Herbed Risotto Recipes

FRESH HERB RISOTTO

Steps:

• Put your stock or broth into a saucepan, and bring it to a simmer on the stove, with a ladle nearby or in the pot. Make sure that it is well seasoned. Combine the herbs and one of the minced garlic cloves in a bowl, and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet or saucepan. Add the onion or leek and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook gently until it is just tender, about three minutes. Do not brown.
• Stir in the rice and the remaining three cloves of garlic, and stir just until the grains of rice become separate and begin to crackle. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until it is absorbed.
• Begin adding the simmering stock, a couple of ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover the rice and should be bubbling, not too slowly but not too quickly. When the rice is just tender all the way through but still chewy, usually in 20 to 25 minutes, it is done. Taste now and correct seasoning.
• Add another ladleful of stock to the rice. Stir in the herbs, pepper, lemon zest and juice, and Parmesan, and remove from the heat. The mixture should be creamy. If you put some on a plate and tilt the plate the mound of rice should flatten out. Serve right away.

LEMON-HERB RISOTTO WITH SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan; keep warm over low heat.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the leek, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the rice, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice is coated, about 1 minute. Add the wine and cook, stirring constantly, until completely absorbed, about 1 minute.
• Ladle about 1/2 cup hot chicken broth into the risotto and cook, stirring, until absorbed. Continue to add the broth in about 1/2-cup increments, stirring until absorbed before adding more, until the rice is tender and creamy, about 18 minutes. (If you¿ve used up all the broth and the rice is not yet tender, stir in a little hot water.)
• During the last 5 minutes of cooking the risotto, heat a medium nonstick skillet over high heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season the scallops with salt and pepper and add to the skillet. Cook, undisturbed, until browned and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the scallops and continue to cook until just cooked through, about 1 more minute. Remove to a plate.
• Stir the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the parmesan, lemon juice and all but a pinch of the lemon zest into the risotto until creamy. (Add a splash of water to loosen, if necessary.) Season with salt and stir in the parsley and chives. Divide between bowls and top with the scallops; sprinkle with the remaining lemon zest.

LEMON AND HERB RISOTTO CAKE

Steps:

• Place the leek and 3 tablespoons of the chicken stock in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 5 minutes, until leek is tender. Add the rice, and the remaining chicken stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch springform pan.
• When the rice is tender, remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the lemon zest, chives, parsley and mozzarella cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon into the springform pan, and spread evenly. Cover the top of the pan with aluminum foil.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and lightly browned. Run a thin spatula or knife around the outer edge of the pan, and invert the cake onto a serving plate. Serve hot or cold, sliced into wedges. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges.

HERB & PARMESAN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring the stock to the boil and keep on a low simmer. In a separate pan, melt half the butter over a medium heat. Stir in the onions and sweat gently for 8-10 mins until soft but not coloured, stirring occasionally. Stir the rice into the onions until completely coated in the butter, then stir continuously until the rice is shiny and the edges of the grain start to look transparent.
• Pour in the wine and simmer until totally evaporated. Add the stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring with each addition until absorbed. Continue adding stock a ladleful at a time and stirring the rice over a low heat for 25-30 mins, until the rice is cooked al dente (with a slightly firm, starchy bite in the middle). The risotto should be creamy and slightly soupy. When you draw a wooden spoon through it, there should be a wake that holds for a few moments but not longer.
• When the rice is cooked, turn off the heat, stir in the grated Parmesan, the remaining butter, half the oil and the chopped herbs, then season with salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and leave the risotto to rest for a few mins. Now make your herb salad. Roughly chop the chives, then mix with the whole herb leaves, remaining olive oil and the balsamic vinegar. Give the risotto a final stir, then serve in bowls topped with some of the herb salad and some shaved Parmesan.

OLIVE GARDEN HERBED RISOTTO

Steps:

• Hold the broth warm in a saucepan. Heat oil in a separate pot, add onions and cook 3 minutes or until onions are soft. Add rice to onions and stir for 2 minutes. Add white wine and let evaporate.
• Add broth, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently. Wait until each additional 1/2 cup is almost completely absorbed by the rice. Continue to add until all of the broth has been used, or until the risotto is cooked to desired doneness.
• Turn off heat, add butter, Parmesan cheese and all herbs. Stir to combine with rice/risotto. Transfer to large bowl and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately. Finished risotto should be creamy and rice is firm.

FRESH HERB RISOTTO

Steps:

• Put stock into a saucepan, and bring it to a simmer on the stove, with a ladle near the pot.
• Combine the herbs and one of the minced garlic cloves in a bowl, and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet or saucepan. Add the onion or leek and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook gently until it is just tender, about three minutes. Do not brown.
• Stir in the rice and the remaining three cloves of garlic, and stir just until the grains of rice become separate and begin to crackle.
• Add the wine and cook, stirring, until it is absorbed.
• Begin adding the simmering stock, a couple of ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover the rice and should be bubbling, not too slowly but not too quickly.
• When the rice is just tender all the way through but still chewy, usually in 20 to 25 minutes, it is done. Taste now and correct seasoning.
• Add another ladleful of stock to the rice. Stir in the herbs, pepper, lemon zest and juice, and Parmesan, and remove from the heat. The mixture should be creamy. If you put some on a plate and tilt the plate the mound of rice should flatten out. Serve right away.
• Advance preparation: You can begin up to several hours before serving. Proceed with the recipe, and cook halfway through step 4 - that is, for about 15 minutes. The rice should still be hard when you remove it from the heat, and there should not be any liquid in the pan. Spread it in an even layer in the pan, and keep it away from the heat until you resume cooking. If the pan is not wide enough for you to spread the rice in a thin layer, transfer it to a sheet pan. Fifteen minutes before serving, resume cooking as instructed.

CORN RISOTTO WITH HERBED PARMESAN CREAM

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pot or wide, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the scallions, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken broth to the rice and cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is creamy and al dente in texture, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring the heavy cream to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by one quarter, about 5 minutes (take care not to let the cream boil over and scald). Stir in the Parmesan until melted. Remove from the heat and gently fold in the chives and parsley.
• When the rice is al dente, add the corn kernels and stir just until cooked and heated through, about 2 minutes. Fold in the Parmesan cream. Serve in bowls and garnish with more chives and parsley.

GREEN HERB RISOTTO

Steps:

• Blend first 5 ingredients in processor until thick paste forms. Bring broth and 2 1/2 cups water to simmer in saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to very low; cover to keep warm.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add leek; sauté until soft, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add rice; stir until heated through, about 3 minutes. Add wine; simmer until absorbed, stirring often. Add warm broth mixture 1 cup at a time, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding next and stirring often, until rice is tender but still firm to bite, about 20 minutes. Cover; remove from heat. Let stand 3 minutes. Uncover; stir in herb paste, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately in warm bowls, passing additional Parmesan cheese alongside.

RISOTTO WITH GARLIC, HERBS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Put the stock in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
• Heat the olive oil in another heavy saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and cook slowly until they soften but do not color. Stir in the rice and cook a minute or too longer. Stir in the lemon zest.
• Add the wine, bring to a simmer, and cook until the wine has evaporated. Then, over a medium to medium-low heat, begin to add the stock, about one-half cup at a time, stirring slowly but constantly. As each portion of the stock is absorbed by the rice, add some more, cooking until the rice is al dente and moist, which should be approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in the herbs and season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon into individual soup plates and serve at once. Pass the Parmesan cheese on the side.

MUSHROOM RISOTTO WITH SPRING HERBS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a simmer; reduce heat and keep warm. In a 10-inch heavy- bottomed skillet or pot, heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high. Add shallot and mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook until beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring, until rice is translucent at edges, 1 minute.
• Add wine and stir until evaporated, about 2 minutes. With a ladle, add about 1 cup broth to skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, until broth is absorbed, 4 minutes. Repeat, gradually adding broth by the cupful and stirring constantly, until rice is tender but still al dente and sauce is creamy (you may not need all of broth), 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons butter and Parmesan, along with herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.