Wednesday 18 June 2008

Sally's Cheesy Risotto

I don't like Risotto. At least I thought I didn't but over the past few days my great friend Sally from Pink Bytes was planning a birthday meal for her hubby. She decided on Cheesy Risotto from 'Nigella Express.' Sally had never had Risotto before. She loved it. I was so taken with her results I really wanted to like it too. Tonight I made it and I loved it. I realised the one and only time I had eaten Risotto it had been made with long grain rice and tasted just awful. This was so different and so simple. The stirring takes a little while but I found if I had the table set and all my accompaniments ready it was not a problem. Quite hypnotic and enjoyable. The results are worth it. I long now to try different ingredients to have a comparison. This was really tasty. The recipe does not run true as I added a few ingredients here and there as is my want.
Thank you Sally.

Nigella Lawson's Cheddar Cheese Risotto

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 baby leeks or 2 fat scallions, finely sliced
300gms/11oz risotto rice
125mls /4fl oz white wine
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 litre/1 3/4 pints hot vegetable stock
125gms/4oz chopped cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons chopped chives
Melt the butter and oil in a medium-sized pan and cook the sliced baby leeks or scallions until softened.

Add the risotto rice and keep stirring for a minute or so, then turn up the heat and add the wine and mustard, stirring until the wine is absorbed.

Start ladling in the hot stock, letting each ladleful become absorbed as you stir before adding the next one.

Stir and ladle until the rice is al dente, about 18 minutes, then add the cheese, stirring it into the rice until it melts.

Take the pan straight off the heat, still stirring as you do, and then spoon into warmed dishes, sprinkling with some
of the chopped chives.

Changes I made

I used scallions instead of leeks and added a little garlic

I added eight of my home made semi-dried tomatoes, chopped , towards the end of the cooking time

I also added the juice of half a lemon. This gave a lovely flavour.

I had chicken stock in the freezer and used that instead of vegetable stock. I find the powdered variety can be a little salty.

I added a little more stock and cooked it a little longer as I like the rice a little softer

I had some Prosciutto that needed using up so I chopped it quite finely and sprinkled it over the risotto when serving.







24 comments:

JillyB said...

Your risotto looks lovely and I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. There's nothing better than standing by the stove stirring the risotto with a glass of wine in hand IMHO!

Rhyleysgranny said...

And that Jilly is precisely what I did :)
xxx

www.crabbycook.com said...

Great Job, I always hated risotto until I started making it myself. It's time consuming, but when done right it can't be beat.

Thinking About Food said...

Welcome to the risotto lovers club Granny, I too always make sure a fresh bottle of wine is open to sup while stirring, such excellent therapy!!!!

Sally said...

I think we have 2 converts here for Risotto.And me to white wine. Never liked it before making this. Had to buy a bottle specially for the recipe.Now I love it. HIC HIC.

Rhyleysgranny said...

LOL Linda and Sal. I shall need to keep a good stock in for future Risottos:)
xxx

hungryandfrozen said...

Lovely risotto :) I love how you plate food, your photos are gorgeous! Glad to hear you're a fan now, there are so many fabulous risotto recipes out there.

Rhyleysgranny said...

Thank you Laura. I will be hunting down Risotto recipes. I now have an addiction to buying plates for photos
lol :)

Maria♥ said...

Brenda amazing pic of your risotto!

Delia has a great oven-baked risotto which you might want to check out at her site.

Maria
x

Rhyleysgranny said...

Thank you maria. I'll have a look.
xxx

Elle said...

What a gorgeous shot of your risotto! It's beautiful.

Rhyleysgranny said...

Thank you Elle
xxx

Oh my! Apple pie! said...

Great risotto, I havent tried this one yet, will have to soon. Must admit I love pancetta in my risotto, it gives so much flavour and goes so well with white wine.

Standing stove side, stirring with one hand, a glass of wine in the other hand, must be a risotto law, surely. :)

Gloria Baker said...

Granny, Others lovely recipe by you!!! Always Im hungry when I come dear!! This looks delicious.I love the little draw final! love it! xxxGloria

Rhyleysgranny said...

Thank you Gloria. It's always lovely to see you here
xxx

Rhyleysgranny said...

Princesska it is a very good law :)

Teresa said...

That sounds delicious Granny. I do like risotto but haven't made it that often. I will have to try this.

Oh I have added a link to your blog onto my one.
Teresa xx

Rhyleysgranny said...

Theresa it really is nice. I have you linked too
xxx

Vicky said...

I love risotto but have not tried this recipe yet. It certainly looks good! Vicky xxx

Tríona said...

Hi Brenda,

Your blog is getting better and better. I get hungry everytime I come on here. You are so talented. I hope you are all well.

talk soon,

Tríona

test it comm said...

I am definitely going to have to try cheddar cheese in risotto!

Anonymous said...

I love risotto but didn't have any success with this one, maybe I need to try it again as yours does look so wonderfully good.

La Bella Cooks said...

The addition of the prosciutto was a great idea. Prosciutto makes everything better ;)

Kelly-Jane said...

I'm a big risotto fan! Great presentation, and the risotto world is your oyster now :)