Risotto With Spinach And Pine Nuts Ristorante La Brisa Recipes

OVEN-BAKED SPINACH RISOTTO

Steps:

• Set oven to 375 degrees F.
• Butter a 1-1/2-quart casserole dish.
• Heat oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat.
• Add in green pepper, onion and garlic; saute for about 5 minutes.
• Add in the rice; stir to coat well.
• Stir in fresh spinach leaves, chicken broth and about 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, black pepper and salt and cayenne pepper; bring to a boil; simmer for about 3 minutes stirring constantly.
• Transfer mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
• Sprinkle with about 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (or to taste).
• Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the rice is tender.

ASPARAGUS RISOTTO WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• On medium heat, add butter and olive oil to pan and swirl until entire pot is coated.
• At the same time, bring broth to a simmer in a separate pot.
• Add onion and stir; sauté for 2 minutes.
• Add chopped rosemary, Italian parsley, and pine nuts.
• Sauté for 3 more minutes.
• Add garlic and rice and sauté for 1 more minute.
• Be sure not to let the garlic brown.
• Add the wine and cook until absorbed, about 30 seconds.
• Add ¾ of the simmering broth and stir.
• Watch over rice carefully.
• When most liquid has been absorbed, add the rest of the broth.
• Simmer the rice for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
• (NOTE: If the rice begins to stick to the bottom of your pan, add more water, 1/2 cup at a time until absorbed. You need to add more water if no liquid is visible in the pan, 1/2 cup water until absorbed.) Meanwhile, wash, trim asparagus and discard ends.
• Cut off asparagus tips.
• Chop remaining asparagus stalks into bite sized pieces.
• Add ½ of the stalks and stir, continue simmering for another 5 minutes, adding more water if needed.
• Add asparagus tips and continue stirring often, adding more liquid as needed, cooking until rice is tender and mixture is creamy; about 8-10 more minutes.
• Add 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and cream and stir.
• When blended, remove from heat.
• Serve with salt, pepper and additional Parmesan to taste.

RISOTTO WITH SPINACH AND PINE NUTS (RISTORANTE LA BRISA)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place pine nuts in one layer in oven-proof dish, and place in oven for 15 minutes until they become golden. Remove and cool to room temperature.
• In another pot, heat 4 cups water and cook spinach until limp. Remove, drain, squeeze dry and chop finely.
• In a pot, heat chicken stock to boiling, lower heat and keep at gently rolling boil.
• In a frying pan, heat 1 1/2 table spoons butter and 1 tablespoon oil. Add onions and saute until translucent. Add rice and saute for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until rice is warm to the touch. Add half-cup of boiling chicken stock, stirring constantly until rice absorbs stock. Add 2 more half-cups of stock in half-cup amounts, again stirring while stock is absorbed. (Liquid should be bubblinggently.) Add spinach at this point, when rice is half-cooked. Stir and mix.
• Add rest of stock, in half-cup amounts (total cooking time of rice is approximately 30 minutes). Five minutes before rice is cooked, add Parmesan and 2 tablespoons of butter, and mix. Just before serving, mix in all but 1 tablespoon of the pine nuts, sprinkling the top with remaining nuts. If desired, add more Parmesan to taste.