Basic risotto

Basic risotto

Serves: 5
Time to make: 30 mins

Total cost: $ 10.50 / $ 1.75 per serve

(at time of publication)

Ingredients
Nutrition Info.(per serve)

2 cups arborio rice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 litres (8 cups) chicken stock
2 tablespoons grated parmesan
chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Nutrition Info

Kilojoules 1280kJ
Calories 306cal
Protein 8.1g
Total fat 5.4g
Saturated fat 1.1g
Carbohydrates 54.5g
Sugars 1.3g
Dietary fibre 0.5g
Sodium 700mg
Calcium 45mg
Iron 1.8mg

Instructions

1 Heat the stock in a saucepan then turn the heat down and leave the stove at a very gentle simmer.

2 Gently fry the onion and garlic in the oil. Add the rice. Mix well until the rice is coated in the oils and the pan is drying out.

3 At this point if you have it, add 1/4 cup of wine and let it absorb. Then add any vegetables, cooked meat or other flavourings (see suggestions below). Add a couple of ladles full of hot stock and stir occasionally, until the stock is absorbed. Repeat the process until the rice is soft and creamy, stirring regularly. You will have used most of the stock by this stage (about 20 minutes).

4 When the risotto is cooked, check the seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the parmesan cheese and chopped parsley or other herbs you have on hand.

Variations

Good risotto flavours

Pea, mint and lemon – use frozen peas, mint from the garden and lemon zest and juice.
Tomato and olive – use canned tomatoes instead of some of the stock.
Spinach and feta – use frozen spinach for a really easy dish.
Pumpkin and bacon.

Author:Niki Bezzant

First published: Jul 2007