Spring Pea Carrot And Chive Risotto Food

RISOTTO OF SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Tip the rice into a pan of boiling, lightly salted water. Boil gently for 6 minutes then drain in a sieve. There should still be a white core in the centre of the grains. Spread the part-cooked rice on a clean tray, cool, then chill until you are ready to finish the risotto. If covered with cling film, the rice can be kept for up to 24 hours. Shave about 25g off the parmesan wedge and set aside for later. Finely grate the rest and save for use in Step 8.
• Blanch the broad beans for 1 minute in boiling water then drain and rinse them in a colander under cold water. Using your fingers, pop each bean from its skin. (Thawed frozen beans can be popped without blanching.)
• Trim the asparagus and cut the spears at an angle into lozenge shapes. Bring 1 litre of water to the boil in a large pan, add 1 tsp of sea salt, then the asparagus, shelled peas and beans. Return to a gentle boil and cook for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, put lots of ice cubes into a large bowl half filled with cold water.
• Drain the vegetables in a colander set over a bowl to catch and save the cooking water, then tip them straight into the bowl of iced water. When cold, drain again and set aside.
• Pour the saved vegetable water into a pan and whisk in the stock powder. When ready to finish the risotto, bring the stock to the boil and keep it on a simmer.
• In another large pan, gently sauté the shallot, spring onions and garlic in the 2 tablespoons of oil and half the butter for 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in the wine and cook until reduced by half.
• Tip in the rice. Now add a ladle of boiling stock and stir until it is absorbed. Add the remaining stock, a ladle at a time, stirring until absorbed before you add more. This takes about 8 minutes, by which time the mixture should be slightly sloppy, not dry. You may not need all the stock. The rice is cooked when it is just softened and has a nice shiny glaze. Remove the garlic clove.
• Gently stir in the vegetables and remaining chives and return to a gentle simmer, adding a little extra stock if needed. Stir in the last of the butter, the grated parmesan and the mascarpone. Check the seasoning. Divide immediately between four warmed shallow bowls, drizzle over a little oil and scatter the parmesan shavings onto each serving.

LEMON AND CHIVE RISOTTO

Steps:

• For the lemon Parmesan broth: Add the thyme, lemon zest, Parmesan rinds and bay leaf to a medium sauce pan. Cover the mixture with 5 cups water. Place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes, skimming the surface as needed. Strain, discarding the solids and reserving the liquid.
• For the risotto: Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the shallot and cook until the shallot is soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and toast, stirring often to coat the rice in the flavored oil, for 2 more minutes. Season with the salt, deglaze with the white wine and cook, stirring often, until the wine is almost entirely absorbed. Add 1 cup of the lemon Parmesan broth and cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid is nearly absorbed. Continue to cook, adding more broth by the cup and stirring often, until the rice is just tender and the mixture is creamy, about 25 minutes total. Finish with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the chives and grated Parmesan, if using.

ENGLISH PEA AND SWEET ONION RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a medium pot, add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan over a medium-low heat. Add the onions, garlic and a touch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onions are translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rice and increase the heat to medium-high. Toast the rice, stirring, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the white wine and cook until it has reduced to almost dry and you hear a sizzle. Add the simmering chicken stock 1 cup at a time and cook, continuously stirring, until it has absorbed almost all the way. Repeat this process until the rice is almost cooked; this will range from 15 to 20 minutes, depending on your rice. The rice kernels should still be a little al dente and the risotto should be creamy and a pourable consistency, not dry or clumpy.
• In a small saucepan, add about 1/2 cup simmering chicken stock and 2 tablespoons butter. Add the peas, then season with a little salt and pepper and stir. Place over low heat and cook until the peas are warmed through. Add the chives and tarragon. Transfer half of the peas to a bowl and mash with a muddler or fork. Return the mashed peas back to the pot of peas and keep warm. If the mixture looks dry, add 1/4 cup more of the stock.
• When the risotto is finished, shut the heat off and add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoon olive oil, half the Parmesan and all the lemon zest. Let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir and taste for seasoning. Add a little more Parmesan if needed. Add the white balsamic vinegar and lemon juice and stir. Garnish with more Parmesan and the pea mixture. Serve in warm bowls or on warm plates.

CREAMY PEA & CHIVE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large, deep pan, then gently fry the onion for 3-4 mins. Stir in the pearl barley, sizzle for a few mins, then pour in about a third of the stock. Simmer fiercely for 20 mins, stirring occasionally, adding more stock gradually as it is absorbed. With 5 mins to go, stir in the peas. After 20 mins there should be some liquid left and the barley should be cooked through.
• Turn the heat off under the risotto and let it sit for a min, then stir in the cream cheese and most of the chives. Season well and serve scattered with the rest of the chives.

SEASONAL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Basic Risotto
• Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a medium pot over medium-high heat and lower the flame to a simmer.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 4 minutes. Add the white wine and salt and continue to cook, stirring vigorously, until the wine has completely evaporated. Add 1 cup of the chicken stock and continue to cook and stir vigorously. When the chicken stock has been almost completely absorbed, about 7 minutes, add another cup of the chicken stock and continue to cook, stirring constantly but not vigorously. When the chicken stock has been almost completely absorbed, add the remaining 2 1/2 cups chicken stock and continue to cook, for a total cooking time of about 25 minutes, stirring gently so that the rice does not stick.
• Stir in the butter and Parmesan and mix to incorporate. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Transfer to a platter or serving plates and finish with a generous turn of the pepper mill.
• Spring: Pea, Carrot, and Chive Risotto
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the peas and carrots and boil for 2 minutes (if using frozen peas, then just cook the carrots). Strain the vegetables through a fine-mesh sieve and cool under cold running water. Set aside.
• Add the cooked peas and carrots and the chives to the risotto when you add the butter and Parmesan.
• Summer: Fava Bean, Spinach, and Mushroom Risotto
• To shuck the fava beans, bring a medium pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Meanwhile, fill a small bowl with ice water.
• When the water is boiling, add the fava beans and cook for 90 seconds. Immediately remove the beans with a strainer and place them in the cold water until cool, about 2 minutes. Keep the pan of water at a boil. Drain the beans, then peel off the tough outer skins; set aside. Add the spinach to the boiling water, and cook for 1 minute. Strain the spinach and beans and cool under cold running water. Set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a medium sauté pan over high heat. Add the mushrooms and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the mushrooms begin to brown. Remove them from the heat and set aside.
• Add the cooked beans, spinach, and mushrooms to the risotto when you add the butter and Parmesan.
• Fall: Fennel Risotto
• Instead of adding the 2 tablespoons butter from the Basic Risotto recipe at the end, melt them at the beginning of cooking in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Then, add the fresh fennel, onions, and ground fennel and cook, stirring frequently, until the fresh fennel is soft and the onions are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add a few tablespoons of water, if necessary, to ensure that the vegetables do not brown. Set aside and proceed with the recipe as directed
• Add the cooked fennel mixture to the risotto when you add the Parmesan at the end.
• Winter: Prosciutto Risotto
• Add the prosciutto along with the onions at the beginning of the cooking process.
• Variation: Saffron Risotto
• Soak the saffron threads in the warm water for 5 minutes. Set aside. Add the saffron to the risotto along with the final addition of chicken stock. Proceed with the recipe as directed.

SPRING: PEA, CARROT, AND CHIVE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the peas and carrots and boil for 2 minutes (if using frozen peas, then just cook the carrots). Strain the vegetables through a fine-mesh sieve and cool under cold running water. Set aside.
• Add the cooked peas and carrots and the chives to the risotto when you add the butter and Parmesan.

SPRING PEA AND HERB RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring stock to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and cook until translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Add rice, and stir to coat with oil. Add wine, and cook, stirring frequently, until wine has been completely absorbed, about 2 minutes.
• Add 1/2 cup of the hot stock, and cook, stirring constantly, until the stock has been completely absorbed and a wooden spoon drawn through rice leaves a trail. Continue stirring and adding stock, 1/2 cup at a time, waiting for each addition to be absorbed before adding the next, until you've added all but 1/4 cup of the stock. Rice will be just cooked through and still slightly firm in the center. (It should take 20 to 25 minutes.)
• Stir in the peas, and cook until they are warmed through and risotto is creamy, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Stir in cheese, parsley, dill, oregano, lemon zest and juice, butter, and remaining 1/4 cup stock. Season with pepper. Sprinkle with cheese, and garnish with dill sprigs.