Ultimate Risotto Primavera Food

ULTIMATE RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• If using fresh broad beans, drop them into boiling water, leave for 1 min, then drain and cool under cold water. Peel off the skins. For frozen beans, just thaw, then peel. Chop the shallots, spring onions and garlic as finely as you possibly can. Snap the woody bases from the asparagus spears and discard. Slice each spear into 4 diagonal pieces. Pour the stock into a separate pan and bring to a simmer.
• Heat the oil and half the butter in a heavy, wide pan. Tip in the shallots, spring onions and garlic and cook for 3-4 mins until soft and see-through, but not brown, stirring often. With the heat on medium, add the rice and keep it moving with a wooden spoon for a few mins so it gets toasted, but not coloured, and very hot. Once it starts to hiss and sizzle, pour in the wine. Keep stirring for about a min until the wine has evaporated.
• Put the timer on for 20 mins (it takes 18-20 mins to add the stock), now add 11⁄2 ladles of stock, letting it simmer, not boil. Keep stirring until all the liquid is absorbed, scraping the sides of the pan to catch any stray bits of rice. Continue to stir and add a ladleful of stock once the previous amount has been absorbed. (If you add too much stock at a time the risotto won't be as creamy.) The rice tells you when it needs more stock. You will hear it sigh and when you pull a spoon across the bottom of the pan it should leave a clear line
• After 14 mins add the beans and peas to the rice with some seasoning. At the same time, drop the asparagus into the stock and let it simmer for 4 mins, then lift out with a slotted spoon and add to the rice. Start tasting the rice now too - when done it should be softened, but with a bit of bite in the centre, almost chewy, and the risotto creamy - overcooking just makes it mushy. Continue adding stock and stirring until done (you may have a little stock left). Take the pan off the heat, add half the parmesan and the rest of the butter plus a splash of stock to keep everything moist. Put the lid on the pan and leave for 3 mins to rest. Serve with the remaining parmesan.

RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Have the asparagus, carrots, zucchini, and yellow squash cut up and ready. Set these vegetables aside. Bring the chicken broth and water just to a simmer in a medium saucepan; keep warm.
• Heat 1 tablespoon each olive oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup minced onion and the minced garlic; cook 3 minutes. Add asparagus and carrots; cook 2 minutes. Add zucchini and yellow squash; cook until just tender, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Heat 2 more tablespoons olive oil in same sauce pan over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup more minced onion and cook 3 minutes. Add the arborio rice (or short-grain rice), stirring to coat. Stir in the dry white wine and cook until almost absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 3/4 cup reserved broth and cook, stirring constantly, until almost absorbed. Simmer, adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly until broth is absorbed before adding more, about 20 minutes. Rice will be creamy and just tender.
• Stir in 2 more tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, chopped mint, grated lemon peel, peas, and reserved vegetables.
• Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• In large saucepan, saute mushrooms, carrots, onion and garlic in hot oil until onion is tender.
• Add uncooked rice.
• Cook and stir over medium heat 3-5 minutes or until rice is golden brown.
• Meanwhile, in another saucepan, heat water, bouillon and cooking wine to a boil.
• Slowly add one cup of the broth to the rice mixture, stirring constantly.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until liquid is absorbed.
• Continue to add 1/2 cup of broth at a time to rice mixture, stirring constantly, until all broth has been added and the rice mixture is creamy.
• Add cheeses and stir until well blended.
• Garnish, if desired, with fresh parsley and diced tomato.

RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Halfway fill large bowl with cold water. Squeeze in juice from 1 lemon half. Cut off stem from 1 artichoke and rub exposed area with cut side of second lemon half. Starting from base of artichoke, bend each leaf back and snap off where it breaks naturally. Continue until light green leaves are exposed. Cut off top 2 inches of leaves above heart. Using small sharp knife, cut off all dark green areas. Cut artichokes heart into quarters. Rub all cut surfaces with lemon half. Cut out choke and pink inner leaves from each section. Cut each section lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and place in acidulated water. Repeat with remaining artichokes. (Can be prepared 3 hours ahead. Let stand in water.)
• Starting from base, bend each asparagus spear and snap off where it breaks naturally. Discard ends. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Set aside.
• Pour broth into saucepan; bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low; keep hot.
• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until tender, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Drain artichoke hearts and add to saucepan. Cook until almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 14 minutes. Add rice and half of prosciutto and stir 2 minutes. Add 3/4 of broth to saucepan and adjust heat so that liquid simmers. Cook 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add asparagus and continue cooking until rice is tender but still slightly firm to bite and mixture is creamy, stirring frequently and adding remaining broth by 1/4 cupfuls as necessary, about 15 minutes. Add peas and green onions and stir until heated through, about 2 minutes.
• Set aside 2 tablespoons basil and 1 tablespoon prosciutto for garnish. Stir remaining basil and prosciutto and 2 cups Parmesan cheese into risotto. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with reserved basil and prosciutto. Serve immediately, passing additional Parmesan cheese separately.

RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in an oversize, heavy-bottomed skillet or pot. Add the leek, season lightly with salt and pepper, stir and cover. Cook for 3 minutes until soft. Place the broth in a separate saucepan and simmer.
• Add the rice to the leek and stir to combine. Ladle in 1/2 cup of the broth and stir. Increase the heat to medium-high and, for the next 25 minutes, continue adding the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, and stirring constantly. After 15 minutes, add the white wine and carrot. After 5 more minutes, add the zucchini, asparagus and peas. Stir well. The rice should be tender but firm. If not, add more broth. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Beat 1/2 cup of ricotta into the rice. Add the spinach. Divide the rice among 4 bowls. Top each with a spoonful of the remaining ricotta. Sprinkle with parsley and chives and serve.