Cabernet Risotto Recipes

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.

Steps:

• In a small nonreactive saucepan, combine 1/2 cup lemon juice and the lemon zest. Place over high heat, and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat. Strain into a clean pan, discarding the zest. Add 3 tablespoons butter to the pan, and place over low heat just until the butter is melted. Remove from heat, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in the chives; keep warm.
• In a heavy-bottomed 4-quart saucepan over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the leeks, onion and garlic. Cover the pan and allow the mixture to soften without browning, stirring occasionally, for about 4 minutes. Add the remaining tablespoon butter, and the rice. Saute until the rice is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add about 1/2 cup wine, stirring continuously until the wine is completely absorbed. Add another 1/2 cup wine, and again stir until it is absorbed. Repeat this process until all the wine is used, a total of 25 to 30 minutes. (The rice will be al dente. For a creamier consistency, add more wine and cook longer.) Add the Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover, and keep warm.
• In a large nonreactive saute pan over high heat, heat the remaining olive oil until sizzling. Season the scallops with salt and pepper to taste, and add to pan. Sear until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove from pan, and sprinkle with a little lemon juice.
• To serve, spoon or mold risotto in the center of 4 serving plates or soup bowls. Arrange scallops in the center of the risotto. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of the lemon broth around the risotto. If desired, sprinkle each plate with 1/2 teaspoon toasted cracked mustard seeds.

Steps:

• Bring chicken stock to a boil in a large saucepan; reduce to a simmer and keep warm while preparing risotto.
• Heat olive oil in a 4-quart saucepan. Add onion and a pinch of salt and saute over medium-low heat until it is soft and translucent but not at all browned. Add rice and continue to saute, coating rice with the oil, until grains are lightly toasted, about 4 to 6 minutes. Adjust heat as necessary to keep pan temperature relatively constant. Add white wine and stir until it is almost completely absorbed.
• Begin adding simmering stock to rice, 1 ladleful at a time, stirring the rice constantly and continuing to cook at a constant low simmer. Add more stock each time the last addition is nearly, but not completely, absorbed.
• About 15 minutes after you begin adding stock, test rice by biting into a grain. It is done when it is almost cooked but still al dente, you should be able to feel a little bite in the middle of the grain, but it should not taste uncooked or gritty. Don't worry if you have not used all the stock.
• Remove risotto from heat and stir in butter, Parmesan and 1 cup of Cabernet wine until butter and cheese are melted. Adjust seasoning as necessary with salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter or individual shallow bowls. Garnish with a drizzle of the wine and some grated Parmesan. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat the butter and olive oil together in a large saucepan over low heat.
• When the butter is melted, add the onion and garlic, and saute until transparent, 7-8 minutes.
• Add the rice, and stir with a wooden spoon until each grain begins to turn a milky white, about 2 minutes.
• Add the wine, and continue to stir until it is completely absorbed by the rice.
• Keeping the stock hot over low heat, add the stock, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition until nearly all the liquid is absorbed.
• Continue to add stock and stir until the rice is tender but not mushy, a total of 18-20 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes and cheese, taste again, and season with salt, pepper, and if you like, more cheese.
• Serve immediately.