Caramelized Onion Risotto Recipes

CARAMELIZED ONION RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a 5-quart Dutch oven or other heavy-duty pot over medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Add the onions and reduce the heat to medium. Cook without stirring until the bottom of the pot begins to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. salt and stir with a wooden spatula. Continue to cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot frequently and adjusting the heat as necessary, until the onions are well browned, 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a 3-quart saucepan, combine the broth with 2 cups water and set over medium heat until steaming hot. Transfer the onions to a small bowl, cover, and keep warm. Add about 1/2 cup of the broth mixture to the pot. Scrape the bottom of the pot with the wooden spatula until any stuck-on bits are released. Pour the liquid back into the broth mixture. Wipe out the pot. Melt 2 Tbs. of the butter in the pot over medium heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring gently, until glossy and translucent around the edges, about 1 minute. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until absorbed, about 1 minute. Ladle enough broth over the rice to just cover (about 1/2 cup) and simmer, stirring often, until most of the broth has been absorbed (test by running a spoon through the rice; no broth should pool on the pot bottom). Continue to add the broth in this manner, stirring often, until the rice is tender but still has a bit of resistance when you bite into it, 20 to 30 minutes. (You may not need all of the broth.) Stir in the remaining 2 Tbs. butter, the cheese, and all but 1/3 cup of the onions. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately, topped with the remaining onions.

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH RISOTTO AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onions and saute for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the onions are a dark golden brown. Remove from heat, stir in the balsamic vinegar and set aside.
• Heat the remaining oil in a separate large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the rice and mix well. Let heat for about 2 minutes, then pour in the wine. Reduce heat to medium low and start pouring in the broth about 1 cup at a time. Add more broth as each cup is absorbed. Continue in this manner until all the broth is absorbed and the rice is al dente, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in the reserved onion mixture and allow to heat through. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and chicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and garnish each serving with fresh thyme.

RISOTTO WITH CHICKEN AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• In a large, heavy saucepan, heat 1/4 cup of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and leeks and saute until the onions turn golden brown (about 15 minutes).
• Add the Madeira to deglaze the pan, stirring to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook over medium-high heat to reduce the liquid by half.
• In another saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a gentle simmer and maintain over low heat.
• Add 1 cup of the simmering stock to the onion mixture and continue cooking over medium-high heat until the liquid has reduced and the mixture is quite thick (about 15 minutes longer). Set aside.
• While the onions simmer, in another large heavy saucepan, heat the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat. Add the rice and stir until each grain is well coated with oil and translucent with a white dot in the center (about 3 minutes).
• Add the simmering stock a ladleful at a time, stirring frequently after each addition. Wait until the stock is almost completely absorbed (but the rice is never dry on top) before adding the next ladelful. Save 1/4 cup of stock to add at the end.
• When the rice is tender to the bite but slightly firm in the center and looks creamy (about 20 minutes), stir in the chicken. Cook to heat through, about 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, caramelized onion mixture, and reserved 1/4 cup of stock. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve at once.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND FENNEL RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat oil and 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. When butter is melted, add sliced onion and fennel and stir until coated. Cover the pan and cook slowly until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in salt and sugar. Raise heat to medium-high and cook, stirring frequently until onions are dark brown, about 25-30 minutes.
• Simmer broth in a separate pot on the stove.
• To the onions and fennel, add garlic, Arborio rice and herbs. Cook, stirring frequently until the rice is translucent around the edges, about 3 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring frequently, until fully absorbed, 4 to 5 minutes. When the wine is fully absorbed, add 2 cups hot broth and simmer, stirring every 3 to 4 minutes until liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Stir in another 1/2 cup of hot broth and cook, stirring constantly until absorbed. Repeat with additional broth 2 or 3 more times, until rice is al dente. Remove risotto from heat and stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter and Parmesan. Serve.

CARAMELIZED ONION RISOTTO WITH BACON AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• 1. Cook the diced bacon in a dutch oven over medium heat until brown and crispy, about 6 to 7 minutes. Drain bacon on paper towels and set aside.
• 2. Add the onions to the bacon fat in the dutch oven and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook onions until well browned, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place cooked onions on a plate and set aside. Rinse and dry dutch oven.
• 3. Simmer the chicken broth in a saucepan and keep hot on the stove over low heat.
• 4. Heat the oil in the now empty dutch oven over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the rice, cook and stir for 2 minutes.
• 5. Add 1 cup of the hot chicken broth to the rice and continue stirring until the rice has absorbed the liquid. Continue adding broth 1 to 2 cups at a time while continuously stirring, until rice has absorbed the liquid and mixture is creamy, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• 6. Turn off the heat and stir in the onions, bacon, Parmesan cheese and thyme.
• 7. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve.