Risotto With Smoked Mozzarella And Escarole Recipes

RISOTTO WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES, SMOKED MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Heat the butter in pressure cooker over medium-high heat. When it begins to foam, add the leeks, herbs, and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute. Stir in the rice and coat it with the butter. Add the wine and cook over high heat, stirring, until it evaporates, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, broth and black olives.
• Lock the lid in place. Over high heat, bring to high pressure. Lower the heat to maintain high pressure and cook for 4 minutes. Quick-release the pressure by setting the cooker under cold running water. Remove the lid, tilting it away from you to allow any excess steam to escape.
• Boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the rice is tender but still chewy and the risotto loses most of its soupiness and becomes creamy and thick, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the smoked mozzarella, green olives, parsley, and salt, if needed. Continue to stir just until the mozzarella has softened and the parsley becomes limp, about 30 seconds. Serve in large shallow bowls.

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.

BAKED TOMATO, MOZZARELLA & BASIL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat half the oil in an ovenproof pan or casserole dish, then stir in the onion and cook over a low heat for 8-10 mins until golden. Scatter over the rice and mix well until coated. Pour over the wine, if using, and cook for 2 mins until absorbed. Pour over the hot stock, then give the rice a quick stir. Put the dish in the oven and bake the rice for 10 mins.
• Remove from the oven and stir through the tomatoes, basil, half of the parmesan and some seasoning. Flatten everything out roughly with the back of a spoon, then nestle the chunks of mozzarella evenly into the risotto. Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and the remaining parmesan, and drizzle with the rest of the olive oil. Put the dish back in the oven, and bake everything for another 10-15 mins until the rice is just cooked through, heating it under the grill if you want a deep, golden crust. Leave to stand for a few minutes, scatter with a few extra basil leaves and serve scooped straight from the dish.

RISOTTO CAKES WITH MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Bring broth to a slow simmer. Put 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons olive oil and the onion in a heavy saucepan over medium high heat. Stir until onion becomes translucent, about 7 minutes. Add rice and stir to coat well. Add 1/2 cup of the broth, stirring constantly, until almost all the liquid is absorbed. Repeat process, stirring constantly, and adjust heat so mixture simmers but rice does not scorch. After about 20 minutes, nearly all of the stock should be absorbed. Rice should be creamy but firm to the bite. Stir in Parmesan and 2 tablespoons butter.
• Remove from heat, spread risotto onto a large plate and place in refrigerator for 1/2 hour until firm and chilled. Using a spoon or a melon scooper, make 15 small half balls of the mozzarella. Pack risotto into 1/3-cup measure and invert onto the palm of your hand. Place a half ball of mozzarella in center and press risotto around the ball to make a patty about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 3/4 inch thick. Make sure risotto covers the cheese. Repeat until you have 15 rice cakes.
• Place 2 eggs and 2 tablespoons water in a bowl and beat with a fork. Spread flour and bread crumbs on separate plates. Mix salt into bread crumbs. Coat each cake lightly with flour, dip in egg mixture, shake off excess and coat evenly with bread crumbs. (If needed, beat remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water.)
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter in 4 tablespoons oil. When butter stops bubbling, fry the first batch of cakes until golden brown and crispy, about two minutes per side. Place on baking sheet and put in the oven. Drain off oil and wipe out pan with paper towels. Fry the rest of the cakes in remaining oil and butter.
• Place two cakes on each plate. Sprinkle with Parmesan and spoon tomato sauce around them. Garnish with marjoram.

SMOKED MACKEREL RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large frying pan. Tip in the onion, then fry gently for 5 mins until softened. Stir in the rice and mix until coated in the butter, then pour in the wine and let it bubble until it's almost all disappeared.
• Pour in half the stock, give it a good stir, then leave to gently cook for 10 mins. Add half of the remaining stock, stir again and cook for 5 mins more. Keep adding stock and cooking until the rice is tender.
• Peel the skin off the mackerel, scrape away any dark brown flesh, then flake. Stir into the rice with the spring onions and spinach, then cook just until the spinach has wilted slightly. Serve straight away.

RISOTTO WITH SMOKED MOZZARELLA AND ESCAROLE

Steps:

• Prepare the escarole and set it aside.
• Heat the butter in a saucepan and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion is wilted. Add the escarole and cook until it is wilted. Add the rice and cook, stirring, about one minute. Add the wine and cook, stirring, about two minutes, or until the wine is absorbed.
• Add the simmering broth, salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring often from the bottom, about eight minutes. Add the mozzarella cheese and olive oil. Cook one minute and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Cook, stirring from the bottom, about three to five minutes.