Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto

[farmkat]

comments below from blog
farmkat/kathy

How to Make Risotto
Casual Kitchen: The 25 Best Laughably Cheap Recipes at Casual Kitchen

Here’s a risotto recipe that will even satisfy real live Italians with its authenticity. The sun-dried tomatoes add an amazing flavor that permeates the entire dish.

Sun-Dried Tomato Risotto
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
5 cups of vegetable, meat or seafood stock
One medium onion, chopped
4-5 Tablespoons olive oil
1 cup rice (see note 1, below)
3/4 cup white wine (please do not use “cooking wine”)
Sun-dried tomatoes, chopped coarsely (see note 2)
Parmesan cheese, grated (see note 3)
Frozen peas (optional-see note 4)

Directions:
1) Bring stock to a boil, then remove from heat.

2) In a separate non-stick pan, heat the oil on medium heat. Add the onion and saute for about 3-4 minutes until translucent (do not brown the onion).

3) Add the rice and stir until all of the rice is coated with oil. Heat the rice for 3 minutes or so, continuing to stir until the rice starts to become an opaque white color.

4) Add the white wine and stir constantly until it is absorbed, about 1-2 minutes.

5) Then gradually add the stock into the rice, starting with one to two ladles-full, then adding another ladle of stock every couple of minutes. Stir regularly. NOTE: Do not add all the stock at once!!

Instead, gradually add the stock, one ladle-full at a time. If you dump it all in at once the rice will turn out soggy.

6) When the rice absorbs the liquid, add another ladle of stock. The whole rice-cooking process will take anywhere from 18 to 25 minutes, depending on the thickness of the rice grains you are using.

7) At the 15 to 17 minute mark, you can add the sun-dried tomatoes. At about the 20 minute mark, start taste testing the rice for done-ness. It should be chewy and firm to the bite (al dente for you foodies out there), but definitely not crunchy.

When you think the rice is done, add in the grated parmesan along with a final half ladle-full of stock and stir until the cheese is melted and well mixed into the rice. Serve immediately.

Easily serves four as a main dish, serves 6-7 as a side dish.

A few final recipe notes:
1) Regarding the rice: If you really want to go authentic, be sure to use Arborio rice. Arborio rice is an extra thick, short-grain rice that has more starch content than regular rice. It gives the risotto a thicker, almost creamy texture.

But I’ve found that regular rice works quite well too, and of course it’s cheaper and easier to find in the grocery store.

2) Regarding the sun-dried tomatoes: If you are using dried sun-dried tomatoes, add them to the risotto with the first ladle-full of stock. If you are using sun-dried tomatoes in oil, add them just about five minutes before the rice is done. The softer, oil-based sun-dried tomatoes will disintegrate if you add them at the beginning, and the DRIED sun-dried tomatoes will be too tough if you add them at the end.

This is an important distinction.

3) I’m not sure what it is about grating your own Parmesan cheese—maybe it’s the cooking with love, maybe it’s a little extra elbow grease that adds to the flavor, who knows? I encourage you to take the extra time and buy a block of Parmesan cheese and grate it by hand. It’s just better than the pre-grated stuff.

4) You can use other ingredients in addition to (or in place of) the peas. Some suggestions: mushrooms, pieces of ham or pancetta, seafood (such as shrimp, scallops, etc), garlic, or any of a number of different kinds of veggies (best to use mild-tasting and firm vegetables like snap peas, green beans, etc). Most of these ingredients should be added when you’re about halfway through cooking the rice, say at the 12 minute mark.

If you want some extra help on ways to experiment here, take a look at my series on How to Modify a Recipe.

Enjoy!

[my4mainecoons]

I had to tell you that we FINALLY got to harvest some tomatoes from our garden this week and I’ve been drying them in the food dehydrator. I know that’s not quite the same as sun drying, but I really cant wait to try this recipe this fall I plan on using it in some homemade gift baskets i’ve been putting together. I found baskets really cheap at a yard sale a couple weeks ago.

I bought them, sprayed them with a bleach/water mix, washed them, rinsed them and let them dry in the sun. Then I spray painted them. Now I’m filling them with various things for christmas presents.

I like to get most of my “shopping” done throughout the year rather than waiting until last minute. I’ve been watching for some deals on pots and pans and with all that’s happening with Paula Deen, I found some great simmering pans on sale for 1/3 of the the normal price. Thanks again for the recipe!

[Ronandjo]

I would like to know how I can print this and other recipes?

[Melissa Burnell]

@Ronandjo 318422 wrote:

I would like to know how I can print this and other recipes?

When you’re in the forums:

At the top of each thread, there is a link called ‘Thread Tools’. By clicking on this link, a menu will appear with a number of options:

• Show Printable Version – this will show you a page with the thread post content in a reduced graphics format that is more ‘printer friendly’.

View How to Print Articles here:

Budget101.com FAQ

[bethaliz6894]

I make the same recipe but I finish my risotto with frozen peas and butter. I am putting sundried tomatoes on my list. I will be making this Sunday afternoon. thanks for the great idea.

[FreebieQueen]

@bethaliz6894 320657 wrote:

I make the same recipe but I finish my risotto with frozen peas and butter. I am putting sundried tomatoes on my list. I will be making this Sunday afternoon. thanks for the great idea.

Here’s a recipe if you have some fresh tomatoes on hand

Budget101.com – – MYO: Sundried Tomatoes

[bethaliz6894]

Thank you, I wont be able to try this this year. my tomatoes are growing big and strong but the blooms just die away. 🙁 I haven’t had more than 3 or 4 off of 2 plants.

[Author]

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