Grilled Risotto Primavera Recipes

FUSILLI PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente, adding the asparagus during the last minute of cooking. Reserve 1 1/2 cups cooking water, then drain the pasta and asparagus.
• Meanwhile, slice the corn kernels off the cobs. Run the back side of the knife down the cob over a bowl to remove any corn milk. You should get about 2 tablespoons.
• Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, fennel, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; cook until the fennel is browned in spots and tender, about 4 minutes. Add the corn kernels and corn milk and another 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the corn is tender, about 2 minutes.
• Add the pasta and 1 cup cooking water to the skillet and cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley, cheese, tarragon and butter until creamy, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen; season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the pasta among bowls. Top with more cheese and pepper; drizzle with olive oil.

GRILLED CORN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill the corn until lightly charred on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the kernels from the cobs and reserve the cobs.
• Break the reserved corn cobs in half and place them in a large pot with the stock. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, and then turn off the heat and steep the cobs in the stock for 30 minutes.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Add the fennel and cook until soft, about 10 minutes. Remove the fennel from the pan and set aside. Add another 2 tablespoons of the butter to the pan and cook the corn kernels until soft and velvety, 10 to 15 minutes. Season the corn with salt and pepper, and set it aside.
• Pass the corn stock through a strainer into a saucepan and discard the cobs. Keep warm over low heat. Heat the oil in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and saute, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until it no longer appears chalky on the outside, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add the wine and simmer, stirring frequently, until absorbed, about 5 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of the corn stock, stirring frequently until the liquid is absorbed, about 7 minutes. Add another 1 1/2 cups of stock and simmer, stirring frequently, until the liquid is mostly absorbed and the rice appears fluffy, but is still slightly firm. If the rice is still hard or chewy, add the remaining stock, 1 cup at a time, and keep stirring until the proper doneness is reached. The total cooking time should be 20 to 25 minutes. You might not use all 6 cups of stock, but any remaining stock can be refrigerated and used for another dish.
• Stir in the reserved fennel and corn kernels, the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Season with salt and pepper, and serve. Garnish with fennel fronds.

RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• In large saucepan, saute mushrooms, carrots, onion and garlic in hot oil until onion is tender.
• Add uncooked rice.
• Cook and stir over medium heat 3-5 minutes or until rice is golden brown.
• Meanwhile, in another saucepan, heat water, bouillon and cooking wine to a boil.
• Slowly add one cup of the broth to the rice mixture, stirring constantly.
• Cook and stir over medium heat until liquid is absorbed.
• Continue to add 1/2 cup of broth at a time to rice mixture, stirring constantly, until all broth has been added and the rice mixture is creamy.
• Add cheeses and stir until well blended.
• Garnish, if desired, with fresh parsley and diced tomato.

RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in an oversize, heavy-bottomed skillet or pot. Add the leek, season lightly with salt and pepper, stir and cover. Cook for 3 minutes until soft. Place the broth in a separate saucepan and simmer.
• Add the rice to the leek and stir to combine. Ladle in 1/2 cup of the broth and stir. Increase the heat to medium-high and, for the next 25 minutes, continue adding the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, and stirring constantly. After 15 minutes, add the white wine and carrot. After 5 more minutes, add the zucchini, asparagus and peas. Stir well. The rice should be tender but firm. If not, add more broth. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Beat 1/2 cup of ricotta into the rice. Add the spinach. Divide the rice among 4 bowls. Top each with a spoonful of the remaining ricotta. Sprinkle with parsley and chives and serve.

GRILLED HALIBUT ON A SAFFRON RISOTTO CAKE WITH PEA TENDRILS AND WHITE TRUFFLE OIL VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the saffron risotto cake: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Sweat the onions in butter until transparent. Add the rice and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the saffron and white wine and stir until the wine is absorbed. Start adding the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, waiting for each addition to be absorbed before adding another 1/2 cup. Continue until the rice is just tender or "al dente". Add the butter, then season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and pour into a small, 2 inch deep pan, or put into ramekins, smoothing over the tops and put into a refrigerator until cold and set.
• If using the pan, cut the risotto into circles with a 2 3/4-inch biscuit cutter, if using ramekins, remove the rice carefully, retaining the disk-shape. Heat a saute pan and add 2 tablespoons of canola oil. Saute the rice cakes until golden brown on both sides. Put in the oven for 10 minutes over to insure the cakes are heated through.
• Preheat a grill.
• For the White Truffle Vinaigrette: Put shallots, verjus, and mustard into a glass bowl and stir together. Blend the oils together. Slowly whisk in the oils into the mustard-verjus mixture, constantly stirring to emulsify the dressing. Add the chives, and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Reserve at room temperature.
• Grilled Halibut wrapped with Leeks: Bring a pot of water large enough to hold the leeks to a boil. Add kosher salt. Cook the leek until just tender and immediately plunge into ice water. Drain well and cut into 1/2-inch wide strips at least 12 to 15 inches long.
• Cut the fish into strips 12 inches long about 1-inch wide and 1/2-inch thick. Roll up in a spiral and wrap with the leek strip. Secure with the skewers in a "x" fashion. Brush with canola oil and season with salt and pepper then place on a stovetop grill or BBQ and cook until just done about 4 minutes on both sides. Keep warm until service.
• For the Pea shoots: Heat a large saute pan and add the oil. When the oil just begins to smoke add the shallots and cook for 10 seconds. Add the tendrils and "stir fry" the pea shoots until they just begin to wilt. Do not over cook, you want them wilted but still crispy. They cook fast, so do this at the last moment.
• Assembly: Place the tendrils down first on a warm plate or large entree bowl, put the risotto cake in the center. Top with the grilled halibut and spoon the dressing over the pea tendrils and put a little on the fish. You can top the fish with some micro greens, lightly dressed or herb plush or nothing at all.

RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Cut 1/4-inch slice off 1 long side of carrot to stabilize. Cut lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Stack half of slices and cut lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick strips. Cut strips crosswise into 1/8-inch cubes. Repeat with remaining slices.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus, zucchini, and crookneck squash; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Set vegetables aside.
• Bring broth to simmer in medium saucepan over low heat. Cover and keep warm. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and cubed carrot. Sauté until onion begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Add rice; stir until rice is translucent at edges but still opaque in center, about 3 minutes. Add wine and simmer until absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Add 1 cup warm broth and baby carrots. Simmer until broth is almost absorbed, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Add 2 cups more broth, 1 cup at a time, allowing each addition to be absorbed before adding next and stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Mix in sautéed vegetables and 1 cup broth. Simmer until broth is just absorbed, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add 1 1/3 cups cheese, peas, butter, and 1/2 cup broth. Simmer until butter melts, rice and vegetables are just tender, and risotto is creamy, stirring often and adding more broth by 1/4 cupfuls if risotto is dry, about 3 minutes longer. Mix in basil; season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer risotto to large shallow bowl. Sprinkle with pine nuts. Serve, passing additional cheese separately.

RISOTTO PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Halfway fill large bowl with cold water. Squeeze in juice from 1 lemon half. Cut off stem from 1 artichoke and rub exposed area with cut side of second lemon half. Starting from base of artichoke, bend each leaf back and snap off where it breaks naturally. Continue until light green leaves are exposed. Cut off top 2 inches of leaves above heart. Using small sharp knife, cut off all dark green areas. Cut artichokes heart into quarters. Rub all cut surfaces with lemon half. Cut out choke and pink inner leaves from each section. Cut each section lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and place in acidulated water. Repeat with remaining artichokes. (Can be prepared 3 hours ahead. Let stand in water.)
• Starting from base, bend each asparagus spear and snap off where it breaks naturally. Discard ends. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Set aside.
• Pour broth into saucepan; bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low; keep hot.
• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until tender, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Drain artichoke hearts and add to saucepan. Cook until almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 14 minutes. Add rice and half of prosciutto and stir 2 minutes. Add 3/4 of broth to saucepan and adjust heat so that liquid simmers. Cook 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add asparagus and continue cooking until rice is tender but still slightly firm to bite and mixture is creamy, stirring frequently and adding remaining broth by 1/4 cupfuls as necessary, about 15 minutes. Add peas and green onions and stir until heated through, about 2 minutes.
• Set aside 2 tablespoons basil and 1 tablespoon prosciutto for garnish. Stir remaining basil and prosciutto and 2 cups Parmesan cheese into risotto. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with reserved basil and prosciutto. Serve immediately, passing additional Parmesan cheese separately.