Asparagus and Parmesan Risotto

Risotto is the ultimate one-pot wonder, and it’s the perfect dish to cook with a glass of wine in your hand-have a sip, have a stir, have a sip, have a stir. Stirring every thirty seconds or so and adding the stock gradually ensures that your risotto will be creamy, not porridge-y. Risotto can tend to be a little heavy, but asparagus and mint lighten it up, making it a great dish for spring.
Risotto is the ultimate one-pot wonder, and it’s the perfect dish to cook with a glass of wine in your hand-have a sip, have a stir, have a sip, have a stir. Stirring every thirty seconds or so and adding the stock gradually ensures that your risotto will be creamy, not porridge-y. Risotto can tend to be a little heavy, but asparagus and mint lighten it up, making it a great dish for spring.

Ingredients

About 8 cups store-bought vegetable stock
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 shallots, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 cups Arborio rice
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 pounds thin asparagus, woody ends removed, stalks cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, cut in small pieces
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler, for garnish
About 8 cups store-bought vegetable stock
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 shallots, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 cups Arborio rice
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 pounds thin asparagus, woody ends removed, stalks cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, cut in small pieces
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler, for garnish

Cookbook
Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone
Recipe Tags
FamilyFavourites, Quick&Easy, Vegetarian, Entertaining,
TimeSavingTuesdays
OnePotWednesdays
ThriftyThursdays
DinnerPartySaturdays
Asparagus
Parmesan
Risotto
VegetableStock
OliveOil
Shallots
Eschalots
Garlic
Thyme
ArborioRice
WhiteWine
Butter
ParmigianoRegianno
Mascarpone
Parsley
Mint
Lemon
Spring
Italian
KidFriendly
Dinner
Simmer
FathersDay
Easter
MothersDay
Cheese
Citrus
Dairy
Fruit
Herb
RiceGrain
Vegetable
Wine
Alcohol
FamilyFavourites
Quick&Easy
Vegetarian
Entertaining
RelaxedCooking
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Directions

PREP TIME
20
MINS
COOKING TIME
35
MINS
Serves
4
Make-Ahead:
This risotto is best served as soon as it is made.
Make-Ahead:
This risotto is best served as soon as it is made.
Bring the vegetable stock to a simmer in a large saucepan. Reduce the heat to very low and keep the stock on the heat.

Heat the oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and thyme, and sauté for 2 minutes, or until the shallots are tender but not browned. Add the rice and sauté for 30 seconds to coat with the oil. Stir in the wine and cook for 3 minutes,or until it is absorbed.

Add 3/4 cup of the hot vegetable stock and cook, stirring constantly, until it has absorbed. Continue adding the hot stock, 3/4 cup at a time, stirring until each addition has been absorbed, for about 22 minutes, or until the rice is al dente (the center of each grain of rice should still be slightly firm).

Add the asparagus and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Discard the thyme stems (the thyme leaves should have fallen off the stems and into the risotto). Remove the risotto from the heat, and add the butter, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and mascarpone cheese. Stir until the butter has melted. Stir in the parsley, mint, and lemon juice, and season the risotto generously with salt and pepper.

Divide the risotto among 4 warmed serving bowls. Garnish with the shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, and serve.

Bring the vegetable stock to a simmer in a large saucepan. Reduce the heat to very low and keep the stock on the heat.

Heat the oil in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, garlic, and thyme, and sauté for 2 minutes, or until the shallots are tender but not browned. Add the rice and sauté for 30 seconds to coat with the oil. Stir in the wine and cook for 3 minutes,or until it is absorbed.

Add 3/4 cup of the hot vegetable stock and cook, stirring constantly, until it has absorbed. Continue adding the hot stock, 3/4 cup at a time, stirring until each addition has been absorbed, for about 22 minutes, or until the rice is al dente (the center of each grain of rice should still be slightly firm).

Add the asparagus and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Discard the thyme stems (the thyme leaves should have fallen off the stems and into the risotto). Remove the risotto from the heat, and add the butter, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and mascarpone cheese. Stir until the butter has melted. Stir in the parsley, mint, and lemon juice, and season the risotto generously with salt and pepper.

Divide the risotto among 4 warmed serving bowls. Garnish with the shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, and serve.