Barefoot Contessa Vegetable Risotto Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the rice and 4 cups of the chicken stock in a Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente. Remove from the oven, add the remaining cup of chicken stock, the Parmesan, wine, butter, salt, and pepper, and stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Add the peas and stir until heated through. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Heat the butter and oil in a heavy wide saucepan. When foaming subsides add the onion and cook for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Add half of the celery and carrot and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until tender but still crisp. Add the rice and cook, stirring continuously, for 5 minutes or until toasty. Add the garlic and simmer a few seconds. Add 1/2 cup boiling water and cook until rice has fully absorbed it. Continue this way until 1 1/2 cups water have been absorbed, then add 1 cup of boiling water.
• After 20 minutes or when the rice is half cooked add the remaining celery and carrot and cook for 10 minutes more. Add the peas and finish cooking the rice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Right before serving, stir in the Parmesan cheese and basil. Garnish with pine nuts.
• (If you want a more ample meal, serve this with grilled boneless chicken breasts marinated in lemon juice; grill them when rice is half way done.)

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.

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-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, artichokes, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Continue cooking and adding stock, stirring almost constantly, until the rice is tender but still firm.
• When the risotto is done, turn off the heat and stir in the mascarpone, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and chives. Serve hot with a sprinkling of chives and more Parmesan cheese.

Steps:

• To prep, discard the tough ends of the asparagus and cut the tips diagonally in 1 1/2-inch lengths.
• Blanch in boiling salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, until tender.
• Drain and cool immediately in ice water.
• Heat the olive oil and butter (or margarine, if using) in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Add the leeks and fennel and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender.
• Add rice and stir for a minute to coat with the oil and butter.
• Add white wine and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until most of the wine has been absorbed.
• Add the stock, two ladles at a time, stirring almost constantly and waiting for the stock to be absorbed before adding more.
• The whole cooking process will take 25 to 30 minutes.
• When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, drain the asparagus and add to the risotto with the peas, lemon zest, 2 teaspoons of 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.
• Allow to sit off the heat for a few minutes, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, and serve hot with a sprinkling of chives and more Parmesan cheese.
• Gustare!

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel the butternut squash, remove the seeds, and cut it into 3/4-inch cubes.
• You should have about 6 cups.
• Place the squash on a sheet pan and toss it with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, tossing once, until very tender.
• Set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock in a small covered saucepan.
• Leave it on low heat to simmer.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the pancetta and shallots on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until the shallots are translucent but not browned.
• Add the rice and stir to coat the grains with butter.
• Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add 2 full ladles of stock to the rice plus the saffron, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Stir, and simmer until the stock is absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Continue to add the stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring every few minutes.
• Each time, cook until the mixture seems a little dry, then add more stock.
• Continue until the rice is cooked through, but still al dente, about 30 minutes total.
• Off the heat, add the roasted squash cubes and Parmesan.
• Mix well and serve.

Steps:

• Bring a large (4-quart) pot of water to a boil over medium-low heat and add 1/2 tablespoon salt and the Arborio rice.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. The grains of rice will be quite soft.
• Drain the rice in a sieve and run under cold water until cool. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the yogurt, eggs, chives, fontina, 1 1/4 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper in a medium bowl.
• Add the cooled rice and mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight, until firm.
• When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Spread the panko in a shallow dish.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
• Form balls of the rice mixture using a standard (2 1/4-inch) ice-cream scoop or a large spoon. Pat the balls into patties 3 inches in diameter and 3/4-inch thick.
• Place 4 to 6 patties in the panko, turning once to coat. Place the patties in the hot oil and cook, turning once, for about 3 minutes on each side until the risotto cakes are crisp and nicely browned.
• Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and keep warm in the oven for up to 30 minutes.
• Continue cooking in batches, adding oil as necessary, until all the cakes are fried.
• Arrange on a serving platter and serve hot.

Steps:

• Bring a large (4 quart) pot of water to a boil and add ½ tablespoon salt and the Arborio rice. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. The grains of rice will be quite soft. Drain the rice in a sieve and run under cold water until cool. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the yogurt, eggs, chives, Fontina, 1 ¼ teaspoons salt, and the pepper in a medium bowl. Add the cooled rice and mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight, until firm.
• When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
• Spread the panko in a shallow dish. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
• Form balls of the rice mixture using a standard (2 1/4 -inch) ice cream scoop or a large spoon.
• Pat the balls into patties 3 inches in diameter and ¾ inch thick. Place 4-6 patties in the panko, turning once to coat.
• Place the patties in the hot oil and cook, turning once, for about 3 minutes on each side until the risotto cakes are crisp and nicely browned.
• Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and keep warm in the oven for up to 30 minutes.
• Continue cooking in batches, adding oil as necessary, until all the cakes are fried.
• Serve hot.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Brush a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking dish with olive oil.
• In a medium saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and cook the onions over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until translucent.
• Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Spread the onion mixture on the bottom of the baking dish.
• Slice the potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoes in 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Layer them alternately in the dish on top of the onions, fitting them tightly, making only 1 layer.
• Sprinkle with salt, pepper, thyme leaves, and thyme sprigs and drizzle with 1 more tablespoon of olive oil.
• Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
• Uncover the dish, remove the thyme sprigs, sprinkle the cheese on top, and bake for another 30 minutes until browned.
• Serve warm.