Risotto Country Style Recipes

EASY TRADITIONAL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Place chicken broth in a heavy saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over low heat.
• Heat the olive oil in another heavy saucepan over medium heat. Cook the onion and garlic, stirring frequently, until the onion becomes translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes-don't let the vegetables brown.
• Stir in the rice and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes, until some grains begin to look translucent.
• Add the wine or extra 1/2 cup chicken broth. Cook and stir until liquid is absorbed.
• Add about 1/2 cup of simmering chicken broth to the rice mixture, stirring constantly and cooking until the liquid is absorbed.
• Add more broth, about 1 cup at a time, cooking and stirring until it's absorbed and repeating until the rice is done. The whole cooking process should take about 20 to 25 minutes. The rice should be tender but firm in the center (or al dente ). Test it by biting into some grains.
• When the rice is done, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese and butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir until melted, then serve.

RISOTTO COUNTRY STYLE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan; add in the onion, carrots, celery, and half the parsley; cook slowly over low heat until the vegetables are wilted and nearly tender.
• Add in the rice and, stirring constantly, saute until the grains of rice are opaque and make a clicking sound against the metal of the saucepan, approximately 1-2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the broth until it is very hot; turn off the heat, but keep the broth hot on a warm burner.
• Add the white wine to the rice and cook slowly, stirring constantly, until it is completely absorbed.
• Add the hot broth to the rice one ladleful at a time, stirring frequently.
• The rice should cook very slowly over low heat.
• Wait until all the liquid is absorbed before adding the next ladleful of broth.
• Midway through cooking time add salt and pepper to taste.
• When the risotto is just tender, add the ricotta, 2 tablespoons of butter, parmesan cheese, and the remaining parsley.
• Turn off the heat and stir vigorously until all the butter and cheese are absorbed and the ricotta is well mixed into the risotto.
• Serve immediately; pass the Parmesan at the table.

GOURMET MUSHROOM RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a saucepan, warm the broth over low heat.
• Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the mushrooms, and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Remove mushrooms and their liquid, and set aside.
• Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to skillet, and stir in the shallots. Cook 1 minute. Add rice, stirring to coat with oil, about 2 minutes. When the rice has taken on a pale, golden color, pour in wine, stirring constantly until the wine is fully absorbed. Add 1/2 cup broth to the rice, and stir until the broth is absorbed. Continue adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and stir in mushrooms with their liquid, butter, chives, and parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

RISOTTO ALLA MILANESE

Steps:

• Melt half of the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Simmer the onion and beef marrow in the butter for about 10 minutes. When the onion is soft, remove the onion and marrow from the pan using a slotted spoon, and set aside. (I like to leave the onions in.)
• Saute the rice in the pan over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Stir constantly so the rice will not stick and burn. Stir in one ladle of beef stock, and keep stirring until it is mostly absorbed, ladling and stirring in more of the broth as well as the white wine in the same manner, until the rice is almost al dente. Stir in the saffron, remaining butter, and 3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Turn off the heat, cover and let sit for 4 or 5 minutes.
• Serve as a bed for ossibuchi or by itself with as much of the remaining Parmesan cheese sprinkled over as you like.

TOMATOES COUNTRY STYLE

Steps:

• Beat together in mixer, or process in food processor, the garlic, parsley, salt and cream cheese; add basil, if desired.
• Cut tomatoes into 12 even slices, about 1/2 inch thick.
• Spread 6 slices with about 2 Tbsps of cream cheese mixture each; top with remaining slices to make 6 sandwiches.
• Dip each in flour, then in egg mixture, and finally in crumbs.
• Fry on both sides over medium heat in mixture of butter and olive oil until brown.
• Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, if desired.

RISOTTO MARSEILLE-STYLE

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup wine in a 2-quart saucepan, add the mussels, bring to a simmer and cover, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Steam the mussels until they open, about 4 minutes. Remove the mussels with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Add the fish stock and saffron to the mussel liquid in the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice, season with salt, remove from heat and set aside. Shuck the mussels and place meat in a dish, covered. Discard the shells.
• Mix 3/4 teaspoon garlic, the remaining tablespoon lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of the Espelette pepper into the mayonnaise. Set aside.
• Heat the oil on medium in a 4-quart sauté pan. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic and the fennel to the pan and cook on medium-low until the fennel is soft but not brown, 5 minutes or so. Add the rice and cook, stirring, a few minutes, until the rice becomes opaque. Add the remaining 1/2 cup wine, the tomato paste and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon Espelette. Stir and cook on medium until the liquid is absorbed, a few minutes.
• Strain the fish stock mixture into a 2-quart saucepan and bring barely to a simmer. Add 1/2 cup of the stock, stirring, to the rice; when it has been absorbed, add another half cup. Continue adding stock until there's only about 1/2 cup left and the rice is nearly tender, 15 minutes or so. If you need more liquid you can add a little water. Season to taste with salt and more Espelette if desired. Fold in the mussels.
• Add the remaining stock and tuck the monkfish and scallops into the rice. Stir gently and cook for about 3 minutes until the fish and scallops are nearly cooked through. Tuck in the shrimp. Cook another minute or so, until the shrimp are just done. Remove from heat. Check seasoning. Divide the risotto among 4 soup plates or dinner plates. Top each with a dollop of garlic mayonnaise and serve.