Zucchini And Potato Minestra Lidia Bastianich Food

ZUCCHINI AND POTATO MINESTRA (LIDIA BASTIANICH)

Steps:

• Pour 1 cup hot stock over the dried porcini mushrooms in a small bowl; let stand until mushrooms are softened, about 20 minutes.
• Drain the porcini, straining the soaking liquid through a coffee filter or a sieve lined with a double thickness of cheesecloth.
• Pour the strained soaking liquid into the remaining stock.
• Rinse the soaked mushrooms thoroughly to remove any sand/grit.
• Drain the mushrooms well and chop them fine.
• Heat the olive oil in a deep, heavy 4-5 quart pot over medium heat.
• Add in the potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to stick and are lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• If necessary, adjust the heat level to prevent the bits of potato that stick from getting too dark.
• Stir in the leeks and carrots; season lightly with salt, and cook, stirring, until the leeks are softened, about 2-3 minutes.
• Pour in the hot stock and bay leaves; bring to a boil, scraping up the bits of potato that stick to the pot.
• Adjust the level of heat to a simmer and season the soup lightly with salt and pepper.
• Cover the pot and simmer 15 minutes.
• Stir in the zucchini, cover the pot, and continue cooking until the potatoes and zucchini are very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in the rice; cook, stirring well, until the rice is al dente-tender, but still firm, about 14 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaves; stir the parsley into the soup; check seasonings and add salt/pepper if needed.
• Ladle the soup into warm bowls and sprinkle each with some of the grated cheese.

COUNTRY SALAD (LIDIA BASTIANICH)

Steps:

• Fill a pot or saucepan with 3 quarts water, and heat it to boiling.
• Tear off any tough leaves at the base of the cauliflower and cut out the core; break or cut the large branches in to small florets, drop them into the boiling water, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Lift from water, and drain well in a colander; when cool, put the florets in a large bowl.
• As soon as the cauliflower is out of the pot, return the water to a boil and drop in the potatoes; cook them at a gentle boil just until a knife blade pierces the center easily--don't let them get mushy.
• Drain and briefly cool the potatoes; peel them while still warm, cut into 1/4-inch dice, and put them in the serving bowl with the cauliflower.
• Peel and core the apples; cut into 1/4-inch dice, and add to the salad bowl.
• Trim the radishes, quarter them in wedges, and drop into the bowl along with the diced onion, cubes of Asiago, and toasted walnuts.
• Sprinkle the salt over the salad pieces and toss; drizzle the olive oil and vinegar over the salad and toss; sprinkle on the parsley and toss once more, and serve.

TRUFFLE RISOTTO (LIDIA BASTIANICH)

Steps:

• Heat the water in a pot almost to boil; cover and keep it very hot on the stove, near the risotto pan.
• Add olive oil, onion, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the saucepan and set over medium heat.
• Stir well as the onion starts to heat and soften; stir frequently and cook until it is wilted and just starting to color, 8 minutes or so.
• Pour in the rice all at once, increase the heat, and stir the rice and onions continuously, toasting the grains (but not browning them), until they make a clicking sound as you turn them in the pan, 2 minutes or more.
• Pour in the wine, and keep stirring for another couple of minutes, all around the pan, until the moisture has evaporated and the rice is dry.
• Immediately ladle in 2 cups of the almost simmering water, enough to cover the rice, and decrease the heat.
• Cook, stirring steadily, until the water is almost totally absorbed, 4-6 minutes.
• Quickly ladle in more water to cover the rice, add another 1/2 teaspoon salt, and keep stirring, as the rice swells and releases its starches and a thick creamy suspension starts to form.
• Again, when the water is almost completely absorbed--and you can see the bottom of the saucepan as you stir--ladle in another cup or so of water.
• Remember how much water you add; after incorporating 6 cups (or a bit more) over a period of 15-19 minutes, taste the rice for texture and seasoning--add more salt and/or incorporate more hot water if needed.
• When the risotto is perfectly cooked--at once al dente and creamy--turn off the heat.
• Without delay, drop the butter pieces into the saucepan and stir vigorously to mount--or amalgamate--the risotto with butter.
• Stir in the 1/2 cup cheese.
• For each serving, spoon a mound of risotto into a warm pasta bowl, and immediately shave paper-thin flakes of truffle over the top.
• Serve right away, as the heat releases the aroma of truffle into the air, and dish up the next portion.