Pea Basil Mint Risotto Recipes

PEA AND MINT RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring the chicken broth to a bare simmer in a medium saucepan.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter and the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the Arborio, stirring to coat. Add the wine and simmer until evaporated.
• Add just enough of the simmering stock to cover the rice. Cook, stirring constantly, until the rice is almost dry; adjust the heat to keep the liquid at a low bubble. Repeat with more stock to cover. Continue to cook in this manner until the rice is creamy and al dente, 20 to 25 minutes total; you may not use all of the broth.
• Add the peas and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and the lemon juice and nutmeg. Add a splash more stock or water if necessary to loosen the risotto. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in the mint.
• Transfer the risotto to a serving bowl, top with mint leaves and serve with additional Parmesan.

PRAWN AND PEA RISOTTO WITH BASIL AND MINT

Steps:

• Cook peas in boiling stock or water. Don't waste pods, you can place them in the stock after the peas are cooked to infuse their fantastic delicate flavor. Use this stock as part of the stock/water for the risotto. At the end of Stage 3 in the basic risotto recipe, add the prawns and peas and simmer for 1 minute as prawns take no time to cook. At Stage 4 of the risotto recipe throw in the fresh herbs and squeeze the lemon juice. Stir and serve immediately. Drizzle with good peppery olive oil.;
• Stage 1. Heat stock. In a separate pan heat the olive oil, add the shallots or onion, garlic and celery and slowly fry for about 3 minutes. When the vegetables have softened, add the rice, season with salt and pepper and turn up the heat. Stage 2. The rice will now begin to fry, so keep stirring it. After a minute it will look slightly translucent having absorbed all the flavors from the vegetables. Add the vermouth or wine and keep stirring -- it will smell fantastic as it sizzles around the rice. Any harsh alcohol flavors will evaporate and leave the rice with a tasty essence. Stage 3. Once the vermouth or wine has cooked into the rice, add your first ladle of hot stock and a good pinch of salt. Turn down the heat to a highish simmer so the rice doesn't cook too quickly on the outside. Keep adding ladles of stock, stirring and allowing each ladle of liquid to be absorbed before adding the next. This will take around 15 minutes. Taste the rice -- is it cooked? Carry on adding stock until the rice is soft but with a slight bite. Don't forget to carefully check the seasoning. Stage 4. Remove from the heat and add the butter and Parmesan, if using. Stir gently. Place lid on pan and allow to sit for 2 to 3 minutes. This is the most important part of making the risotto as this is when it becomes outrageously creamy and oozy like it should be. Eat as soon as possible while the risotto retains its perfect texture.
• Yield: 6 servings

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.

LEMON & PEA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan over a medium heat, then toast the rice, stirring constantly, for 1 min. Add 1 ladleful of hot stock and stir until absorbed. Reduce the heat. Add the rest of the stock, a ladleful at a time, until the rice is almost cooked and stock is absorbed, about 20 mins.
• Stir in the peas, cooking for 3-5 mins, then remove the pan from the heat. Add the cheese, lemon juice and seasoning, then stir. Scatter with the lemon zest, then serve immediately, with extra grated Parmesan.

PEA, BASIL & MINT RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring the stock to a steady simmer in a saucepan.
• Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat and add the onion and prosciutto and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the garlic and the lemon rind and cook for another minute until the garlic is golden.
• Add the rice and stir for 1 minute, making sure all the grains are well coated.
• Add the wine and stir until completely absorbed.
• Add the stock a ladle at a time, sirring frequently.
• Wait until each addition is almost completely absorbed before adding the next ladle.
• Reserve 1 ladle to add at the end.
• Half way through cooking the rice add the peas.
• After 18-20 minutes the rice should be creamy and tender but still have a little bite.
• Add remaining ladles of stock and turn off the heat.
• Stir through the herbs, cheese and juice and season to taste before serving.

RISOTTO WITH FRESH BASIL-MINT PESTO

Steps:

• PESTO: In a food processor or blender, combine the basil leaves, mint, garlic and lemon zest. Blend until smooth. Add the salt and pine nuts, pulsing until nuts are chopped.
• With motor running, slowly drizzle the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil through the feed tube until you have a smooth puree.
• Season pesto to taste with pepper and set aside. Pesto can be prepared up to 4 hours in advance. For best results, do not freeze.
• RISOTTO: In a saucepan, heat the remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute the shallots until soft, approximately 2 minutes. Next, add the arborio rice, cooking until grains are opaque and "glisten", about another 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the rice, reducing heat if necessary!
• {{Slowly}} stir in 1 cup hot broth. Once broth is absorbed, add more broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring the rice constantly. Stir until liquid is absorbed.
• For the next step, add the boiling water in the same manner as the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium. Stop adding water when rice is almost done- or "al dente". (That means you may or may not use all of the boiling water.).
• When rice is al dente, continue stirring constantly. Rice should look moist and not dried out;- the grains creamy looking.
• Keep stirring the arborio rice until thick and creamy about 5 minutes more.
• Season to taste with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
• To serve, divide the cooked risotto among 4 bowls and stir in 1/4 cup of the pesto into each bowl.
• Serve the Parmesan cheese on the side, if desired.