Spring Quinoa Risotto Recipes

MUSHROOM QUINOA RISOTTO (QUINOTTO)

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, sauté the sliced mushrooms with a little bit of olive oil until they are cooked but still a bit firm. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• In a large pot on medium-high heat, toast the quinoa in butter (or oil, if using), stirring regularly, until fragrant.
• Add minced garlic and sliced onion and sauté until softened.
• Turn down the heat and cup by cup, add stock, stirring regularly.
• Once all the liquid has been reduced, add the rest of the ingredients: reserved mushrooms, chives, lemon juice and zest, thyme, vinegar, soy sauce (or tamari if using) and Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast if using). Stir well for a few minutes, and then remove from the heat.
• Serve immediately with extra chives and parmesan.

CREAMY QUINOA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Rinse quinoa twice and drain well.
• Pour chicken broth into a saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Melt butter in a separate saucepan over medium-high heat; saute onion and garlic until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Stir quinoa into onion mixture; cook, stirring frequently, until quinoa is toasted and coated in oil, about 3 minutes.
• Slowly pour wine over quinoa mixture; cook and stir until wine is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Ladle 1/2 cup chicken broth over quinoa mixture; cook, stirring frequently, until absorbed, 3 to 5 minutes. Continue ladling broth, 1/2 cup at a time, over quinoa mixture; cook, stirring frequently, until quinoa is tender and has burst, about 20 minutes. You may not use all the chicken broth.
• Mix Parmesan cheese and cream into quinoa mixture; season with marjoram, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add a splash of chicken broth to make quinoa more creamy, if desired.

SPRING GREEN RISOTTO

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and fennel and saute for 5 to 7 minutes, until tender. Add the rice and stir for a minute to coat with the vegetables, oil, and butter. Add the white wine and simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until most of the wine has been absorbed. Add the chicken stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring almost constantly and waiting for the stock to be absorbed before adding more. This process should take 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut the asparagus diagonally in 1 1/2-inch lengths and discard the tough ends. Blanch in boiling salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, until al dente. Drain and cool immediately in ice water. (If using fresh peas, blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes until the starchiness is gone.)
• When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, drain the asparagus and add it to the risotto with the peas, lemon zest, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Continue cooking and adding stock, stirring almost constantly, until the rice is tender but still firm.
• Whisk the lemon juice and mascarpone together in a small bowl. When the risotto is done, turn off the heat and stir in the mascarpone mixture plus the Parmesan cheese and chives. Set aside, off the heat, for a few minutes, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve hot with a sprinkling of chives and more Parmesan cheese.

THREE-CHEESE-AND-MUSHROOM QUINOA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Cover the dried mushrooms with 1 cup hot water, and set aside until softened, 5 to 10 minutes; drain, and chop, reserving the soaking liquid. Put the butter or oil in a large, deep skillet or saucepan over medium heat. When it is hot, add the shallots and dried and fresh mushrooms, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shiitakes begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add the quinoa, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it's glossy and coated with butter or oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then add the wine. Stir, letting the liquid bubble away. Add the porcini soaking liquid, being careful not to pour in any sediment.
• Start adding the stock about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition and adjusting the heat to maintain a gentle bubble. When the stock is nearly evaporated, add more. Continue to cook, stirring frequently and adding stock as necessary; the mixture should be neither soupy nor dry.
• Begin tasting the quinoa about 20 minutes after you added it; you want it to be tender but not mushy and to have released some of its starch. Once it reaches that stage, after about 25 minutes, stir in the cheeses, along with a little more butter or oil if you like. Stir until the cheeses melt; taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve.

FRESH SPRING ONION AND QUINOA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Rinse the quinoa well under running water for 1 to 2 minutes, until the water runs clear.
• Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan and add the quinoa. Cover the pan, lower the heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. The quinoa should have halos. Let sit for 5 minutes with the cover removed.
• While the quinoa is cooking, heat the oil and saute spring onions until tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. It is okay to let the onions caramelize a little. Add the vermouth and cook 1 minute more.
• Add the cooked quinoa to the sauté pan and blend well with the cooked onions and vermouth. Add the fresh tarragon and cook 1 minute more.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.