Rosy Red Risotto Food

THE BEST RISOTTO

Steps:

• Warm the chicken stock in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, cover and keep warm while you make the risotto.
• Heat the olive oil in another medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the shallot, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and about 10 grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves and 3 tablespoons butter, stirring until the butter has melted, about 1 minute.
• Add the rice and toast, stirring only once, until it smells nutty and starts to turn light golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour in the wine and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has evaporated completely, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Ladle one cup of the warm stock into the rice and cook, stirring gently without stopping, until the rice has absorbed the liquid, 2 to 3 minutes (you will know it's time to add more stock when you move the rice aside and no liquid pools in the center).
• Repeat this process, adding more stock a ladleful at a time, until the rice is al dente, 17 to 19 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. (You may have a little stock left over. If so, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.) If you prefer your risotto on the saucier side, add more stock 1/4 cup at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
• Stir in the Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt and a few more grinds of black pepper and serve with more Parmesan, if desired.

ROSY RED RISOTTO

Steps:

• Drain beets, reserving liquid, about 1/2 cup. Dice beets - small dice and set aside. (If you don't want red hands, wear gloves.) Add reserved liquid to stock.
• Heat oil in a heavy 2 quart pot. Saute onion in oil until translucent.
• Add rice and stir until grains are coated with oil.
• Add wine (Optional - or use stock if you prefer) and stir constantly on medium heat until wine is absorbed.
• Add 1 cup of stock, stirring until liquid is absorbed. Continue cooking for about 20 - 30 minutes, adding the remaining liquid 1 cup at a time, allowing liquid to absorb before adding more. The rice, when done, should be firm with a little bite in the center, or al dente.
• Remove from heat. Add butter and stir vigorously until butter is melted and risotto is creamy.
• Gently stir in the diced beets and serve.

RED RISOTTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Scrub the beets and place them on a sheet of aluminum foil. Fold up the edges of the foil to seal in the beets. Place the package on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the beets are tender when pierced with a knife. Let cool.
• Peel the beets and chop them. You should have about 2 cups. (The beets can be prepared a day or two ahead and refrigerated.)
• In a wide saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter with the olive oil over very low heat. Add the onion and cook until tender and golden, 10 to 20 minutes. Do not let it brown.
• Add the rice to the onion and stir for 2 minutes, or until hot. Add the wine and cook and stir until the liquid is absorbed. Add the beets and cook for 1 minute. Add about 1/2 cup of the hot broth and cook, stirring constantly, until the broth is absorbed. Continue adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition. After about 10 minutes, stir in salt and pepper to taste. Continue to add broth and stir until the rice is tender but still firm to the bite. If you run out of broth, use hot water.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in one more 1/2 cup of broth. The risotto should be creamy and moist, not dry. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter until melted. Serve immediately.

BEET RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place a small braiser or medium dutch oven over medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil to the hot pan and melt. Add the shallot, fennel, beet and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until fragrant and the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat the in butter and oil mixture and toast slightly, about 3 more minutes. Deglaze with the sherry vinegar and season with the remaining salt. Begin adding the broth, 1 cup at a time, stirring often. Cook, stirring, after each addition until the broth is almost completely absorbed, continuing with the remaining broth until the risotto is creamy, cooked through and still moves slightly when spooned onto a plate. This will take about 20 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan until melted. Serve with crumbled gorgonzola on top.

ARTICHOKE, RED ONION & ROSEMARY RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok. Cook the onions gently for 6-7 mins until softened and browning. Add the peppers and rosemary and cook for a further 5 mins. Add rice and stir well.
• Pour in the wine and of the stock. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally until almost all the liquid is absorbed.
• Stir in another of the stock and simmer again, until it's all absorbed. Add the final with the artichokes and simmer again until rice is tender.
• Season and stir in the Parmesan and ½ the pine nuts. Scatter over the remainder and serve.

OVEN-BAKED RED PEPPER RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Heat the oil in an ovenproof pan, then fry the onion for a few mins until softened. Turn up the heat, tip in the rice, stir, then fry for 1 min more. Pour in the wine, if using, stirring until absorbed, then pour in the tomatoes, peppers and 400ml of the stock. Cover and bake in the oven for 25 mins until the rice is tender and creamy.
• Stir in the remaining stock and parsley, season and scatter with Parmesan, if you like.

RED BEET RISOTTO

Steps:

• Sweat the onion in two thirds of the butter and the oil.
• Add the beet tops and mix well.
• Add the rice and toast for a few seconds.
• Sprinkle the wine and let it evaporate.
• Add stock, enough to cover the rice and simmer.
• Halfway through, add all the beet juice and continue simmering.
• Altogether this should take 16 to 18 minutes.
• Do not add too much stock towards the end, keeping in mind that the risotto is to be creamy not soupy.
• When the rice is cooked remove from the heat and add the remaining butter& the cheese and stir to make it fluffy.
• Serve immediately topped with shaved parmigiano.