Risotto With Spring Peas Ham And Fontina Cheese Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the broth and garlic in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming; keep warm. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add the leek and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the rice; cook, stirring, until toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the wine and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until absorbed, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add 3 cups hot broth to the rice; cook, stirring constantly, until mostly absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes. Add 3 more cups hot broth; continue cooking, stirring, until the risotto is tender and thickened, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low and stir in the peas, ham, cheese and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in more hot broth if the risotto is too thick; season with salt and pepper. Top each serving with mint, more cheese and the lemon zest.

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:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Prepare a bowl of ice water. Add the asparagus to the pot and blanch, just until bright green, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking, about 30 seconds. Transfer the asparagus to a colander to drain. Repeat with the English peas, sugar snap peas, and fiddleheads.
• Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté just until translucent, about 30 seconds. Add the rice and stir until opaque, about 1 minute.
• Stir the wine into the rice, bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring periodically, until the rice absorbs the wine, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup/240ml stock and 2 teaspoons salt, return to a simmer, and let cook until the liquid has been absorbed. Spread the rice mixture on a baking sheet and set aside until you are ready to finish the dish, or skip this step and keep cooking, continuing with adding the hot stock.
• About 15 minutes before you're ready to serve, return the rice mixture to the sauté pan and cook over medium heat. Stir 1 cup/240ml of the hot stock into the rice mixture and cook until the moisture has been nearly absorbed. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat for the remaining 3 cups/720ml of stock, adding 1 cup/240ml at a time. When you still see liquid pooling here and there in the pan, remove from the heat and stir in the blanched vegetables and the Parmesan. Quickly stir in the pesto and serve.
• Store risotto, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• Do Ahead
• To prepare the risotto ahead of time, cook the vegetables and the rice up until you add the wine and 1 cup/240ml of stock. Once the rice has absorbed the liquid, spread the rice and onion mixture on a baking sheet to hold until you're ready to finish cooking. Just before dinner, return the rice to the pot and resume cooking until done.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish and cook the onion for 5 mins over a medium heat to soften. Stir in the garlic and the risotto rice, and cook for another 30 secs-1 min. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, then cover and cook for about 15 mins on a medium heat, stirring every so often. The rice should be almost done.
• Add the peas, ham, mustard and cheeses to the pan, and cook for another few mins until the rice is just right and the cheese melted. Season and serve topped with a handful of the pea shoots and a little extra cheese, if you like.