Mary Berrys Risotto Al Verde Recipes

MARY BERRY'S MUSHROOM AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a wide-based shallow saucepan (see note). Add the onions and garlic and fry for a few minutes over a high heat. Add the rice and stir in the mixture to coat the grains. Pour in the wine and boil for a few minutes until nearly evaporated. Toss in the sliced asparagus stalks and add the hot stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring over the high heat, until all the stock has been absorbed, and the rice is just tender. Make sure that each spoonful of stock is absorbed before adding the next. From when the first ladle of stock is added, it should take around 20 minutes to cook. Add the mushrooms and the asparagus tips and stir for about 3 minutes until well combined with the rice and just softened. Remove from the heat. Add the Parmesan, chives and butter and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir and cover with a lid, then leave to stand for 2 minutes before serving. Cook's Note: Use a wide-based pan so the liquid evaporates quickly. Prepare Ahead: Best made and served immediately, though any leftovers can be quickly chilled and made into risotto cakes to fry and enjoy the following day.

MARY BERRY'S RISOTTO AL VERDE RECIPE

Steps:

• For risotto al verde: Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. When it is foaming, add the garlic and cook gently for 1 min.
• Add the risotto rice, stirring to coat the grains in the butter, and cook for 2 mins. Add a ladleful of the hot vegetable stock, and cook gently, stirring constantly, until the stock has been absorbed. Continue to add the stock, a ladleful at a time, and cook for 20-25 mins or until the rice is just tender.
• Add the cream, and cook gently, stirring, until it has been absorbed. Stir in the blue cheese, then the pesto, Parmesan and pine nuts. Garnish with shredded fresh basil, and serve.
• For chicken and mushroom risotto: Add sliced mushrooms to the saucepan with the garlic in step 1 and cook for 3-5 mins until the mushrooms are soft. Substitute chicken stock for the vegetable stock, omit the blue cheese and pesto, then add cooked diced chicken with the cream in step 3.
• For asparagus risotto: Add a finely chopped onion to the pan with the garlic in step 1, and cook for 3-5 mins until soft. Omit the blue cheese and pesto and add 375g (12oz) trimmed and chopped asparagus in step 2, about 5 mins before the end of the cooking time.