Creamy Blue Cheese Risotto Recipes

Steps:

• Warm chicken broth either on stove or in microwave.
• In a 2 quart saucepan or large skillet (non stick works well) heat butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots and saute for 1-2 minutes until softened.
• Raise heat to medium high, add rice and salt, stirring constantly for 2 minutes, until rice just begins to turn slightly golden in color.
• Add wine and stir until almost completely evaporated.
• Begin adding chicken broth, about 1/2 cup at a time.
• After each 1/2 cup addition of broth, stir frequently, until broth is almost evaporated and add the next 1/2 cup.
• Do the same for each addition of broth, stirring frequently.
• Begin tasting the rice for doneness during the last two additions of broth for tenderness--it should be al dente-tender with a slight bite to it.
• If rice is not done after the last addition, continue cooking as above adding additional 1/2 cups of broth until done. The entire process should take about 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in cheese, cayenne and pecans or pine nuts. You can also add the additional teaspoon of butter if you want it extra rich at this point.
• Adjust the salt if needed, remembering that there is a lot of salt in cheese and possibly in the type of broth you use.
• Serve hot.

Steps:

• NB: I like to use a fairly strong flavoured, but creamy blue cheese, like Gorgonzola, but Stilton is also nice. Stock-wise, you may need a little more or less than in the ingredients list.
• Bring stock up to a simmer.
• Halve the leeks and remove any gritty bits from inside the rings. Cut the leek into fine strips rather than semi-circles, of approx 1-2 inches in length.
• Melt half the butter with the olive oil and cook the leeks for approx 10 minutes over a low-medium heat until soft and tinged with brown.
• Add bacon to pan and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Stir in garlic and rice, cook for a further minute or two, stirring the rice until it's coated in the butter and oil and starts to go slightly translucent.
• Add the wine to the pan, turning up the heat to bubble most of it away.
• Add a ladleful of hot stock to the leek and rice mixture at a time, stirring more or less constantly. Add more stock each time that most of the liquid has been absorbed. Add the fresh sage.
• Keep doing this for approximately 15 - 25 minutes, until the risotto is creamy, but the rice grains still have a slight bite. You'll need to start testing the rice after about 15 minutes, but it may take a little longer.
• Turn off the heat.
• Stir in the lemon juice, zest, remaining butter, parmesan and blue cheese.
• Leave the risotto for another 2 minutes until rich, creamy and luscious. Season to taste with black pepper and salt if needed.

Steps:

• Cook and stir prosciutto in 1 tsp. of the oil in large skillet on medium heat until crispy. Remove prosciutto from skillet with slotted spoon; set aside. Add mushrooms, onions, garlic, rice and remaining 3 tsp. oil to skillet; stir until rice is evenly coated with oil. Cook until onions are tender, stirring occasionally.
• Add 1 cup of the broth, cooking and stirring constantly until broth is absorbed. Repeat with remaining broth, adding broth 1 cup at a time and cooking until rice is tender but firm.
• Stir in peas, Parmesan cheese and blue cheese; cook until cheeses are completely melted, stirring frequently. Spoon onto serving platter. Top with the prosciutto; sprinkle with parsley.