Fennel Pea Risotto Recipes

FENNEL, PEA AND BACON RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan and add the bacon lardons. Fry for 2-3 minutes on a high heat until starting to colour. Add the fennel and leeks and fry for 5-8 minutes more until they're starting to soften.
• Stir in the rice and cook for 2-3 minutes until it turns translucent. Pour in the wine and bubble for 1-2 minutes until it has nearly all evaporated. Start adding the chicken stock, a little at a time, allowing each addition to be absorbed into the rice before adding more stock.
• Keep cooking and stirring the risotto, adding stock as needed. Once all the stock has been added, simmer until the rice is tender (about 30 minutes).
• When the rice is almost done, stir in the peas and lemon juice, then simmer for a few minutes to heat up/cook the peas. Stir in most of the parmesan.
• Serve the risotto in warmed bowls, scattered with a handful of chopped mint (if you like) and the remaining parmesan.

PEA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pan, add the onion and gently sweat for about 10 mins until really soft. Meanwhile, put 100g peas into a food processor with a ladleful of stock and whizz until completely puréed.
• Stir the rice into the onion, increase heat to medium and sizzle the rice for 1 min. Pour in the wine, then bubble and stir until completely absorbed. Continue cooking like this, adding a ladleful of stock at a time, and stirring continuously until the rice is tender and has a good creamy consistency - this will take 20-30 mins.
• Stir in the puréed peas, remaining peas, Parmesan and some seasoning, then turn off the heat and leave to stand for a few mins. Give the risotto a final stir, spoon into shallow bowls and top with some pea shoots and a drizzle of olive oil, if you like.

FENNEL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Cut the base off of the fennel bulbs, and cut a cone shape into the base to remove the core. Slice the fennel vertically (lengthwise) into 1/4 inch thick slices.
• Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed stock pot over medium heat. Cook onions and fennel in butter for 2 minutes. Stir in the rice; cook for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly toasted. Stir in 1 cup vegetable broth; continue stirring until liquid is almost completely absorbed. Repeat this process with remaining broth, stirring constantly. Incorporating the broth should take 15 to 20 minutes in all.
• Stir in cream, 3 tablespoons Parmesan and parsley, and cook until rice is done and risotto is thick and creamy. Season to taste with black pepper. Divide risotto among 6 bowls, and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

FENNEL & LEMON RISOTTO

Steps:

• Chop any green leafy fennel fronds and set aside. Cut off the stalk-like fennel top, remove the outer layers and finely chop both. Heat 1 tbsp butter in a frying pan and cook the onion, garlic and chopped fennel until soft but not coloured.
• Add the rice and stir for 1 min. Pour over most of the wine and simmer until evaporated. Add 500ml of the hot stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring between each addition until it is absorbed.
• Meanwhile, slice remaining fennel and fry in knob of butter until browned. Add remaining stock and wine and cook until tender.
• When the rice is cooked, stir in the zest, Parmesan and some seasoning. Take off the heat and set aside, covered, for 2 mins. Serve in bowls, topped with the fennel fronds and cooked fennel, stirring the prawns through if using.

FENNEL PEA RISOTTO

Steps:

• in a small sauce pan bring broth and 1 1/2 cups of water to boil, add saffron, reduce heat and keep warm.
• in large sauce pan, heat oil over medium heat, and cook onion, fennel, garlic, salt, stirring until softened.
• add rice, stirring to toast grains.
• add wine, cook stirring until no liquid remains.
• begin adding 2 1/2 cups of the broth mixture, 1/2 a cup at a time, stirring after each mixture until liquid is absorbed before adding more.
• stir in peas, and remaining broth, cook until peas are tender.
• stir in cheese and parsley.
• mix and serve.

FRESH CRAB AND PEA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the stock in a medium saucepan and keep it simmering over low heat.
• In a medium (10 to 11-inch) pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots, fennel, and poblano pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the garlic, thyme, saffron, and red pepper flakes and cook for 2 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat all the grains with butter and oil. Add the wine and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, until almost all the liquid has been absorbed. Add 1/2 cup of the simmering stock to the rice and cook, stirring frequently (see Cook's Note). When the stock is almost completely absorbed, continue adding stock, 1/2 cup at a time, simmering the risotto until the stock is absorbed each time before adding more stock. Cook until the rice is al dente; it should take between 25 and 30 minutes.
• When the rice is done, stir in the creme fraiche, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Fold in the crabmeat and peas and cook over low heat for 2 minutes, until the crabmeat is warmed through. Add just enough simmering stock to make the risotto moist and creamy. Serve hot in large, shallow bowls and sprinkle with chives and lemon zest.