Cabernet Risotto Recipes

CREAMY RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion until tender, about 5 minutes. Add rice; cook, stirring until well coated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine; cook, stirring until absorbed, about 1 minute. Season with salt. Gently heat broth; keep warm.
• Add about 1 cup of warm broth. Cook, stirring frequently, until absorbed. Continue adding broth, 1 cup at a time, stirring until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 25 minutes total. The rice should be tender (but not mushy) and suspended in liquid with the consistency of heavy cream.
• Remove pan from heat. Stir in Parmesan and butter; season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately (risotto will continue to thicken as it sits). Garnish with thyme leaves, if desired.

CABERNET RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the butter and olive oil together in a large saucepan over low heat.
• When the butter is melted, add the onion and garlic, and saute until transparent, 7-8 minutes.
• Add the rice, and stir with a wooden spoon until each grain begins to turn a milky white, about 2 minutes.
• Add the wine, and continue to stir until it is completely absorbed by the rice.
• Keeping the stock hot over low heat, add the stock, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition until nearly all the liquid is absorbed.
• Continue to add stock and stir until the rice is tender but not mushy, a total of 18-20 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes and cheese, taste again, and season with salt, pepper, and if you like, more cheese.
• Serve immediately.

RISOTTO AL CIOCCOLATOR: CHOCOLATE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Similar to a regular risotto process, melt the unsalted butter in a hot pan and add the rice. Stir for about a minute or until the rice is translucent. Pour a cup of milk into the pan and stir until the milk reduces. Add the sugar and stir continuously. As the milk evaporates, add another 1/2 a cup of milk to the rice and continue stirring. Repeat this process until the rice is at the 'al dente' stage.
• Add the chocolate to the rice, and stir until the chocolate has melted and the milk has reduced to a creamy consistency.
• Serve the dessert immediately in cups and finish with a sprinkle of walnuts on top.

RISOTTO AL CABERNET

Steps:

• Bring chicken stock to a boil in a large saucepan; reduce to a simmer and keep warm while preparing risotto.
• Heat olive oil in a 4-quart saucepan. Add onion and a pinch of salt and saute over medium-low heat until it is soft and translucent but not at all browned. Add rice and continue to saute, coating rice with the oil, until grains are lightly toasted, about 4 to 6 minutes. Adjust heat as necessary to keep pan temperature relatively constant. Add white wine and stir until it is almost completely absorbed.
• Begin adding simmering stock to rice, 1 ladleful at a time, stirring the rice constantly and continuing to cook at a constant low simmer. Add more stock each time the last addition is nearly, but not completely, absorbed.
• About 15 minutes after you begin adding stock, test rice by biting into a grain. It is done when it is almost cooked but still al dente, you should be able to feel a little bite in the middle of the grain, but it should not taste uncooked or gritty. Don't worry if you have not used all the stock.
• Remove risotto from heat and stir in butter, Parmesan and 1 cup of Cabernet wine until butter and cheese are melted. Adjust seasoning as necessary with salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter or individual shallow bowls. Garnish with a drizzle of the wine and some grated Parmesan. Serve immediately.

MEDALLIONS OF BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH CABERNET REDUCTION

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Combine the salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a zip closure bag.
• Very lightly oil the tenderloin with olive oil.
• Sprinkle the mixture liberally over all sides of the tenderloin and press into the meat.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy ovenproof skillet or roasting pan over medium high heat.
• Sear the tenderloin for a minute or so on all sides.
• Add ¼ cup of beef broth to the skillet (to prevent smoking in the oven and keep meat moist) and the sprig of rosemary.
• Transfer skillet to preheated oven and roast tenderloin for about 8 - 10 minutes.
• Remove skillet from oven; transfer tenderloin to a cutting board, cover with aluminum foil and allow meat to rest. You can prepare up to this point and hold the meat under the foil for at least 30 - 45 minutes.
• Do not wash skillet or discard the roasting juices and bits. With skillet still hot, add the chopped shallot and cook for a minute or so. Add ½ cup beef broth to the skillet, scraping all the caramelized juices and bits with a spoon.
• Add the Cabernet Sauvignon and bring to a boil to reduce the volume of the sauce by about half.
• If holding the final preparation, stop at this point, cover skillet, and turn heat off.
• Just before serving, slice the tenderloin into ¾" to 1" medallions.
• Return skillet to medium high heat, add about 2 tablespoons unsalted butter to the sauce and allow it to melt, taste and if needed adjust with a pinch or salt or pepper. Remove the rosemary sprig.
• Return the medallions to the hot pan and gently warm them in the sauce for 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side for medium rare or a bit longer until desired temperature.
• Remove the medallions to warmed platter or serving plate, pour sauce over them, and serve.

PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH CABERNET RISOTTO AND LEMON BROTH

Steps:

• In a small nonreactive saucepan, combine 1/2 cup lemon juice and the lemon zest. Place over high heat, and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat. Strain into a clean pan, discarding the zest. Add 3 tablespoons butter to the pan, and place over low heat just until the butter is melted. Remove from heat, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the chives; keep warm.
• In a heavy-bottomed 4-quart saucepan over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the leeks, onion and garlic. Cover the pan and allow the mixture to soften without browning, stirring occasionally, for about 4 minutes. Add the remaining tablespoon butter, and the rice. Saute until the rice is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add about 1/2 cup wine, stirring continuously until the wine is completely absorbed. Add another 1/2 cup wine, and again stir until it is absorbed. Repeat this process until all the wine is used, a total of 25 to 30 minutes. (The rice will be al dente. For a creamier consistency, add more wine and cook longer.) Add the Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover, and keep warm.
• In a large nonreactive saute pan over high heat, heat the remaining olive oil until sizzling. Season the scallops with salt and pepper to taste, and add to pan. Sear until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove from pan, and sprinkle with a little lemon juice.
• To serve, spoon or mold risotto in the center of 4 serving plates or soup bowls. Arrange scallops in the center of the risotto. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of the lemon broth around the risotto. If desired, sprinkle each plate with 1/2 teaspoon toasted cracked mustard seeds.

RED-WINE RISOTTO

Steps:

• In small saucepan, bring broth to a simmer. In medium saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter in oil over medium-low heat. When it foams, add onion and garlic; cook until softened. Pour in rice and stir to coat. Cook, stirring slowly, until rice is lightly toasted, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in 1 cup wine and reduce over medium-high heat until almost gone. Add second cup and reduce once more. When pan liquid is syrupy, begin ladling in hot broth, 1/2 cup at a time. Stir rice and adjust heat so that it is just bubbling on the edges. Continue stirring and adding broth as needed. Rice is done when it is tender but still firm to the bite in center. If you run out of broth before rice is cooked, add hot water. Mixture should be creamy and loose, not soupy. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Stir in 1/2 cup cheese and remaining tablespoon butter. Fold in chives and thyme. Serve risotto, passing the remaining cheese at the table.