Risotto takes a while to cook properly, and it requires your attention as well as your time. For upwards of 20 minutes, you have one job and one job only, and that is to stir the rice while adding hot stock, a ladleful at a time, and cook the rice slowly so that the stock is absorbed. this risotto method, releases the rice’s starches, producing a creamy, velvety dish. A properly cooked risotto should form a soft, creamy mound on a dinner plate. It shouldn’t run across the plate, nor should it be stiff or gluey.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups arborio rice

4 cups chicken stock

1 cup of vegetable stock

1 medium shallot (about 1/2 cup or 1/2 small onion, chopped)

4 tablespoons butter (divided)

4 tablespoon olive oil

½ cup of cream

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)

1 tablespoon Italian parsley (chopped)

Salt & pepper (to taste)

PREPARATION

Heat the chicken and vegetable stock to a simmer in a medium saucepan, then lower the heat so that the stock just stays hot.

In a medium, frying pan, heat 2 tablespoon oil and 2 tablespoon of the butter (Save other Two of each for the rice) over medium heat. When the butter has melted, add half of the chopped shallot or onion. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly translucent. Add the asparagus and sauté for ten minutes. Put aside.

To cook the rice take a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoon oil and 2 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat. When the butter has melted, add the chopped shallot or onion.

Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly translucent. Add half a cup of the rice to the pot and stir it briskly with a wooden spoon so that the grains are coated with the oil and melted butter. Sauté for another minute or so, don’t let the rice turn brown. Add a ladle of hot chicken and vegetable stock to the rice and stir until the liquid is fully absorbed. Add rest of the rice, when the rice appears almost dry, add another ladle of stock and repeat the process until all rice is cooking, after about 20 minutes of stirring, leave a couple of ladles of chicken and vegetables stock, now add the asparagus and keep stirring (Keep some of the Asparagus for garnish)

Continue adding last of the stock and now add cream and grated parmesan cheese, leave a little cheese to add on top. Continue to combine all and stirring cook for another ten minutes or until the grains are tender but still firm to the bite, without being crunchy.

Always serve hot. Enjoy.