Risotto Al Minestrone 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:

• Bring the stock to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Add the saffron threads and a healthy pinch of salt, and continue to simmer, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large enameled or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions and sweat them, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the rice, and stir to coat with the onion-butter mixture, then add the wine, and continue to stir until the wine is evaporated, about 1 minute.
• Add 2 cups of the warm saffron-chicken stock, and stir continuously until nearly all the stock is absorbed into the rice, 13 to 15 minutes. Continue adding about 1/2 cup of stock at a time, stirring constantly until the stock is absorbed into the rice before adding more, until the rice is creamy and tender yet still al dente, about 18 minutes total. (You may not need to use all of the stock.)
• Remove the risotto from the heat, stir in the Parmesan and the remaining 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, then season to taste with salt. Transfer to a lidded container, and refrigerate overnight.
• Heat 3 tablespoons clarified butter in an 8-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low. Add the chilled risotto, and shape into a thick, even pancake using a heatproof rubber spatula. Cook over medium-low heat, swirling the pan often to prevent the rice from sticking, until the underside is lightly browned and crisp, about 10 minutes.
• Gently shake and swirl the pan to make sure the risotto pancake isn't sticking at all and remains intact. Carefully slide it out onto a large round plate big enough to accommodate it. Invert another plate on top of the risotto pancake, and quickly flip the plates so that the crispy side of the rice is now facing up. Remove the top plate.
• Add the remaining 3 tablespoons clarified butter to the skillet, and carefully slide the rice into the pan, crispy-side up. Cook over medium heat, and continue swirling the skillet until the bottom side is crispy and lightly browned, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Carefully pour off and discard any extra clarified butter, and gently slide the risotto pancake onto a warm serving plate.

Steps:

• Set Global Sun Oven out to preheat. Heat the minestrone and broth in a medium pot. Heat the butter in a separate light-weight, dark pot over medium high heat. Add onions and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in the rice, sauté for about 1 minute. Add wine and cook until it evaporates, about 2 minutes. Add hot minestrone and broth mixture, stir, cover and transfer the pot to the Sun Oven. Cook for 25 minutes (set timer). Remove from Sun Oven, stir in cheese and basil. Serve with additional grated cheese.