Merlotrisottowithgorgonzola Recipes

GORGONZOLA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Bring the broth to a boil in a saucepan, over high heat. Once it's boiling, lower the heat to low to keep it warm.
• In a large sauté pan, over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter and add the shallots. Sauté the shallots until translucent.
• Add the rice and stir, making sure the rice is coated with butter.
• Add the wine, lower the heat to medium, and cook, stirring constantly, until it is almost completely evaporated.
• Add 1 cup (or ladle) of broth and stir until the broth is almost completely absorbed. Keep adding the broth, 1 cup at a time, and only adding the next cup once the broth is absorbed.
• Once the rice is al dente (tender to the bite) but you still have some liquid, add the butter and the Gorgonzola. Stir vigorously (being careful not to break the rice grains) until the butter and cheese melt.
• Decorate with the scallions and serve immediately.

THE BEST RISOTTO

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.

RISOTTO WITH GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Heat the stock in a separate pot almost to the boil. Keep it very hot, near the risotto pan.
• Put the olive oil in the risotto pan, and set over medium heat. Add the onions and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are wilted and just starting to color, about 6 minutes. Add the rice all at once, raise the heat, and stir for a couple of minutes, until the grains are toasted (but not browned). Pour in the wine, and cook, stirring continuously, until nearly all of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Ladle in 2 cups of the hot stock, and stir steadily as the rice absorbs the liquid and begins to release its starch. When you can see the bottom of the pan as you stir, after 5 minutes or so, quickly ladle in another couple of cups of stock and the remaining teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the stock again is almost completely absorbed, and then ladle in another cup or so of stock. Continue this process, and check the risotto for doneness after about 6 cups of stock have been added, at about the 15-to-20-minute mark. Add more stock if needed, and cook until the risotto is creamy but still al dente.
• Turn off the heat. Scatter the pieces of Gorgonzola over the risotto, saving a few spoonfuls for a garnish. Sprinkle over it 1/2 cup of grated grana, and stir both cheeses into the risotto until incorporated. Spoon into warm pasta bowls, scatter the reserved bits of Gorgonzola over the top, and serve immediately, passing more grated cheese at the table.