Slow Cooker Asparagus Barley Risotto Recipes

BARLEY-ASPARAGUS 'RISOTTO' WITH BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Warm oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until onion is tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in barley and cook, stirring, about 1 minute more.
• Add broth, cover and simmer over low heat for 8 minutes; stir in asparagus and simmer 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, stir in chives and vinegar; season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.
• Yields about 1 cup per serving.

SLOW-COOKER MUSHROOM BARLEY RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 2 minutes. Stir in the barley and thyme and cook, stirring, until the barley is just golden, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer to a 6-quart slow cooker and add the carrots, broth, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook on high until the liquid is absorbed and the carrots and barley are tender, about 3 hours.
• Discard the thyme and stir in the Parmesan, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Thin out the risotto with warm water for desired consistency as needed. Top with parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper.

SLOW-COOKER BACON AND MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Spray 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
• Heat 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook 10 to 13 minutes, stirring frequently, until bacon is crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to slow cooker.
• Add mushrooms to drippings in skillet. Increase heat to medium-high; cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Add shallots to skillet and cook 2 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until shallots are softened and mushrooms are browned. Add rice and salt and cook about 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until rice becomes opaque. Add wine; cook and stir until most of the liquid is absorbed. Transfer to slow cooker.
• Add broth to slow cooker; stir. Cover and cook on High heat setting 30 minutes. Stir; cook 40 to 60 minutes longer or until rice is just tender but not mushy, and liquid is absorbed.
• Heat whipping cream in 1-quart saucepan over medium heat until warm. Stir cream and Parmesan cheese into rice mixture. Serve immediately.

MUSHROOM AND SPINACH BARLEY RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place the dried mushroom in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak for 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a frying pan. Saute onions until soft. Add garlic and cook 1 - 2 minutes.
• Add the barley and coat with oil.
• Add stock and bring to the boil.
• Place barley mix in slow cooker and add mushrooms, including soaking water.
• Cook on low heat for 4 - 5 hours, stirring occasionally. If barley becomes dry, add a dash of olive oil.
• When barley is tender, add spinach and mix well.
• Add parmesan and serve with black pepper.
• Note: If a slow cooker is not available, simmer barley on the stovetop for 40 minutes until tender.

SLOW COOKER RISOTTO

Steps:

• Mix chicken broth, rice, olive oil, wine, garlic, onion flakes, salt, and black pepper in a slow cooker. Cook on High for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Stir in Parmesan cheese; cook uncovered until Parmesan cheese is melted, about 15 minutes.

BARLEY RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring broth to a simmer; keep hot., In another small saucepan over medium-high heat, cook and stir the barley for 2-4 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to a small bowl. In the same saucepan, saute onion in oil for 2 minutes. Add garlic; saute 1 minute longer or until onion is tender. Stir in barley and wine. Cook and stir until all of the liquid is absorbed. , Add hot broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing the liquid to absorb between additions. Cook just until barley is almost tender (cooking time is about 45 minutes). Add the parsley and lemon zest; cook and stir until heated through. Serve immediately.

SLOW-COOKER DIJON CHICKEN WITH BARLEY AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker, combine the barley, mushrooms, chicken, chicken broth, lemon juice, white wine, garlic, thyme, salt, onion powder, red-pepper flakes and several generous grinds of black pepper. Stir to combine, then cook for 3 hours on high.
• At first it will seem like there is too much liquid, but the dish will thicken as it cools, and as you stir. Stir in the frozen peas and let them heat through, about 2 minutes.
• In a small bowl, stir together the crème fraîche and mustard, then fold it into the barley mixture. The chicken thighs should be falling apart; break them into coarse chunks with a spatula. Taste and add more mustard for a stronger flavor, if desired. Stir in the chopped tarragon and serve. Pass Parmesan at the table for topping.

SLOW COOKER MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the slow cooker if necessary. Fry the onion in the oil in a frying pan with a splash of water for 10 minutes or until it is soft but not coloured. Add the mushroom slices and stir them around until they start to soften and release their juices.
• Meanwhile pour the stock into a saucepan and add the porcini, bring to a simmer and then leave to soak. Tip the onions and mushrooms into the slow cooker and add the rice, stir it in well. Pour over the stock and porcini leaving any bits of sediment in the saucepan (or pour the mixture through a fine sieve).
• Cook on High for 3 hours, stirring halfway. and then check the consistency - the rice should be cooked. If it needs a little more liquid stir in a splash of stock. Stir in the parsley and season. Serve with the parmesan.

BARLEY RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS AND HAZELNUTS

Steps:

• Cut top third of each asparagus stalk diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices, reserving tips and slices together, then coarsely chop remainder. Bring water (5 1/2 cups) and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan, then add chopped asparagus and cook, uncovered, until very tender, 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a food processor (not a blender, which would require adding liquid).
• Add reserved asparagus tips and slices to boiling water and cook, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to a sieve, reserving cooking liquid in pan, and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain well and reserve in another bowl.
• Measure cooking liquid and, if necessary, add enough water to bring total to 4 cups, then reserve.
• Cook onion with pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt in oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add barley and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add wine and boil, stirring, until liquid is absorbed, about 1 minute.
• Add 4 cups reserved asparagus-cooking liquid and bring to a boil, covered, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until barley is tender (it should be chewy) and mixture is thickened to a stewlike consistency, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mince garlic and mash to a paste with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt using side of a large heavy knife, then add to asparagus in food processor along with zest and purée until smooth.
• When barley is cooked, stir in asparagus purée, asparagus-tip mixture, and enough additional water to thin to desired consistency and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until hot, about 1 minute. Stir in cheese, then season with salt and pepper. Serve with hazelnuts and additional cheese on the side.

ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Snap the woody ends off the asparagus stalks and tip them into a saucepan with the stock. Put on a low heat to very gently simmer. Meanwhile, cut off the tips of the asparagus, add to the stock for exactly 1 min. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and set aside. Finely slice the rest of the stalks into rounds.
• Heat the oil and half the butter in a heavy, wide pan. Cook the onions gently for 5 mins until soft, stirring often. Add the chopped asparagus stalks and cook for 2 mins more. Add the rice and continously stir for a few minutes until it turns semi-transparent and makes a hissing sound.
• Stir in the wine, if using - it will evaporate almost immediately. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Add the stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring between each addition until it is absorbed, about 15 mins.
• Try the rice - it should feel just cooked with a slight bite to it. Stir in the asparagus tips and any last dregs of stock and cook for 1 or 2 mins more. Remove from the heat and top with the remaining butter and most of the parmesan. Season generously, cover and leave for a few minutes to settle.
• Give the risotto a thorough stir to incorporate the butter and cheese and serve straight away with the remaining parmesan for sprinkling over.