Vermont Risotto Recipes

THE BEST RISOTTO

Steps:

• Warm the chicken stock in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, cover and keep warm while you make the risotto.
• Heat the olive oil in another medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the shallot, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and about 10 grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves and 3 tablespoons butter, stirring until the butter has melted, about 1 minute.
• Add the rice and toast, stirring only once, until it smells nutty and starts to turn light golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour in the wine and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has evaporated completely, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Ladle one cup of the warm stock into the rice and cook, stirring gently without stopping, until the rice has absorbed the liquid, 2 to 3 minutes (you will know it's time to add more stock when you move the rice aside and no liquid pools in the center).
• Repeat this process, adding more stock a ladleful at a time, until the rice is al dente, 17 to 19 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. (You may have a little stock left over. If so, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.) If you prefer your risotto on the saucier side, add more stock 1/4 cup at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
• Stir in the Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt and a few more grinds of black pepper and serve with more Parmesan, if desired.

VERMONT RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the broth in a medium saucepan until it simmers.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat.
• Add in the onion and cook for 5 minutes, or until soft and fragrant.
• Add in the rice and stir for 3 minutes.
• Add the vinegar and cook, stirring until the liquid is nearly absorbed.
• Add the broth, 1/4 cup at a time, maintaining a slow simmer.
• Stir constantly and allow each addition of liquid to be absorbed before adding the next.
• The risotto will be done about 35 minutes after the vinegar is added.
• Taste the dish for texture; if the rice is soft, the cooking is complete.
• Otherwise, add another 1/4 cup water and continue to simmer/stir until the texture is right.
• Remove from heat; stir in the cheddar cheese, salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve immediately.

RISOTTO AL VERMOUTH

Steps:

• Place broth in a pot and heat until boiling. Over medium heat, warm up your skillet and pour in the olive oil. Add the onions and saute until translucent. Reduce heat and add the rice, allowing it to cook for 3-4 minutes. Increase the heat to medium, add the vermouth and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. Once vermouth has evaporated, add the boiling broth to the skillet one ladle at a time. Add a dash of salt and bring rice to a boil, then reduce heat. Stir occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the skillet. Rice will take aprox 16-18 minutes to finish cooking.
• When the risotto is ready, remove it from the heat and let it sit for a few minutes before serving. Sprinkle and mix in parmesan cheese. To plate: Place heaping spoonful of risotto on a plate with some lovely Italian salami, a slice of fresh cheese and some pickles.

RISOTTO AL SALTO

Steps:

• Spray cooking spray into a small non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Shape the risotto into a round patty and add to the skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the risotto is golden brown on the bottom and set around the edges. Use a spatula to turn the risotto patty and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Slide the risotto onto a plate, sprinkle Parmesan on top and serve.
• Bring the broth to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan. Add the porcini mushrooms. Set aside until the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes. Keep the broth warm over very low heat.
• Melt the butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil. Add the onions and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add the white mushrooms and garlic. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the porcini mushrooms to a cutting board. Finely chop the mushrooms and add to the saucepan. Saute until the mushrooms are tender and the juices evaporate, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice and let it toast for a few minutes. Add the wine; cook until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of hot broth; simmer over medium-low heat until the liquid is absorbed, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook until the rice is just tender and the mixture is creamy, adding more broth by cupfuls and stirring often, about 28 minutes (the rice will absorb 6 to 8 cups of broth). Stir in the peas. Mix in the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

RISOTTO FLORENTINE

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, heat broth over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, until onion is crisp-tender.
• Stir in rice. Cook, stirring frequently, until rice begins to brown.
• Reduce heat to medium. Pour 1/2 cup of the hot broth and the saffron over rice mixture. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently, until broth is absorbed. Continue cooking 15 to 20 minutes, adding broth 1/2 cup at a time and stirring frequently, until rice is almost tender and mixture is creamy. Remove from heat.
• Stir in beans and spinach. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover; let stand 5 minutes.

PEA & VERMOUTH GRAIN 'RISOTTO'

Steps:

• Bring 1 litre/1¾ pints water and the bouillon powder to the boil in a large saucepan. Add the pouches of wheat grain, tamping them down into the liquid with a wooden spoon. Cover the pan and boil over a medium heat for 18 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 50g/2oz of the butter in a medium-sized frying pan over a low-medium heat. Tip in the shallot, garlic and celery, and gently fry for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened a little but haven't coloured. Pour in the vermouth, turn up the heat and bubble until it has almost disappeared. Set the pan aside.
• Remove the pouches of wheat grain with a pair of tongs and leave them to drain. Tip the peas into the stock remaining in the saucepan and simmer them for 2 minutes or until hot. Drain off the stock, reserving it, and leave the peas in the pan.
• Cut open the pouches and tip the wheat grain into the peas, then scrape in the contents of the frying pan. Add the parmesan, parsley and the remaining butter, and season with plenty of black pepper - it's unlikely you'll need more salt. Return the saucepan to a low heat and stir thoroughly until the cheese has melted and the 'risotto' is a loose, creamy mass, adding a spoonful or two of the reserved stock if required. Serve immediately.

TUSCAN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir the rice in the saucepan. Add 1/2 cup broth and cook and stir until it's absorbed. Add the remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until the broth is absorbed before adding more. Stir in the cheese before serving.

RISOTTO VENETIAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Shell peas, wash pods and add the pods to the broth. Cook for about 30 minutes. When the pods are soft, puree them in a blender or food processor with a little of the broth. Add this mixture to the remaining broth; you will have a rather thick greenish soup.
• Melt half of the butter in a saucepan. When it is hot, add the chopped prosciutto, rendering the fat from the meat. Add the rice and stir until it is well coated. Start adding the broth one ladle at a time. Add salt and pepper to taste, and cook over medium heat until the rice is half done, stirring frequently. Add the peas and a little more broth.
• When rice is firm but tender, add the Parmesan cheese. Before removing the pot from the heat, add the rest of the butter. Stir and serve immediately.