Black Bean Risotto Recipes

BLACK RICE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring the broth to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat; cover and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium low. Stir in the wine until the liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes.
• Ladle in 3/4 cup hot broth and cook, stirring constantly, until the liquid is absorbed, 6 to 7 minutes. Repeat with the remaining broth, adding 3/4 cup at a time, until the rice is tender but somewhat chewy, about 50 minutes.
• Stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt, pepper to taste and 1/2 cup parmesan. Divide among bowls. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan and the basil.

CREAMY RICE AND BEANS IN THREE CLASSIC FLAVORS

Steps:

• Roast the chiles over an open flame or close up under a preheated broiler, turning them regularly, until evenly blackened and blistered, about 5 minutes for open flame, 10 minutes for the broiler. Place in a bowl, cover with kitchen towel and cool until handleable. Rub off the blackened skin, pull out the seed pod and scrape out the seeds. Rinse briefly to remove any stray seeds and bits of blackened skin. Cut into 1/4-inch pieces.
• Measure the olive oil into a rice cooker and add the onion. Set the lid in place and cook, stirring from time to time, for about 10 minutes or until the rice cooker turns to "keep warm" mode-the onions should be translucent and beginning to brown. If using a pressure cooker, cook the onion in it.
• Add the rice to the rice cooker and stir it with the onion for a minute. Stir in the broth, roasted chiles and salt (1/2 teaspoon if using salted broth, 1 teaspoon if using unsalted broth). If making the smoky red chile version, stir in the chipotle, canning liquid and paprika. If making the garlicky tomato version, stir in the rehydrated tomatoes and roasted garlic.
• For all versions, cover the rice cooker, once again turn it to "cook" and let the rice cook for 10 minutes. Stir the mixture thoroughly, re-cover and cook for 10 minutes more. (For the pressure cooker, set over medium heat, time 7 minutes once full pressure is reached, then do a quick release.) Turn off the rice cooker. The rice will look soupy, but the grains should be cooked through and firm; the creamy rice will thicken considerably as you finish the recipe. (If you're craving a bit more richness, stir in a couple tablespoons melted butter or olive oil.)
• If making the herby green chile version, stir in the herbs (or Green Chile Adobo).
• Stir in the beans and cheese, then taste and add a little more salt if it needs it. Serve in warm, shallow bowls or pasta bowls, sprinkled with a little extra cheese.
• Green Chile Adobo:
• Set a large (10-inch) skillet over medium heat and lay in 1/2 head of garlic (separated into cloves but not peeled) and 4 to 5 fresh serrano chiles (stems removed). Roast, turning regularly, until soft and browned in spots, about 10 minutes for the chiles and 15 for the garlic. Cool, slip off the garlic's husks and give it all a rough chop (no need to remove the chile seeds). In a blender or food processor, combine the garlic and chiles with 1 large bunch cilantro, 1 large bunch flat-leaf parsley, 1 cup olive oil and 2 generous teaspoons salt. Process, stopping to scrape down the sides if necessary, until nearly smooth (it should look a little like pesto).

BLACK AND ARBORIO RISOTTO WITH BEETS AND BEET GREENS

Steps:

• To cook the black rice, combine with 2 cups water in a saucepan, add salt to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 30 to 40 minutes, until all of the liquid has been absorbed by the rice. Remove from the heat, remove the lid from the pan and place a dish towel over the pan, then return the lid. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Season well and turn the heat to low. Stack the stemmed, washed greens and cut crosswise into 1-inch-wide strips.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick frying pan or wide, heavy saucepan and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes, and add the rice and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate and beginning to crackle, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the wine and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. The wine should bubble, but not too quickly. You want some of the flavor to cook into the rice before it evaporates. When the wine has just about evaporated, stir in a ladleful or two of the simmering stock (about 1/2 cup), enough to just cover the rice. The stock should bubble slowly (adjust heat accordingly). Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock and continue to cook in this fashion, not too fast and not too slowly, stirring often and adding more stock when the rice is almost dry, for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the greens, the diced beets and black rice and continue adding more stock, enough to barely cover the rice, and stirring often, for another 10 to 15 minutes. The arborio rice should be chewy but not hard in the middle - and definitely not soft like steamed rice. If it is still hard in the middle, you need to continue adding stock and stirring for another 5 minutes or so. Now is the time to ascertain if there is enough salt. Add if necessary.
• When the rice is cooked through, add a generous amount of freshly ground pepper, and stir in another ladleful of stock, the Parmesan and the parsley. Remove from the heat. The risotto should be creamy; if it isn't, add a little more stock. Stir once, taste and adjust seasonings, and serve.

RISOTTO WITH BLACK BEANS & OLIVES

Steps:

• In pressure cooker, heat the oil.
• Sauté the onions and garlic until soft but not brown, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the rice, coating thoroughly with the oil.
• Stir in 3 1/2 cups of the stock, the oregano and salt.
• Lock the lid in place and, over high heat, bring to high pressure.
• Lower the heat just enough to maintain high pressure; cook 5 minutes.
• Reduce pressure with a quick-release method.
• Remove lid, tilting it away from you to allow any excess steam to escape.
• The risotto will continue to absorb liquid at this point and should end up being slightly soupy.
• If necessary, stir in a bit more stock with the olives, black beans, coriander and pepper.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until rice is tender but chewy.
• Serve immediately in shallow soup bowls.

RISOTTO OF FENNEL AND BLACK BEANS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Add fennel, onion, water, and garlic; cook and stir until onion starts to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in rice until coated with oil and lightly toasted, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir 1 cup broth into the saucepan; cook until rice absorbs broth, about 5 minutes. Add broth a ladleful at time, stirring until rice is tender and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes in all. Stir in black beans; cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.

ITALIAN BLACK BEAN & ZUCCHINI RISOTTO

Steps:

• In large deep skillet over medium heat, heat oil.
• Add rice; stir to coat with oil.
• Stir in 4 cups water and salt; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 15 to 18 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed.
• Stir black beans, zucchini, salsa, 1 cup cheese and cilantro into rice mixture.
• Cover; cook about 8 minutes, until zucchini is tender.
• Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
• Remove from heat, cover and let stand 4 minutes, until cheese is melted.
• Serve with sour cream and green onions.

RISOTTO WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND WHITE BEANS

Steps:

• Season butternut squash cubes with salt and black pepper. Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Cover and bring the water to a boil. Add butternut squash, cover, and steam until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes depending on thickness. Transfer squash to a bowl and mash.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in the hot oil until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir tomato into onions until onions become translucent, 3 to 5 more minutes. Add Arborio rice to onion mixture and stir to coat with oil; cook and stir until rice becomes translucent with a white spots in the middle of each grain, about 2 minutes.
• Stir white wine into rice mixture; cook and stir until wine is completely absorbed, 2 to 4 minutes; add marjoram, oregano, and basil. Pour chicken broth into rice mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until liquid is absorbed, until rice is creamy but firm to the bite, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir squash into rice mixture until fully incorporated. Remove from heat.
• Stir hot pepper sauce, white beans, Parmesan cheese, and parsley into risotto until cheese is melted. Season with salt and black pepper.

BEAN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Fry onion and garlic in a little oil until soft
• Add risotto rice and beans, plus veg stock
• Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer until rice is cooked
• Add more stock if needed
• Stir in Parmesan
• Serve with a leafy salad

BUTTER BEAN RISOTTO WITH CHARD AND FRIED OKRA

Steps:

• For fried okra:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Place okra in small bowl; pour buttermilk over. Let stand 15 minutes. Drain off buttermilk.
• Place cornmeal in medium bowl. Mix in salt and pepper. Add okra; toss to coat.
• Heat oil in small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add okra; sauté until brown on all sides, about 4 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 375°F oven 5 minutes before using.
• For risotto:
• Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add chard and toss until wilted and tender, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Bring broth to simmer in large saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to very low and keep broth warm.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; sauté until soft but not brown, about 2 minutes. Add rice; stir to coat well, about 3 minutes. Add wine; simmer until wine evaporates, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Add 1 cup broth. Simmer until absorbed, stirring almost constantly, about 2 minutes. Continue to add broth, 1/2 cup at a time, simmering until broth is absorbed each time and rice is creamy and just tender, stirring almost constantly, about 18 minutes longer. Mix in chard, then beans, 1 tablespoon Parmesan, and 1 tablespoon butter. Season risotto with salt and pepper.
• Divide risotto among bowls; sprinkle with okra. Pass more Parmesan alongside.

BLACK RISOTTO

Steps:

• Clean the squid. Hold the sac with one hand and with the other reach inside and pull away the head and tentacles. With your fingers, scrape away the dark skin on the outside of the sac under cold running water. It will come away easily. Inside the sac is a transparent cartilege; pull this out and discard it. Thoroughly rinse the inside of the sac. Cut the tentacles from the head above the eyes. Remove the ink sac above the eyes and squeeze ink into a container. Reserve the tentacles and cut them in one-and-a-half-inch pieces. Cut the squid in rings one-fourth-inch wide.
• In a large heavy saucepan or skillet, soften the onion and the garlic in the oil and two tablespoons of the butter. Add the squid and cook until golden, stirring frequently. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 30 minutes, stirring from time to time.
• Add the rice and cook over fairly high heat, stirring constantly, until the grains are opaque. Pour in the wine, the ink from the squid and stir the rice well to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. When the liquid has evaporated, add a ladleful of hot broth. Repeat this procedure until the rice is almost tender, but firm. If you run out of stock, add warm water instead.
• Turn off the heat, add the butter and season the risotto to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

PRESSURE-COOKER TEX-MEX RISOTTO

Steps:

• Select sauté setting on a 6-qt. electric pressure cooker. Adjust for medium heat; add oil. When oil is hot, cook and stir orange pepper and if desired, jalapeno until crisp-tender, 2-3 minutes. Add rice, cook and stir 1 minute longer. Press cancel. Add broth, chicken and diced tomatoes., Lock lid; close pressure-release valve. Adjust to pressure-cook on high for 6 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes; quick-release any remaining pressure. Stir in beans, cheese, corn and cilantro; heat through. Garnish with additional cilantro, if desired.