Farro And Arborio Risotto With Leeks Herbs And Lemon Recipes

RISOTTO WITH GARLIC, HERBS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Put the stock in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
• Heat the olive oil in another heavy saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and cook slowly until they soften but do not color. Stir in the rice and cook a minute or too longer. Stir in the lemon zest.
• Add the wine, bring to a simmer, and cook until the wine has evaporated. Then, over a medium to medium-low heat, begin to add the stock, about one-half cup at a time, stirring slowly but constantly. As each portion of the stock is absorbed by the rice, add some more, cooking until the rice is al dente and moist, which should be approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
• Stir in the herbs and season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon into individual soup plates and serve at once. Pass the Parmesan cheese on the side.

FARRO RISOTTO WITH SWEET CORN AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, cut the corn kernels off the cob, cutting as close to the cob as possible. Set the kernels aside and reserve the cobs.
• Make the corn stock: Holding the cobs over a medium saucepan, use a spoon to scrape down the sides of the cobs to release any additional corn and juices. Break the cobs in half and add to the saucepan, along with 8 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes before starting the risotto. (Keep the stock and corn cobs simmering while you cook the risotto.)
• While the corn stock simmers, heat the oil and butter in a separate pot or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the leeks and sauté until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the farro and stir for 1 minute. Add the white wine and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Increase the heat to medium and gradually add the corn stock, about 1 cup at a time, to the farro mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, and adding more stock as the farro absorbs it.
• When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, add the tomatoes, corn kernels, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Continue cooking, adding stock as necessary and stirring often, until the farro is tender, 10 to 15 more minutes. (You will use most - if not all - of the corn stock.) The risotto is done when the farro grains are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan, tarragon and lemon zest. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Cut the asparagus into pieces two inches long, keeping the tips separate from the stalks. Bring the chicken stock to simmer and cook the stalks until tender. Remove with a slotted spoon. Add tips and repeat process.
• Heat the oil and two tablespoons butter in a skillet and gently soften the shallots with the prosciutto. Season with salt and pepper and add the rice. Stir with a wooden spoon to coat the grains. Let the rice cook three to four minutes, stirring so that it absorbs the butter and turns opaque.
• Add the wine, stir, and then add the saffron.
• Add the hot stock a ladle at a time, and cook the rice, stirring. Keep stirring and adding stock for about 20 minutes. The rice will absorb the liquid. Make sure the stock is being absorbed and that there is not much liquid on top. The bottom of the pan should be clean.
• Start testing the rice. It is done when it is al dente. You may not need to use all the stock or you may need to add a little hot water. Be careful not to overcook the rice.
• Just before the risotto is ready, stir in the asparagus to heat through. Stir in the remaining butter but do not return to the heat. Add the cheese, spoon the rice onto individual heated plates and sprinkle with extra cheese and ground pepper.

FARRO AND ARBORIO RISOTTO WITH LEEKS, HERBS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Season well and turn the heat to low.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick frying pan or wide, heavy saucepan and add the leeks. Cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes, and add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the rice. Cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate and beginning to crackle, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the wine and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. The wine should bubble, but not too quickly. You want some of the flavor to cook into the rice before it evaporates. When the wine has just about evaporated, stir in a ladleful or two of the simmering stock (about 1/2 cup), enough to just cover the rice. The stock should bubble slowly (adjust heat accordingly). Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock and continue to cook in this fashion, not too fast and not too slowly, stirring often and adding more stock when the rice is almost dry, for 15 minutes.
• Stir in the farro and more stock to cover and continue to cook, adding more stock as necessary and stirring often, for another 10 minutes or until the rice is cooked through but al dente. If it is still hard in the middle, you need to continue adding stock and stirring for another 5 minutes or so. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Stir in the herbs and fresh pepper (be generous), add another ladleful of stock and continue to cook, stirring, for a minute, then add the Parmesan and the lemon juice, stir together and remove from the heat. The risotto should be creamy; if it isn't, add a little more stock. Stir once, taste and adjust seasonings, and serve.