Risotto With Asparagus And Pesto Food

RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Peel the bottom third of the asparagus stalks with a vegetable peeler. Snap each stalk where it breaks naturally; reserve 4 of the peeled bottoms for crostini (below). Thinly slice 6 asparagus bottoms and place the rest of the bottoms in a saucepan with 8 cups water and the thyme to make asparagus broth; bring to a simmer.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until glossy, about 1 minute. Add 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Pour in the wine and stir until absorbed. Stir in 1/2 cup of the asparagus broth until absorbed (use a ladle to add the broth, keeping the solids in the pan). Continue to add broth in 1/2-cup increments, stirring constantly and allowing the liquid to be absorbed before adding more, about 10 minutes. (You should have about half the broth left.) Stir in the sliced asparagus bottoms and the lemon zest. Add the remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until the rice is just tender, 5 to 8 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the asparagus tips in a large skillet, cover with water and season with salt and pepper. Simmer over medium-high heat until just tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the parmesan and lemon juice to the risotto. Stir in the lettuce, remove from the heat and season with salt. Divide among bowls, top with the robiola and season with pepper. Drizzle the asparagus tips with olive oil and spoon over the risotto.

RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS AND PESTO

Steps:

• Put well-seasoned stock or broth into a saucepan and bring it to a simmer over low heat, with a ladle nearby or in the pot.
• Heat olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy nonstick skillet or a wide, heavy saucepan. Add onion and a generous pinch of salt, and cook gently until it is just tender, about 3 minutes. Do not brown.
• Stir in rice and garlic and stir until the grains separate and begin to crackle. Add wine and stir until it is no longer visible in the pan. Begin adding simmering stock, a couple of ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover rice and should be bubbling, not too slowly but not too quickly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock and continue to cook in this fashion, adding more stock and stirring when rice is almost dry. You do not have to stir continually, but stir often. After 10 minutes, add asparagus and continue to stir and add stock for another 10 to 15 minutes, until rice is cooked through but still al dente.
• Add another ladleful of stock to the rice. Stir in pesto and additional cheese and remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning. Mix should be creamy (add more stock if it isn't). Serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading risotto in a thin layer rather than a mound.

SAUSAGE AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups lightly salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. With tongs, remove the asparagus and set aside to cool. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the asparagus cooking water cool to warm.
• In a deep, 14-inch nonstick saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over high heat. Cook the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned but not yet crisp. Set aside in a bowl to cool.
• Pour the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil into the pan, keep the heat high and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the bits of meat from the bottom. When the oil is hot, add the shallot, reduce the heat to medium-high and saute until softened. Add the rice to the pan and cook, stirring well, until the rice begins frying, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the wine, stir well and cook for 3 to 4 minutes to let it reduce slightly.
• Reduce the heat to medium low, add the cheese rind and slowly start adding the asparagus water in 4- to 6-ounce ladlefuls, stirring constantly and giving the rice time to absorb the liquid before adding another ladleful. Cook until the rice is nearly al dente, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Chop the asparagus into 1-inch pieces and add them to the rice along with the sausage meat and any juices that have collected in the bowl. Season the risotto with salt and pepper and continue cooking, adding asparagus water if necessary to keep the liquid level balanced, until the water is absorbed and the rice is al dente, about 2 minutes.
• Serve with a sprinkle of parsley, a dash of Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.

ASPARAGUS, MINT & LEMON RISOTTO

Steps:

• Finely chop your asparagus stalks into tiny discs, keeping the tips whole. Then start making your basic risotto recipe.
• Stage 1:
• Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Put the olive oil in a separate large pan, add the onion and celery and cook very gently for about 15 minutes, without colouring, until soft. Add the rice (it will sizzle) and turn up the heat. Don't let the rice or veg catch on the bottom of the pan, so keep it moving.
• Stage 2:
• Quickly pour in the vermouth or wine. You will smell the alcohol immediately, so keep stirring all the time until it has evaporated, leaving the rice with a lovely perfume.
• Stage 3:
• Add the stock to the rice a ladle at a time, stirring and waiting until it has been fully absorbed before adding the next. Turn the heat down to low so the rice doesn't cook too quickly, otherwise the outside of each grain will be stodgy and the inside hard and nutty (you don't want to cook it too slowly either, or it will turn into rice pudding!) and continue to add ladlefuls of stock until it has all be absorbed. This should take about 14 to 15 minutes and give you rice that is beginning to soften but is still a little al dente. Put to one side.
• Now put a large saucepan on a medium to high heat and pour in half the stock, followed by all your risotto base and the finely sliced asparagus stalks and the tips. Stirring all the time, gently bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer until almost all the stock has been absorbed. Add the rest of the stock a ladleful at a time until the rice and asparagus are cooked. You might not need all your stock. Be careful not to overcook the rice - check it throughout cooking to make sure it's a pleasure to eat. It should hold its shape but be soft, creamy and oozy, and the overall texture should be slightly looser than you think you want it.
• Turn off the heat, beat in your butter and Parmesan, mint, almost all the lemon zest and all the juice. Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed. Put a lid on the pan and leave the risotto to rest for a minute. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, a scattering of lemon zest and a block of Parmesan on the table.

SPRING RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Prepare a bowl of ice water. Add the asparagus to the pot and blanch, just until bright green, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking, about 30 seconds. Transfer the asparagus to a colander to drain. Repeat with the English peas, sugar snap peas, and fiddleheads.
• Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté just until translucent, about 30 seconds. Add the rice and stir until opaque, about 1 minute.
• Stir the wine into the rice, bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring periodically, until the rice absorbs the wine, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup/240ml stock and 2 teaspoons salt, return to a simmer, and let cook until the liquid has been absorbed. Spread the rice mixture on a baking sheet and set aside until you are ready to finish the dish, or skip this step and keep cooking, continuing with adding the hot stock.
• About 15 minutes before you're ready to serve, return the rice mixture to the sauté pan and cook over medium heat. Stir 1 cup/240ml of the hot stock into the rice mixture and cook until the moisture has been nearly absorbed. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat for the remaining 3 cups/720ml of stock, adding 1 cup/240ml at a time. When you still see liquid pooling here and there in the pan, remove from the heat and stir in the blanched vegetables and the Parmesan. Quickly stir in the pesto and serve.
• Store risotto, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Do Ahead
• To prepare the risotto ahead of time, cook the vegetables and the rice up until you add the wine and 1 cup/240ml of stock. Once the rice has absorbed the liquid, spread the rice and onion mixture on a baking sheet to hold until you're ready to finish cooking. Just before dinner, return the rice to the pot and resume cooking until done.

ASPARAGUS AND PARSLEY PESTO RISOTTO BAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
• In a heavy oven-proof pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the shallot and cook until translucent and softened, about 4 minutes.
• Add the garlic and rice; season with salt and pepper.
• Cook, stirring, until the rice is toasted, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the broth and 1 1/4 cups water. Transfer immediately to the oven and bake for 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, using a food processor, finely chop the parsley, 1/2 cup Parmesan, the pine nuts and the lemon peel.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and process until blended; Set the pesto aside.
• Remove the risotto from the oven and stir in the asparagus and the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan.
• Continue to bake until the rice is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the reserved pesto and serve with extra Parmesan.
• Enjoy! ;).

PESTO RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In small food processor bowl, place the parsley, green onions and pesto.
• Pulse until well combined.
• Set aside.
• In medium pot, bring stock to a boil.
• Cook leeks in stock for about 4 minutes.
• Remove with slotted spoon to a bowl.
• Set aside.
• Keep stock on low simmer.
• In large pot, over medium high heat, melt the butter and saute the rice until well coated.
• Add the wine and cook until almost absorbed.
• Add 2 cups of the stock and continue to simmer until almost absorbed.
• Continue this process until rice is cooked and creamy.
• Add the leeks, ham, asparagus, Parmesan cheese and 2/3 cup of the pesto.
• Taste for seasoning.
• Lastly stir in the cheese balls.
• Serve immediately in hot serving bowls and top with remaining pesto.

ASPARAGUS PASTA WITH MINT PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor, briefly whizz the mint leaves, ricotta and grated Parmesan until you have a smooth green pesto. Season well.
• Boil the pasta, dropping in the asparagus tips 2-3 mins before the cooking time is up. When you drain the pasta, keep back a few tbsp of the water, then return the pasta, asparagus and water to the saucepan.
• Quickly stir in the mint pesto, divide between 4 plates, then shave over the remaining Parmesan to serve.

SHRIMP-AND-ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat 4 cups of the broth mixture in a saucepan over low heat. Refrigerate remaining broth mixture, up to 3 days, for finishing risotto.
• In a deep nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon each of the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add rice; cook and stir 2 minutes. Add wine; cook 2 minutes.
• Add 1 cup of hot broth mixture and cook, stirring, until broth is absorbed. Continue adding broth, 1⁄2 cup at a time, until all is incorporated, about 15 minutes. The risotto will be very al dente. Remove from heat; pour risotto on a baking sheet and spread into a thin layer. Cool completely. Transfer to a food-storage bag; refrigerate up to 3 days.
• Heat remaining broth mixture in a saucepan until hot. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon each oil and butter in a deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add shrimp and asparagus and sauté 2 minutes. Stir in partially cooked risotto and 1 cup hot broth. Cook, stirring, until broth is absorbed. Cook and stir 7 minutes longer, adding hot broth mixture 1⁄2 cup at a time, until risotto is creamy. Stir in tomatoes, grated cheese, basil, salt, and pepper. Spoon into shallow bowls. Top each serving with shaved Parmesan cheese, if desired.

EASY PESTO RISOTTO

Steps:

• Make the homemade pesto by combining the first four ingredients in a food processor until they have made a rough paste. With the machine running, slowly add the oil. Salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce seems dry (it should be a thick paste), add a bit more oil.
• In a large heavy saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter on low.
• Add onion and cook until soft and translucent.
• Raise heat to medium and add rice, stirring** until the rice looks chalky and you can see a white dot in the center of the grains (3-5 minutes).
• Stir** in one cup of chicken stock. When the stock is absorbed, stir** in another cup. Repeat this for the third cup of stock as well.
• Begin adding the stock 1/2 cup at a time, along with 1 tablespoon of pesto. Stir** continuously until the stock is absorbed. Keep repeating this process and start tasting the risotto. The rice should be tender yet slightly firm to the bite - taking care to not overcook the rice. Adjust more or less pesto with each tasting, to your preferences.
• Remove the risotto from the heat when it is almost, but not quite done.
• Fold in 1 tablespoon of butter, then gently fold in the Parmesan cheese.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Enjoy this pesto risotto!

RISOTTO CAKES WITH PESTO

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute more. Add the Arborio rice to the skillet, making sure to stir it around in the olive oil so that each granule is coated with it, and toast it for about 3 minutes. Next add the white wine and stir the rice. Wait until all the wine has been absorbed and then start adding the chicken stock 1/2 cup at a time, making sure not to add more until the previous addition has been absorbed. Once the rice is just tender, add the Parmesan and Mascarpone cheese and combine. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for 2 hours, or overnight.
• Once chilled, form little risotto cakes with 1/3 cup of the cooked risotto. Whisk the egg into a small bowl. In another small bowl, add the bread crumbs. Dip each risotto cake into the egg mixture, followed by the bread crumbs.
• Add the Grapeseed oil to a skillet and heat over medium high heat. Add 3 risotto cakes at a time, careful not to crowd the pan. Sear for 2 minutes on each side until the breadcrumbs are just golden brown. Remove from skillet and place on a paper towel to let some of the oil drip off. Serve while warm with a side of your favorite pesto!

ASPARAGUS & PESTO RISOTTO

Steps:

• Fry up 1 knob butter, oil, onion, celery and splash of water in a pan for 5 mins on a low heat
• Separately, bring the stock to the boil and continue on low heat, throw in the nasty bits of the asparagus
• Add rice to the pan and stir for a minute until translucent. Add wine and stir continuously until rice has absorbed the liquid. Turn heat up to medium and ladle in 2/3 stock (without nasty asparagus) bit by bit, replenishing when rice has absorbed liquid
• Add good bits of asparagus and ladle in the rest of the stock bit by bit as before
• Taste rice and add water if run out of stock. When cooked and crunchy take off the heat, add pesto, butter, parmesan and lemon. Season.