Primo Rinascimento Prospettiva Food

HEALTHIER RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Cut the woody ends off the asparagus, then slice the stems into 5cm diagonal lengths. Heat half the oil in a large, wide non-stick frying pan. Tip in the asparagus and stir-fry over a medium-high heat for about 4 mins or until nicely browned all over (Step 1). Stir in the spring onions and fry for 1-2 mins with the asparagus until browned. Remove, season with pepper and set aside. Cook the peas and beans separately in a little boiling water for 3 mins each, then drain each through a sieve. When the broad beans are cool enough to handle, pop them out of their skins. Set the peas and beans to one side. Mix the basil, chives, mint and lemon zest together in a small bowl and season with pepper (Step 2). Set aside.
• Pour the stock into a saucepan and keep it on a very low heat. Pour the remaining oil into a large, wide sauté pan. Tip in the shallots and garlic, and fry for 3-4 mins until soft and only slightly brown. Stir in the rice and continue to stir for 1-2 mins over a medium-high heat. As it starts to sizzle, pour in the wine and stir again until the wine has been absorbed. Start to stir in the hot stock, 1½ ladlefuls at a time (Step 3), so it simmers and is absorbed after each addition. To tell when it is ready to have the next 1½ ladlefuls added, drag the spoon across the bottom of the pan and it should leave a clear line. Keep stirring the whole time, to keep the risotto creamy. Continue adding the stock as above - after 20 mins the rice should be soft with a bit of chew in the middle. If it isn't, add more stock - you should still have at least a ladleful of stock left at this point. Season with pepper, you shouldn't need to add any salt.
• Take the pan off the heat. Pour over a ladleful of the remaining stock to keep the mixture fluid, then scatter over all the vegetables, a grinding of pepper, half of the herb mix (Step 4) and half the cheese. Cover with the pan lid and let the risotto sit for 3-4 mins to rest. Gently stir everything together, if necessary adding a drop more remaining stock for good consistency. Ladle into serving dishes and serve topped with a small pile of rocket and the rest of the herbs and cheese scattered over.

ULTIMATE RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• If using fresh broad beans, drop them into boiling water, leave for 1 min, then drain and cool under cold water. Peel off the skins. For frozen beans, just thaw, then peel. Chop the shallots, spring onions and garlic as finely as you possibly can. Snap the woody bases from the asparagus spears and discard. Slice each spear into 4 diagonal pieces. Pour the stock into a separate pan and bring to a simmer.
• Heat the oil and half the butter in a heavy, wide pan. Tip in the shallots, spring onions and garlic and cook for 3-4 mins until soft and see-through, but not brown, stirring often. With the heat on medium, add the rice and keep it moving with a wooden spoon for a few mins so it gets toasted, but not coloured, and very hot. Once it starts to hiss and sizzle, pour in the wine. Keep stirring for about a min until the wine has evaporated.
• Put the timer on for 20 mins (it takes 18-20 mins to add the stock), now add 11⁄2 ladles of stock, letting it simmer, not boil. Keep stirring until all the liquid is absorbed, scraping the sides of the pan to catch any stray bits of rice. Continue to stir and add a ladleful of stock once the previous amount has been absorbed. (If you add too much stock at a time the risotto won't be as creamy.) The rice tells you when it needs more stock. You will hear it sigh and when you pull a spoon across the bottom of the pan it should leave a clear line
• After 14 mins add the beans and peas to the rice with some seasoning. At the same time, drop the asparagus into the stock and let it simmer for 4 mins, then lift out with a slotted spoon and add to the rice. Start tasting the rice now too - when done it should be softened, but with a bit of bite in the centre, almost chewy, and the risotto creamy - overcooking just makes it mushy. Continue adding stock and stirring until done (you may have a little stock left). Take the pan off the heat, add half the parmesan and the rest of the butter plus a splash of stock to keep everything moist. Put the lid on the pan and leave for 3 mins to rest. Serve with the remaining parmesan.