Spring Pea And Asparagus Risotto Recipes

SPRING PEA AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Make sure your oven rack is in the middle position and place another rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and turning translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add 4 cups broth (or 3 cups broth and 1 cup water), cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and stir in the rice. Cover the pot and bake for 55 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the asparagus by snapping off the tough ends and discarding them, then slicing the spears diagonally into 1 1/2-inch long pieces. On a large, rimmed baking sheet, toss the asparagus with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Set aside for now.
• Once the risotto has been in the oven for 55 minutes, transfer the asparagus to the lower rack of the oven. Carefully remove the pot from the oven and take off the lid. Quickly dump the peas inside, cover the pot again and return it to the oven for another 10 minutes. (This will give the peas time to steam.)
• Remove the pot from the oven, but leave the asparagus in for another 5 to 10 minutes, until tender and roasted to your liking. Remove the lid and pour in the remaining cup of broth, the Parmesan, wine, butter, salt, a generous amount of pepper, a pinch of red pepper flakes and the zest and juice of half your lemon.
• Using a big spoon, stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Stir in the roasted asparagus. Season to taste with salt and pepper, divide into bowls and top with a generous sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley.

RISOTTO OF SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Tip the rice into a pan of boiling, lightly salted water. Boil gently for 6 minutes then drain in a sieve. There should still be a white core in the centre of the grains. Spread the part-cooked rice on a clean tray, cool, then chill until you are ready to finish the risotto. If covered with cling film, the rice can be kept for up to 24 hours. Shave about 25g off the parmesan wedge and set aside for later. Finely grate the rest and save for use in Step 8.
• Blanch the broad beans for 1 minute in boiling water then drain and rinse them in a colander under cold water. Using your fingers, pop each bean from its skin. (Thawed frozen beans can be popped without blanching.)
• Trim the asparagus and cut the spears at an angle into lozenge shapes. Bring 1 litre of water to the boil in a large pan, add 1 tsp of sea salt, then the asparagus, shelled peas and beans. Return to a gentle boil and cook for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, put lots of ice cubes into a large bowl half filled with cold water.
• Drain the vegetables in a colander set over a bowl to catch and save the cooking water, then tip them straight into the bowl of iced water. When cold, drain again and set aside.
• Pour the saved vegetable water into a pan and whisk in the stock powder. When ready to finish the risotto, bring the stock to the boil and keep it on a simmer.
• In another large pan, gently sauté the shallot, spring onions and garlic in the 2 tablespoons of oil and half the butter for 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in the wine and cook until reduced by half.
• Tip in the rice. Now add a ladle of boiling stock and stir until it is absorbed. Add the remaining stock, a ladle at a time, stirring until absorbed before you add more. This takes about 8 minutes, by which time the mixture should be slightly sloppy, not dry. You may not need all the stock. The rice is cooked when it is just softened and has a nice shiny glaze. Remove the garlic clove.
• Gently stir in the vegetables and remaining chives and return to a gentle simmer, adding a little extra stock if needed. Stir in the last of the butter, the grated parmesan and the mascarpone. Check the seasoning. Divide immediately between four warmed shallow bowls, drizzle over a little oil and scatter the parmesan shavings onto each serving.

SPRINGTIME ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Wash asparagus and break off the tough ends. Cut spears into 1-inch pieces; set aside.
• In a 6-quart pot, melt butter with olive oil. Add onion, garlic and rice. Over medium-high heat, cook and stir 3-4 minutes; do not brown. Add cooking wine and broth. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to low, cover and cook 10 minutes. No need to stir.
• Add asparagus and continue to cook and stir, uncovered, about 3 minutes. Taste rice to ensure it does not overcook. Rice should be al dente and rather soupy. Stir in cheese, lemon peel and marjoram. Remove from heat and serve immediately. Sprinkle with additional cheese, if desired.

LEMON RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS AND PEAS

Steps:

• Bring stock to a boil in a medium saucepan; turn off heat.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat in another medium saucepan. Add onion; cook, stirring constantly, until translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Add rice; cook, stirring constantly, until edges of grains are translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Raise heat to medium-high. Add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until wine has completely evaporated.
• Add 1/2 cup stock; cook, stirring constantly, until stock has been completely absorbed and a wooden spoon drawn through rice leaves a trail in its wake. Continue adding about 4 more cups stock, 1/2 cup at a time, waiting for each addition to be absorbed before adding the next. (It should take about 13 minutes.)
• Stir in the asparagus. Add 1/2 to 1 cup more stock, in same manner as described above. About 1 minute before risotto is done, stir in the peas. Risotto is done when liquid looks creamy and grains are cooked but still slightly firm in centers. (The total cooking time will be 16 to 20 minutes.)
• Remove from heat; stir in 1/2 cup stock. (You may have stock left over.) Stir in zest, juice, remaining 2 tablespoons butter, parsley, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with more cheese.

SPRING RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Prepare a bowl of ice water. Add the asparagus to the pot and blanch, just until bright green, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking, about 30 seconds. Transfer the asparagus to a colander to drain. Repeat with the English peas, sugar snap peas, and fiddleheads.
• Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté just until translucent, about 30 seconds. Add the rice and stir until opaque, about 1 minute.
• Stir the wine into the rice, bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring periodically, until the rice absorbs the wine, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup/240ml stock and 2 teaspoons salt, return to a simmer, and let cook until the liquid has been absorbed. Spread the rice mixture on a baking sheet and set aside until you are ready to finish the dish, or skip this step and keep cooking, continuing with adding the hot stock.
• About 15 minutes before you're ready to serve, return the rice mixture to the sauté pan and cook over medium heat. Stir 1 cup/240ml of the hot stock into the rice mixture and cook until the moisture has been nearly absorbed. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat for the remaining 3 cups/720ml of stock, adding 1 cup/240ml at a time. When you still see liquid pooling here and there in the pan, remove from the heat and stir in the blanched vegetables and the Parmesan. Quickly stir in the pesto and serve.
• Store risotto, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Do Ahead
• To prepare the risotto ahead of time, cook the vegetables and the rice up until you add the wine and 1 cup/240ml of stock. Once the rice has absorbed the liquid, spread the rice and onion mixture on a baking sheet to hold until you're ready to finish cooking. Just before dinner, return the rice to the pot and resume cooking until done.

SPRING GREEN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and fennel and saute for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender. Add the rice and stir for a minute to coat with the vegetables, oil, and butter. Add the white wine and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until most of the wine has been absorbed. Add the chicken stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring almost constantly and waiting for the stock to be absorbed before adding more. This process should take 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut the asparagus diagonally in 1 1/2-inch lengths and discard the tough ends. Blanch in boiling salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, until al dente. Drain and cool immediately in ice water. (If using fresh peas, blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes until the starchiness is gone.)
• When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, drain the asparagus and add it to the risotto with the peas, lemon zest, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Continue cooking and adding stock, stirring almost constantly, until the rice is tender but still firm.
• Whisk the lemon juice and mascarpone together in a small bowl. When the risotto is done, turn off the heat and stir in the mascarpone mixture plus the Parmesan cheese and chives. Set aside, off the heat, for a few minutes, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve hot with a sprinkling of chives and more Parmesan cheese.

BIBA'S ASPARAGUS, ARTICHOKE, AND PEA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add salt. Add the asparagus tips, and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, 1 to 2 minutes, depending on size. Drain asparagus, and set aside.
• If using fresh peas, bring another small saucepan of water to a boil. Add salt and peas, and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, 5 to 10 minutes, depending on size. Drain peas and set aside. (Asparagus and peas may be cooked several hours ahead.)
• Heat the stock in a medium saucepan, and keep warm over low heat.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When the butter foams, add the onion, and cook, stirring, until onion begins to color, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rice, and stir until it is well coated with the butter and onion, about 1 minute. Add the wine, and stir until it is almost all reduced. Add about 1/2 cup of the hot stock, or just enough to barely cover the rice. Cook, stirring, until the stock has been almost completely absorbed. Continue cooking and stirring the rice in this manner, adding 1/2 cup stock at a time, for about 15 minutes. At this point, the rice should be tender but still a bit firm to the bite.
• Stir the artichokes, asparagus, and peas into the rice, and season lightly with salt. Add the remaining tablespoon butter and the cheese. Mix quickly for 1 to 2 minutes until the butter and the cheese have melted and the rice has a moist, creamy consistency. Taste, and adjust the seasoning; serve immediately with additional cheese sprinkled on top, if desired.

MUSHROOM, ASPARAGUS AND PEA RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a medium stockpot, add the chicken stock and heat until warm.
• In a large stockpot set over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering, about 2 minutes. Saute the mushrooms, shallots and asparagus until softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, 1 more minute. Add the arborio rice and a pinch of salt. Saute for 2 minutes. Then add the wine and cook until the liquid is absorbed, 2 to 4 minutes. Add the stock 1 cup at a time and cook, stirring after each addition, until all of the liquid is absorbed. Season periodically with salt and pepper to taste. (This process takes about 30 minutes of cooking and constant stirring.)
• Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the arugula, peas, cream, Parmesan, butter and lemon juice. Top with the mint and serve.

ASPARAGUS, PEA AND MINT RISOTTO

Steps:

• For the pea purée, put the frozen peas in a heatproof bowl and defrost by covering with boiling water for 30 seconds. Drain and transfer to a blender or food processor and whizz with the spinach, rapeseed oil, lemon and parsley until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat the 2 tbsp olive oil in a large, heavy-based pan and gently cook the chopped white part of the spring onions, celery and asparagus stalks until softened (about 10 minutes).
• Meanwhile, put the stock in a pan and gently heat until hot but not boiling. Keep warm on a low heat.
• Stir the rice into the vegetables to coat the grains in the oil, then cook for 1-2 minutes more. Pour n the wine, bring up to a fast simmer and cook until most of the wine has evaporated. Start adding a litre of stock a ladleful at a time, stirring often, only adding more once the liquid has been absorbed by the rice. (This should take around 20 minutes.)
• Meanwhile, make a salsa: chop the reserved green part of the spring onions and mix in a bowl with the mint, anchovies, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon zest and juice. Add salt and pepper to taste. If the rice is still hard after it has absorbed a litre of stock, stir in a little more. As the rice is starting to become plump and tender, about 5 minutes before the end of the cooking time, stir in the asparagus tips, peas and pea purée, then cook until the rice is tender.
• Stir in the butter and pecorino, taste, season and serve with the mint salsa for drizzling over.

ASPARAGUS AND PEA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Melt margarine in large pan and add the shallots, onions, and garlic, coating them well and sweating them on a low heat for about 1-2 minutes
• add the arborio rice stirring well ensuring all the grains are well coated. Add more margarine if necessary.
• Keep on a low heat and keep stirring until the rice starts to turn translucent (can take about 15 minutes).
• Add a small quantity of wine at a time and it will quickly be absorbed as you keep stirring. Continue until all the wine has been added and absorbed.
• Next do the same with the half of the stock, just gradually add a little at a time and add more until it has been absorbed. Now add the ground pepper and a little salt, then the asparagus
• Start adding the remainder of the stock, the peas and the 3/4 of the grated parmesan, stirring continually.
• Keep stirring until all the stock has been absorbed. The risotto should have a creamy consistency, with the rice and vegetables cooked 'al dente'.
• If more cooking is required, just add a little more stock and keep stirring.
• Serve right away, garnished with the remainder of the grated parmesan and a few sprigs of parsley.
• Serve up with a nice glass of chilled white wine.