieces and set aside.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, saute the onion in the olive oil over medium heat. When the onion is translucent, add the garlic and stir for a minute.
• Add 2 tablespoons of the parsley and stir once or twice.
• Add the chopped squid. Cook for a minute or two, stirring, until the squid changes color from translucent to flat white.
• Add the wine and bubble for about a minute.
• Add the tomatoes, turn down the heat to low, and cover. Simmer for about 45 minutes; the oil will separate. Do not add salt at this point, as it will toughen the squid. (Can be made ahead to this point and refrigerated. Bring up to the simmer to complete the recipe.).
• In a separate pot simmer the water.
• Add the rice to the squid reduction over medium high heat, stirring well to thoroughly coat the rice.
• Add a ladle of the simmering water, stirring the rice constantly to wipe it away from the sides and bottom of the pot. When the water has been absorbed or has evaporated, add another ladleful of water and continue stirring. Continue to add water as it is absorbed. The rice should not be inundated with water, and the heat should remain medium-high.
• After about 15 minutes add the ground shrimp, salt to taste and several grindings of black pepper.
• Continue to cook, stirring and adding water. About 5 minutes before the rice is done, add the larger pieces of shrimp and hot pepper to taste. Correct for salt and pepper.
• The rice is done when it is tender without being mushy. It should not be chewy or chalky. It should be fairly liquid.
• Just before serving, off heat, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the remaining chopped parsley.