The best ever risotto (If I do say so myself)...

This risotto used to be (and probably to an extent still is) my signature dish, it's complicated enough to seem like you've put some effort in yet simple enough to make and still taste delicious. It can be adapted to any season, the photo shows a summery version with peas and asparagus but I also use roasted squash in the autumn/winter. I've even made a bright pink beetroot version which was a bit strange albeit yummy!


There are 3 main rules to follow with this risotto - lots of stirring, lots of black pepper and lots of parmesan!


The basic recipe (before any adaptations) -

100g-150g risotto rice per person

Tiny piece of butter

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 White Onion, chopped

Closed cup mushrooms

1 and a half breasts of chicken per person

White Wine (about 1 glass full)

Chicken stock (probably made up with 1-1/2 litres of boiling water but check the packets instructions depending on how much rice you're using)

Peas

Parmesan 

Black Pepper

Then you can add any or a mix of the following - 

Asparagus (Steam in the microwave with a tiny bit of water until just soft)

Roasted butternut squash, cubed into small pieces (   Roast the butternut squash – 200 degrees c, roasting tin, cube squash, sprinkle with garlic oil, roast until soft and starting to blacken)

Peas (Cook in the microwave)

Beetroot (Roast whole in the oven first and then remove the skin, grate into the risotto)

Pink beetroot risotto! Looks strange, tastes yummy!

More mushrooms/wild mushrooms

Or anything else you can think of!

Fry the butter, onions and chicken in a pan until chicken is almost cooked.

     Add mushrooms when chicken almost cooked

-       Add risotto rice to cook until translucent then add wine, stirring until absorbed

-       Add chicken stock a ladleful at a time, stirring all the time and only adding when all has been absorbed.

-       Add parmesan and black pepper in regular intervals

-       Then when all the stock is nearly absorbed, add the squash or asparagus/peas etc.

-       Add to risotto when stock is almost finished

     And then serve with lots of black pepper and parmesan!