Sun Dried Tomato And Pesto Risotto Food

PENNE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, blend the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, garlic, salt and pepper, to taste, and basil in a food processor and blend until the tomatoes are finely chopped. Transfer the tomato mixture to a large bowl. Stir in the Parmesan.
• Add the pasta to the pesto and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt and pepper and serve.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Place sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and cover with warm water for 5 minutes, or until tender.
• In a food processor or blender combine sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parsley, garlic, pine nuts and onion; process until well blended. Add vinegar, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes and red wine, and process. Stir in olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt to taste.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the broth and water to a simmer. In a large pot, heat the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the rice to the pot and stir until it begins to turn opaque, about 2 minutes.
• Add the wine and salt and cook, stirring frequently, until all the wine has been absorbed.
• Add the sun-dried tomatoes and about 1/2 cup of the simmering broth to the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until the broth has been completely absorbed.
• The rice and broth should bubble gently; adjust the heat as needed. Continue cooking the rice, adding broth 1/2 cup at a time and allowing the rice to absorb the broth before adding the next 1/2 cup.
• Cook the rice in this way until tender, 25 to 30 minutes in all. The broth that hasn't been absorbed should be thickened by the starch from the rice.
• You may not need to use all of the liquid, or you may need more broth or some water. Stir in the pepper, pesto, and Parmesan. Serve the risotto with additional Parmesan.

WILD MUSHROOM AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO FARROTTO (FARRO RISOTTO)

Steps:

• Place the farro in a large pot of cold water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes to par-cook the farro, and then drain and set aside.
• In a heavy-based pot, add the butter and oil. Add the mushrooms, garlic and shallots and saute until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Deglaze with the white wine. Add the drained farro and stir to combine. Add the chicken stock to the pot a little at a time, ensuring at each addition that the liquid has been completely absorbed by the farro. Keep stirring and adding the stock until the mixture is thick and creamy.
• Add the sun-dried tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, and then add the Parmesan, sour cream and parsley.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO RISOTTO WITH MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring stock to a simmer. While the stock is heating up, drain sun-dried tomatoes, reserving the oil. Coarsely chop tomatoes and set aside.
• In a large skillet, warm 2 tablespoons tomato oil, add onion and saute until translucent, about 6 minutes.
• Add rice to the pan and stir until white spots begin to appear in the center of the grains, about 1 minute. Spoon a ladle full of the vegetable stock into the pan and cook on low until all of the stock is absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue adding stock one ladle full at a time until the rice is tender and the mixture is creamy, approximately 20-25 minutes.
• Add cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of remaining tomato oil, basil, salt, and pepper. Mix well and serve.

RISOTTO WITH PEAS AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Chop the sun-dried tomatoes. Bring the chicken or vegetable broth to simmer.
• Heat the butter in a large skillet and saute the scallions until they are soft. Add the rice and saute it, stirring, until it turns opaque.
• Add the wine and let it reduce. Add one-half cup of hot chicken stock and mix it in so the rice absorbs it. As the liquid is absorbed, add more. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue adding liquid and stirring for about 20 minutes all told, or until the rice is al dente.
• When the rice is almost cooked, add the peas and tomatoes and stir thoroughly. The liquid should be absorbed and the rice creamy. Stir in the cheese, cover for a minute or two and then serve with extra cheese passed separately.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic in processor. Add basil, 1/4 cup pine nuts, oil and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Transfer pesto to medium bowl.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes in processor. Add tomato paste and process until mixture is almost smooth. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and blend well.
• Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spray 6-cup soufflé dish with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, extending plastic over sides. Spread 3/4 cup cream cheese-butter mixture evenly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of tomato mixture, then 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, then half of pesto mixture. Repeat layering with 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture and remaining pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese-butter mixture. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Invert torta onto platter. Peel off plastic. Garnish with basil sprigs and toasted pine nuts. Serve with baguette slices.