Risotto Style Gorgonzola Chicken Orzo Food

GORGONZOLA AND PORCINI MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the stock to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the porcini mushrooms. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside for 30 minutes until the mushrooms are tender. Using a slotted spoon, remove the mushrooms and set aside.
• Reheat the stock to a simmer and keep warm over low heat.
• In a large, heavy saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and mushrooms and cook until the onions are tender but not brown, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat with the butter. Add the wine and simmer until the wine has almost evaporated, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of warm stock and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue with remaining stock, adding 1/2 cup at a time, and allowing each addition to be absorbed, until the rice is tender to the bite and the mixture is creamy, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the Parmesan, Gorgonzola, chives, salt and pepper. Transfer the risotto to a serving bowl. Serve immediately.

LEMONY CHICKEN AND SCALLION ORZO, RISOTTO-STYLE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet.
• Sautee the white portions of the scallions until tender, reserve the green portions.
• Add pasta and stir frequently until some of the grains are toasted golden brown.
• Add 1 cup of the chicken broth, and allow it to absorb, stirring frequently. When it's almost dry, add another 1/2 cup of broth. Continue in this fashion until the pasta is al dente. If you need more liquid, just add a bit more water.
• Add chicken, herbs, rest of scallion, Greek seasoning, and juice from half the lemon, stirring until the chicken is warmed through and the herbs have wilted a bit.
• The orzo should be soft, and a thick, almost creamy sauce should have developed. At this point, add the myzithra cheese and stir until it's thoroughly incorporated.
• Add additional salt, pepper, and lemon juice to correct the seasoning.

GORGONZOLA CHICKEN AND ORZO

Steps:

• Trim the fat from the chicken breasts, then cut into bite size pieces.
• Over medium-high heat, melt together the olive oil and butter in a large non-stick pan with high sides, then add the onion and sauté, stirring often, until just tender, about 3 minutes.
• Add the minced garlic and chicken pieces sauté until chicken is browned on all sides, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the broth, orzo, lemon juice, oregano, basil, lemon zest, and pepper into to chicken mixture and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until pasta is to desired texture.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper, stir in the crumbled Gorgonzola, and serve.
• Goes well with a salad, crisp baby green beans, or asparagus.
• For a change of pace, try this recipe using cubed (boneless and skinless) turkey, duck, or even goose!
• A bit of proscuitto sauteed in with the chicken is good, too (not much, though - only about a tablespoon).

ORZO RISOTTO

Steps:

• Saute the shallot in butter for 5 minutes or until tender. Add the steeped saffron in white wine and evaporate. Add the orzo and saute just enough to coat the pasta kernels.
• Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil and cook until the pasta has absorbed the broth, and is tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the shrimp, cover and steep just long enough for the shrimp to gently warm through. Season to taste with salt and crushed red pepper; garnish with parsley.

ORZOTTO WITH PANCETTA & PEAS

Steps:

• Put the pancetta in a large, deep frying pan over a medium-high heat and fry until crisp and golden. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate and set aside. Reduce the heat, add the onion along with a pinch of salt and fry in any leftover fat for 5 mins. Add the garlic and continue to fry for a further 3 mins.
• Increase the heat and stir in the orzo. Fry for 2 mins, stirring constantly, then pour in 500ml stock and bring to a simmer. Add more stock by the ladleful, stirring constantly, as the orzo absorbs the liquid (similar to cooking a risotto).
• After 5 mins, stir in the petit pois and bring the mixture to a simmer. Continue to add the remaining stock, stirring, as the mixture cooks. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until the orzo is cooked through. Add the lemon zest and juice, basil, parmesan and fried pancetta. Season to taste, then cover and leave to rest for 2 mins. Serve with extra parmesan sprinkled over the top.

RISOTTO WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Heat the stock in a separate pot almost to the boil. Keep it very hot, near the risotto pan.
• Put the olive oil in the risotto pan, and set over medium heat. Add the onions and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are wilted and just starting to color, about 6 minutes. Add the rice all at once, raise the heat, and stir for a couple of minutes, until the grains are toasted (but not browned). Pour in the wine, and cook, stirring continuously, until nearly all of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Ladle in 2 cups of the hot stock, and stir steadily as the rice absorbs the liquid and begins to release its starch. When you can see the bottom of the pan as you stir, after 5 minutes or so, quickly ladle in another couple of cups of stock and the remaining teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the stock again is almost completely absorbed, and then ladle in another cup or so of stock. Continue this process, and check the risotto for doneness after about 6 cups of stock have been added, at about the 15-to-20-minute mark. Add more stock if needed, and cook until the risotto is creamy but still al dente.
• Turn off the heat. Scatter the pieces of Gorgonzola over the risotto, saving a few spoonfuls for a garnish. Sprinkle over it 1/2 cup of grated grana, and stir both cheeses into the risotto until incorporated. Spoon into warm pasta bowls, scatter the reserved bits of Gorgonzola over the top, and serve immediately, passing more grated cheese at the table.