A Simple, Delicious Risotto

Last weekend we went, along with lots of dancers and other parents, to Figaro’s Italian restaurant in Pickering for a little panto dancers party between shows. We had all pre-ordered so that food would be served soon after had arrived and settled into our seats to ensure a fast turn around for those going back to the theatre to dance in the evening performance. I had ordered lasagna, principally to benchmark it again my own lasagna that I hold in such high regard.

To be honest as nice as the restaurant lasagna was it wasn’t, in my opinion, as good as my own. I looked around at those who had ordered risotto and was a little envious that I hadn’t ordered it. We don’t have risotto often at home so it would have made a nice change. So, I resolved that within a week I would make a risotto for the family. Today was the day.

It’s pretty straight forward to make and I had prepared the stock last Sunday by boiling up the chicken carcass from the roast dinner with some celery, onion and carrot. Here’s the ingredients for a chicken and mushroom risotto for our family of 6.

  • 500g risotto rice
  • 1 large onion 0 diced
  • 250g mushrooms – sliced
  • 3/4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
  • 4 chicken breast
  • 1.5l chicken stock
  • 2tbspolive oil
  • salt & black pepper to season

The method is pretty easy really….

  • Cook the chicken (oven, pan fry, poach – your choice) and cut into 1cm cubes
  • Heat the oil in a large pan then fry the onions over a medium heat for a minute or so, until their softening
  • Add the risotto rice and cook for a minute, stirring all the time, until it is coated in the oil (don’t let it go brown!)
  • Add the garlic, mushrooms and chicken chicken and half of the stock and stir, simmer over a medium heat.
  • As the rice soaks up the stock keep adding more stock until it’s used up.
  • Test the rice, it should be soft but not mushy. If its still a little too hard add some boiling water and cook a little longer
  • Add salt and pepper to taste

I served our with some garlic ciabatta and it was very filling indeed. I really enjoyed it, not sure about the younger girls as it was new for them but the teenagersaurus’ loved it.

Thanks for reading.


 

6 thoughts on “A Simple, Delicious Risotto”

  1. I love risotto we have it quite often at home, although I’m yet to persuade the children to eat it! I will note down your recipe for next time we have it! #blogstravaganza

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