Pesto Risotto Recipes

Steps:

• Make the broth: Bring 6 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook until tender, 3 to 4 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Adjust the heat to keep the broth at a gentle simmer.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon butter in a wide saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until almost evaporated, about 1 more minute.
• Add 2 cups of the hot leek broth to the rice; cook, stirring occasionally, until almost absorbed, about 6 minutes (adjust the heat to keep the risotto at a simmer). Add 1 more cup broth and cook, stirring, until almost absorbed, about 5 more minutes. Add the leeks, peas and 1 more cup broth and cook, stirring, until almost absorbed, about 5 more minutes. Taste the rice: If it is not fully cooked, add a little more broth and continue to cook, stirring, until al dente.
• Stir in the ham and remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Remove from the heat; stir in 2/3 cup pesto, the mozzarella and Parmesan. Season with salt. Divide among bowls and top with the remaining pesto.

Steps:

• Bring the broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the green beans and cook until just bright green and crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Reduce the heat under the broth to low to keep steaming. Melt the butter in a large saucepot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until almost translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until evenly coated and very lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and boil until all the liquid evaporates. Add 1 cup of the hot broth and cook, stirring, until all the liquid is absorbed. Repeat with the remaining broth, stirring continuously, adding 1 cup at a time, and letting each addition absorb before adding the next. The whole process will take about 30 minutes, at which point, the rice should be just tender. Remove from the heat and fold in the pesto until evenly distributed. Season to taste with salt. Immediately divide among serving bowls and top with a dollop of mascarpone, baby kale leaves, and shaved Parmesan. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Halve the onion and peel off and discard the papery brown skins. Then chop both onion halves as finely as you can and discard the rooty ends. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium hob heat and add the onion. Fry for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent.
• Add the rice and give the mixture a good stir to prevent it from sticking.
• Crumble the stock cube into a standard-sized mug and fill it with boiling water from the kettle. Stir to dissolve the cube and pour it into the rice saucepan. Add three further mugfuls of boiling water.
• When the liquid in the saucepan starts to boil, turn down the heat to low and cook for 15-20 minutes, occasionally stirring well, until the rice absorbs the liquid. Add half a mugful more of boiling water if all the liquid has disappeared but the rice still isn't cooked, then cook it for a little longer. Repeat until rice is tender.
• Stir in the pesto (as much as you want), frozen peas and ham and continue cooking until the peas are hot. Check the seasoning and serve.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan. Add the onion and cook over low heat until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, another 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring the stock to a boil in another saucepan. Reduce the heat and keep it at a simmer.
• Slowly add 1 cup of the hot stock to the rice, stirring constantly. Continue to stir, allowing the rice to simmer. When the stock has been absorbed, add 1/2 cup and allow it to simmer, stirring well until it has been absorbed. Continue adding the broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until almost all the broth has been added.
• Add the pesto and continue cooking, adding the remaining broth in 1/4 cup amounts, stirring constantly, until the rice is slightly creamy and tender. Altogether, the rice should cook for about 25 to 30 minutes. When all the broth has been absorbed, stir in the Parmesan, walnuts, and black pepper. Serve immediatlely. Enjoy!
• Note:.
• You may substitute parsley pesto or some other pesto for the basil for a nice variation.

Steps:

• Pour a glug of olive oil into a large saucepan. Tip in the rice and fry for 1 min. Add half the stock and cook until absorbed. Add the remaining stock, a ladle at a time, and cook until the rice is al dente, stirring continually, for 20-25 mins.
• Stir through the pesto and half the goat's cheese. Serve topped with the remaining cheese.

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a non-stick pan.
• Add the garlic and cook lightly for about a minute.
• Over a low heat, add the rice and saute for a couple of minutes, stirring to make sure the rice is coated in butter.
• Add the white wine and let it absorb.
• While the rice is absorbing the wine, heat your chicken stock (this can be done at an earlier stage and kept warm if you prefer). Add the chicken stock 1/2 a cup at a time, stirring occasionally. Each time, make sure the stock is mostly absorbed before you add more or it will be a very runny risotto! The non-stick pan is important for this stage, so the rice doesn't stick when the stock is low.
• When the stock is all absorbed, taste the risotto to make sure the rice is tender (if not, add another 1/4 cup of stock).
• Then stir in the mascarpone and pesto. Stir until completely mixed in.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

Steps:

• Put well-seasoned stock or broth into a saucepan and bring it to a simmer over low heat, with a ladle nearby or in the pot.
• Heat olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy nonstick skillet or a wide, heavy saucepan. Add onion and a generous pinch of salt, and cook gently until it is just tender, about 3 minutes. Do not brown.
• Stir in rice and garlic and stir until the grains separate and begin to crackle. Add wine and stir until it is no longer visible in the pan. Begin adding simmering stock, a couple of ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover rice and should be bubbling, not too slowly but not too quickly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock and continue to cook in this fashion, adding more stock and stirring when rice is almost dry. You do not have to stir continually, but stir often. After 10 minutes, add asparagus and continue to stir and add stock for another 10 to 15 minutes, until rice is cooked through but still al dente.
• Add another ladleful of stock to the rice. Stir in pesto and additional cheese and remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning. Mix should be creamy (add more stock if it isn't). Serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading risotto in a thin layer rather than a mound.