risotto

Risotto Easy Peasy

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Burst of Flavor: Risotto Easy Peasy! Until I master the same technique of the gourmet risotto served in my favorite Italian restaurant, I turn to this reliable substitute. Made with eco-friendly high quality arborio rice and seasonings, it’s ready in half the time with results that please. By adding baby peas and fresh parmesan cheese, the outcome gives it my stamp of approval. 

RISOTTO EASY PEASY

Ingredients:

1 box Gluten-Free Lundberg Creamy Parmesan Risotto*

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 cup baby peas

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Sauté arborio rice for 2 minutes in olive oil over medium heat using a 2 quart saucepan. Add 2 1/2 cups water and seasonings. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The rice will get thick and creamy. Add baby peas stirring until heated through. Garnish with parmesan cheese. Serve hot. 

*Available from Lundberg Family Farms. (I receive no recompense for promoting their product.)

Lobster Risotto

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Cheerful Choices: Lobster Risotto! Does anyone else smile when they hear the word “lobster”? To me, lobster looks good whenever someone is eating it. Think about it. In a restaurant you’re often draped with a disposable plastic bib that has a giant red lobster printed on it. Talk about drawing attention to yourself. “Look at me! I’m eating Lobstah! Bet you wish you were. More butter, please.” It doesn’t matter how big a mess you make, the bib gives you a pass. And just so you know, you can buy these on the internet, so the same feelings apply at home. I. Love. Lobster. 🦞

LOBSTER RISOTTO

Ingredients:

2 cups water

1 cup Arborio rice

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons sea salt

2 6-ounce frozen lobster tails, thawed

4-ounce dry aged prosciutto , diced

1/2 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Lemon wedge, for garnish

Fresh dill, for garnish

Instructions:

Make risotto according to instructions for rice cooker using water, Arborio rice, and olive oil. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Reduce heat to a soft boil and add sea salt. Drop lobster tails in one at a time. Cook the lobster for 5 minutes. Set a timer to avoid overcooking. The lobsters will be bright red when done. Using metal tongs and a large strainer, take the tails out of the boiling water. Set aside. When the risotto is done, transfer to a bowl. Add diced prosciutto and sweet peas. Mix gently. Divide the risotto into two serving bowls. Add lobster tails. Garnish with lemon wedge and fresh dill. Serve immediately with melted butter.

Risotto Tomato Basil

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Table Food: Risotto Tomato Basil! When the rice cooker is on the fritz, and you’re still craving risotto, try the next best thing. There’s no shame in using a boxed version as a foundation for a meal in-a-bowl. After all, these tried and true products are on the shelf for a reason. Most have perfected the art of imitation to the point where one might ask which is better. True, the homemade version does involve a certain finesse for stirring at a crucial time, exerting more energy than otherwise, but who’s the wiser? In the end, let your stomach be the judge.

RISOTTO TOMATO BASIL

Ingredients:

5.5 ounce box Garlic Primavera Risotto, gluten-free

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

2 1/2 cups water

1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated

8-10 cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 teaspoon oregano

Fresh basil, for garnish

Instructions:

In a heavy 2-quart saucepan, sauté rice in olive oil over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add water and contents of seasoning packet. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender. Stir in grated parmesan cheese. Transfer to bowls. Arrange cut tomatoes on top. Sprinkle with crushed oregano. Garnish with fresh basil. Serve immediately.

Lobster Risotto

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Cheerful Choices: Lobster Risotto! Does anyone else smile when they hear the word “lobster”? To me, lobster looks good whenever someone is eating it. Think about it. In a restaurant you’re often draped with a disposable plastic bib that has a giant red lobster printed on it. Talk about drawing attention to yourself. “Look at me! I’m eating Lobstah! Bet you wish you were. More butter, please.” It doesn’t matter how big a mess you make, the bib gives you a pass. And just so you know, you can buy these on the internet, so the same feelings apply at home. I. Love. Lobster. 🦞

LOBSTER RISOTTO

Ingredients:

2 cups water

1 cup Arborio rice

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons sea salt

2 6-ounce frozen lobster tails, thawed

4-ounce dry aged prosciutto , diced

1/2 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Lemon wedge, for garnish

Fresh dill, for garnish

Instructions:

Make risotto according to instructions for rice cooker using water, Arborio rice, and olive oil. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil. Reduce heat to a soft boil and add sea salt. Drop lobster tails in one at a time. Cook the lobster for 5 minutes. Set a timer to avoid overcooking. The lobsters will be bright red when done. Using metal tongs and a large strainer, take the tails out of the boiling water. Set aside. When the risotto is done, transfer to a bowl. Add diced prosciutto and sweet peas. Mix gently. Divide the risotto into two serving bowls. Add lobster tails. Garnish with lemon wedge and fresh dill. Serve immediately with melted butter.

White Cheddar Bacon Risotto

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Clean Plate Club: White Cheddar Bacon Risotto! Risotto. Seeing it on the menu always makes my heart palpitate a little faster. I once asked a chef his secret to creamy risotto. He confessed he cooked it part way and froze it until a customer requested it that night. He said with a wink, “That way, I only have to stir it til half my arm falls off.” Thank goodness my rice cooker knows no difference. If you must know, I had more difficulty coughing up the cost for saffron threads, the most expensive spice in the world. Once I understood that it is grown around the Mediterranean, in the Middle East, and in India, I began to see why it was such a labor-intensive crop. Saffron comes from a Fall flower and it takes more than 80,000 crocus flowers to process one pound of saffron. Perhaps that is why the taste is worth the price.

WHITE CHEDDAR BACON RISOTTO

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup shallot, diced

1 cup Arborio rice

2 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup dry white wine

1 teaspoon saffron threads

1/4 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded

3-4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 tablespoon fresh parsley

Instructions:

In a skillet over medium-high heat, warm olive oil. Add diced shallots. Sauté shallots and Arborio rice until translucent, about 5 minutes. In a rice cooker, add chicken broth, white wine, saffron threads, diced shallots, and Arborio rice. Close and lock the lid of the rice cooker. Turn the knob to “Pressure”. Set timer for 7 minutes. When done, release the pressure. Stir in white cheddar cheese, bacon, and parsley. Serve immediately.

Risotto Tomato Basil

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Table Food: Risotto Tomato Basil! When the rice cooker is on the fritz, and you’re still craving risotto, try the next best thing. There’s no shame in using a boxed version as a foundation for a meal in-a-bowl. After all, these tried and true products are on the shelf for a reason. Most have perfected the art of imitation to the point where one might ask which is better. True, the homemade version does involve a certain finesse for stirring at a crucial time, exerting more energy than otherwise, but who’s the wiser? In the end, let your stomach be the judge.

RISOTTO TOMATO BASIL

Ingredients:

5.5 ounce box Garlic Primavera Risotto, gluten-free

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

2 1/2 cups water

1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated

8-10 cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 teaspoon oregano

Fresh basil, for garnish

Instructions:

In a heavy 2-quart saucepan, sauté rice in olive oil over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add water and contents of seasoning packet. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender. Stir in grated parmesan cheese. Transfer to bowls. Arrange cut tomatoes on top. Sprinkle with crushed oregano. Garnish with fresh basil. Serve immediately.

Risotto Easy Peasy

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Burst of Flavor: Risotto Easy Peasy! Until I master the same technique of the gourmet risotto served in my favorite Italian restaurant, I turn to this reliable substitute. Made with eco-friendly high quality arborio rice and seasonings, it’s ready in half the time with results that please. By adding baby peas and fresh parmesan cheese, the outcome gives it my stamp of approval.

RISOTTO EASY PEASY

Ingredients:

1 box Gluten-Free Lundberg Creamy Parmesan Risotto*

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 cup baby peas

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Sauté arborio rice for 2 minutes in olive oil over medium heat using a 2 quart saucepan. Add 2 1/2 cups water and seasonings. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The rice will get thick and creamy. Add baby peas stirring until heated through. Garnish with parmesan cheese. Serve hot.

*Available from Lundberg Family Farms. (I receive no recompense for promoting their product.)

White Cheddar Bacon Risotto

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Clean Plate Club: White Cheddar Bacon Risotto! Risotto. Seeing it on the menu always makes my heart palpitate a little faster. I once asked a chef his secret to creamy risotto. He confessed he cooked it part way and froze it until a customer requested it that night. He said with a wink, “That way, I only have to stir it til half my arm falls off.” Thank goodness my rice cooker knows no difference. If you must know, I had more difficulty coughing up the cost for saffron threads, the most expensive spice in the world. Once I understood that it is grown around the Mediterranean, in the Middle East, and in India, I began to see why it was such a labor-intensive crop. Saffron comes from a Fall flower and it takes more than 80,000 crocus flowers to process one pound of saffron. Perhaps that is why the taste is worth the price.

WHITE CHEDDAR BACON RISOTTO

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup shallot, diced

1 cup Arborio rice

2 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup dry white wine

1 teaspoon saffron threads

1/4 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded

3-4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 tablespoon fresh parsley

Instructions:

In a skillet over medium-high heat, warm olive oil. Add diced shallots. Sauté shallots and Arborio rice until translucent, about 5 minutes. In a rice cooker, add chicken broth, white wine, saffron threads, diced shallots, and Arborio rice. Close and lock the lid of the rice cooker. Turn the knob to “Pressure”. Set timer for 7 minutes. When done, release the pressure. Stir in white cheddar cheese, bacon, and parsley. Serve immediately.

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter R

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Burst of Flavor: Risotto Easy Peasy! Until I master the same technique of the gourmet risotto served in my favorite Italian restaurant, I turn to this reliable substitute. Made with eco-friendly high quality arborio rice and seasonings, it’s ready in half the time with results that please. By adding baby peas and fresh parmesan cheese, the outcome gives it my stamp of approval. 
RISOTTO EASY PEASY
Ingredients:

1 box Gluten-Free Lundberg Creamy Parmesan Risotto*

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 cup baby peas

Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:

Sauté arborio rice for 2 minutes in olive oil over medium heat using a 2 quart saucepan. Add 2 1/2 cups water and seasonings. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The rice will get thick and creamy. Add baby peas stirring until heated through. Garnish with parmesan cheese. Serve hot. 
*Available from Lundberg Family Farms. (I receive no recompense for promoting their product.)