Spring Vegetable and Parmesan Risotto

Prep time 15 min cook time 25 min serves 4 Super Easy

A delicious risotto primavera packed full of veg and seasonal flavours. Not too rich, this is the ideal Spring main course. To make the perfect risotto, never wash your rice beforehand as this will remove the starch needed to create a smooth risotto texture. Cook your risotto on a low, simmering heat and add the stock gradually, one ladle at a time. This gives the rice time to fully absorb the liquid and flavours. The easiest way to tell if your risotto is done is to simply taste it. The grains should be soft with a slight amount of bite to them, not mushy all the way through.

Typical nutritional content (per portion)

478Calories 9gFat 2.1gSaturates 3.8gSugars 0.9gSalt

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 leeks, trimmed and diced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1.2 litres (2 pints) vegetable stock

350g (12oz) Arborio rice (risotto)

150ml (¼ pint) white wine

150g (5oz) fresh peas, podded or frozen peas

225g (8oz) broad beans, skins removed or frozen broad beans

2 tablespoons fresh mixed herbs (such as chives, parsley and basil), chopped

25g (1oz) freshly grated Parmesan

Pea shoots or other green leaves, to garnish

Freshly ground black pepper

Method

Heat the oil in a large sauté pan and gently fry the leeks and garlic over a low heat for a few minutes until softened but not coloured, stirring occasionally. Bring the stock to a gentle simmer in a separate pan. Stir the rice into the leek mixture and cook for 1 minute, stirring until the grains are well coated in oil and almost transparent. Pour in the wine and allow to bubble down for 1 minute, stirring.

Add a ladleful of the simmering stock and cook until it has been completely absorbed, stirring continuously. Continue to add the stock a ladleful at a time, making sure that each time you add the stock the previous amount has already been absorbed. After 20 minutes the rice should be nearly cooked, so tip in the peas and broad beans into the remaining stock for 2 minutes (3-4 minutes if frozen) before adding both the stock and the vegetables to the risotto. Check that the rice is tender but still with a little bite. Then remove from the heat and stir in the herbs and most of the Parmesan, keeping a little to garnish. Season lightly with pepper. Spoon the risotto into warmed wide-rimmed bowls and garnish with the rest of the Parmesan, a good grinding of black pepper, and the pea shoots or other leafy greens.

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