Rosy Red Risotto Recipes

BEET RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place a small braiser or medium dutch oven over medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil to the hot pan and melt. Add the shallot, fennel, beet and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until fragrant and the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat the in butter and oil mixture and toast slightly, about 3 more minutes. Deglaze with the sherry vinegar and season with the remaining salt. Begin adding the broth, 1 cup at a time, stirring often. Cook, stirring, after each addition until the broth is almost completely absorbed, continuing with the remaining broth until the risotto is creamy, cooked through and still moves slightly when spooned onto a plate. This will take about 20 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan until melted. Serve with crumbled gorgonzola on top.

ROSY RED RISOTTO

Steps:

• Drain beets, reserving liquid, about 1/2 cup. Dice beets - small dice and set aside. (If you don't want red hands, wear gloves.) Add reserved liquid to stock.
• Heat oil in a heavy 2 quart pot. Saute onion in oil until translucent.
• Add rice and stir until grains are coated with oil.
• Add wine (Optional - or use stock if you prefer) and stir constantly on medium heat until wine is absorbed.
• Add 1 cup of stock, stirring until liquid is absorbed. Continue cooking for about 20 - 30 minutes, adding the remaining liquid 1 cup at a time, allowing liquid to absorb before adding more. The rice, when done, should be firm with a little bite in the center, or al dente.
• Remove from heat. Add butter and stir vigorously until butter is melted and risotto is creamy.
• Gently stir in the diced beets and serve.

ROASTED RED PEPPER RISOTTO

Steps:

• Using a food processor, process the carrots and garlic together until finely minced.
• In a medium saucepan, saute carrot/garlic mixture and onions in olive oil.
• Add Galliano, salt, and pepper, and let caramelize (20-30 minutes) over low heat.
• While mixture is caramelizing, combine chicken stock, vegetable stock, and roasted red pepper puree and bring to a simmer.
• Add butter to caramelized veggies and let melt.
• Add rice, stirring to coat each grain.
• Cook 1-2 minutes.
• Add vermouth and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly until all alcohol is evaporated.
• Add stock/pepper puree mixture one cup at a time and simmer, stirring constantly, until liquid is absorbed.
• Do not add any additional liquid until the previous liquid has been absorbed!
• Stir constantly, as this encourages release of the rice starch, creating the creamy texture.
• You may not need all of the stock mixture, or you may need to supplement with additional stock.
• Taste the mixture frequently and adjust with salt and pepper, but remember you will be adding cheese (which is salty) towards the end.
• When the rice is nearly done, add the vinegar.
• Adjust seasonings and add the oregano and tarragon.
• When the risotto has reached the correct texture (grains of rice will swell, rice should be al dente but not crunchy or chalky), remove from heat and stir in the cheese, adding more broth if necessary.

ROSY BEET RISOTTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place beets in center of an 18-in. square of heavy duty foil. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Fold together opposite edges of foil in double folds, allowing room for steam to build. Roast 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until tender. Cool 30 minutes. Carefully open foil packet. Remove beets; gently transfer liquid to measuring cup; add water to equal 1/2 cup. Pour liquid in medium saucepan. Cut beets into wedges.
• In 3-quart saucepan cook onion in remaining oil over medium heat until tender; add rice. Cook and stir 5 minutes. Stir in dried basil, if using.
• Meanwhile, add broth to beet liquid in saucepan. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer. Carefully stir 1 cup of hot broth into rice mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until liquid is absorbed. Then add 1/2 cup broth at a time, stirring frequently until broth is absorbed before adding more broth. This takes about 20 minutes.
• Stir in remaining broth, if there is any. Cook and stir just until the rice is creamy and tender.
• Add beets; heat through. Remove rice from heat; stir in half of cheese(optional) and basil (if using), and salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and basil leaves, if using them.