Asparagus-Fennel-Leek Risotto
from http://culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com/2011/10/asparagus-fennel-leek-risotto.html
Tonight I decided to make a risotto – just for the leftovers. My husband accused me of being just like my 9-year-old who wanted to order pizza in a box – just for the box. Thankfully I found out that the box was his actual goal, and not the pizza, so I just asked a pizza place for a clean box and skipped the entire pizza delivery experience. It’s not that I didn’t want to eat the risotto, I just have a recipe that uses leftover risotto. Stay tuned for that tomorrow.
The secret to risotto, as Maria told me, is stirring: usa il cucchiao…sempre. Use your spoon…always; keep stirring.
Maria was the cook for the Nuzzo family who was ordered to teach me all her recipes. Then she was fired and I was tasked with cooking for the family six days a week. Thankfully she didn’t blame me for the impossible situation and we stayed close throughout the year that I was there. And sometimes when I cook, I head her instructions in my head.
Make risotto with whatever you have on hand. Tonight I used sliced fennel, sliced leeks, and chopped asparagus. Stir in the arborio rice – one handful per person you’re serving and un’altro per la pentola (an extra for the pot). Maria’s voice again. Add one ladel of simmering broth* at a time, stirring, stirring, and stirring some more till the liquid is absorbed. Repeat until the rice is soft. Let stand for 5 minutes. Season with sea salt to taste. Stir in marscarpone cheese. Serve with shreds or shavings of parmesan cheese.
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