Designsponge did a little thing on me for their "In the kitchen with..." , series.
I was asked to give them one of my favorite recipes.
And I did. My risotto.
Risotto is for me the ultimate comfort food. Love the creamy texture.
I mean, whats not to love?
Rice, butter, parmesan cheese.....its all good.
This is a very easy recipe, and the result is really good.
I never use white wine in my risotto.
Just a little lemon juice to get a little acid going.
I started doing that because I don’t really drink much wine and always thought it was such a waste to open up a bottle just for 1/2 cup of wine.
Spinach and scallion risotto
Serves 4
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 red onion, finely chopped
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cup Arborio rice
juice from 1/4 lemon
4 1/2 cups good quality canned chicken stock, heated
1 large bunch fresh spinach
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup grated parmesan
salt
pepper
4 slices parma ham
Heat oil and butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Sauté onions and scallions until tender, add rice, cook, stirring until well coated.
Add lemon juice, cook 1 minute.
Add 1 cup of stock, cook, stirring frequently, until absorbed.
Continue adding broth, 1 cup at a time, stirring until most of the liquid has been absorbed.
This takes about 20 minutes.
The rice should be al dente, creamy but with a little more hard center.
Remove from heat, stir in butter and parmesan.
Taste with salt and pepper.
Serve with the parma ham that has been fried crispy in the oven.
Enjoy!



























Thanks for the recipe! Yum!
Posted by: Alexis | August 05, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Absolutely delicious! Great presentation too!
Posted by: Peter G | August 06, 2008 at 02:40 AM
Hello Paul,
nice idea. But never use olive oil to risotto. Just butter. Olive oil should never touch risotto-rice. If so, it is not italian.
Rosi
Posted by: rosi kirschner | August 06, 2008 at 06:17 AM
Hi! I love your blog and really want to try the risotto recipe. Did I just miss the part where you add the spinach? I am assuming it's added at the end??
Posted by: Lori | August 06, 2008 at 07:54 AM
So beautiful, Paul - and risotto is my favorite dish, I'll be trying your recipe soon!
Posted by: Patricia Scarpin | August 06, 2008 at 01:28 PM
try making risotto with orzo. I call it orzotto. Make it the same way you do when you use aborio. Delicious. My favorite way with risotto.
Posted by: dawn | August 06, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Oki, thats it, we're having risotto tonight! I have the rice in the cupboard, but somehow I always forget it, but seeing thee pictures gave me mssive risotto cravings ;-)
Posted by: M&Co | August 06, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Hei Paul! The food looks so good, thans for the inspiration :)
Posted by: siw | August 06, 2008 at 07:12 PM
Oh, my my...serious yum!
Posted by: decor fellow | August 10, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Oh, Just saw that Donna Hay is your fav...me too! I lov eteh flavors book...simple and so good ....
Posted by: decor fellow | August 10, 2008 at 07:25 PM