Double Asparagus Risotto Recipes

Steps:

• Peel the bottom third of the asparagus stalks with a vegetable peeler. Snap each stalk where it breaks naturally; reserve 4 of the peeled bottoms for crostini (below). Thinly slice 6 asparagus bottoms and place the rest of the bottoms in a saucepan with 8 cups water and the thyme to make asparagus broth; bring to a simmer.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until glossy, about 1 minute. Add 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Pour in the wine and stir until absorbed. Stir in 1/2 cup of the asparagus broth until absorbed (use a ladle to add the broth, keeping the solids in the pan). Continue to add broth in 1/2-cup increments, stirring constantly and allowing the liquid to be absorbed before adding more, about 10 minutes. (You should have about half the broth left.) Stir in the sliced asparagus bottoms and the lemon zest. Add the remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until the rice is just tender, 5 to 8 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the asparagus tips in a large skillet, cover with water and season with salt and pepper. Simmer over medium-high heat until just tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, the parmesan and lemon juice to the risotto. Stir in the lettuce, remove from the heat and season with salt. Divide among bowls, top with the robiola and season with pepper. Drizzle the asparagus tips with olive oil and spoon over the risotto.

Steps:

• Snap the woody ends off the asparagus stalks and tip them into a saucepan with the stock. Put on a low heat to very gently simmer. Meanwhile, cut off the tips of the asparagus, add to the stock for exactly 1 min. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and set aside. Finely slice the rest of the stalks into rounds.
• Heat the oil and half the butter in a heavy, wide pan. Cook the onions gently for 5 mins until soft, stirring often. Add the chopped asparagus stalks and cook for 2 mins more. Add the rice and continously stir for a few minutes until it turns semi-transparent and makes a hissing sound.
• Stir in the wine, if using - it will evaporate almost immediately. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Add the stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring between each addition until it is absorbed, about 15 mins.
• Try the rice - it should feel just cooked with a slight bite to it. Stir in the asparagus tips and any last dregs of stock and cook for 1 or 2 mins more. Remove from the heat and top with the remaining butter and most of the parmesan. Season generously, cover and leave for a few minutes to settle.
• Give the risotto a thorough stir to incorporate the butter and cheese and serve straight away with the remaining parmesan for sprinkling over.

Steps:

• Bring the stock to a simmer in a medium pot, and then set aside. Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of the butter in a large saucepan and cook the shallots until soft, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the rice and stir until translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in the wine and simmer until reduced to almost dry. Ladle the stock into the rice slowly, stirring until it disappears each time. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the mascarpone and Parmigiano, stirring until well blended.
• Prepare a bowl of ice water. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the asparagus tips and stems until al dente, and then dip in ice water for 2 to 3 seconds. Place the stems in a food processor and add the creme fraiche and lemon juice. Puree the mixture until thick and smooth. Saute the tips in the melted butter over medium-high heat until well coated, about 1 minute.
• To serve, place a small amount of puree into a bowl, spoon some risotto over, and garnish with asparagus heads and fresh melissa, hyssop and garlic. Sprinkle sea salt on top to taste.

Steps:

• Steam asparagus in 1 cup chicken broth.
• When asparagus is tender, set aside tips.
• Combine remaining asparagus with broth used to steam asparagus.
• Add lemon zest.
• Puree asparagus, steaming liquid and lemon zest together. A stick blender is ideal for this, but a blender works just fine.
• Set aside processed asparagus, broth and zest.
• Heat remaining broth in saucepan or microwave.
• In deep skillet or saucier, toast pine nuts, then remove from pan and set aside.
• Heat olive oil over medium heat in same pan.
• Saute onion, carrot and garlic 3-5 minutes, over low heat, seasoning with salt and pepper, until onions are translucent and carrots are softened; do not brown vegetables.
• Stir in rice.
• Saute another 3-5 minutes, stirring, until rice is covered with oil and glistening.
• Still over medium heat, add heated broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring almost constantly and adding more broth as each previous addition is absorbed.
• When all of broth has been added, add asparagus-broth-lemon zest puree, 1/2 cup at a time, until rice is tender and almost all liquid has been absorbed.
• It will take 20-30 minutes to incorporate all liquid - your patience will be rewarded!
• Gently fold in reserved asparagus tips and toasted pine nuts.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in butter and parmesan.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Using a 3 quart dish, combine onion, mushrooms, oil and butter.
• Cover and place in microwave on high for 5 minutes.
• Stir in rice, broth, wine and turmeric.
• Cover again and microwave on high for 15 minutes.
• Cut asparagus into 1 inch pieces.
• Next, stir rice mixture and microwave on high uncovered for 10 minutes.
• Now with a fork toss the asparagus into the rice.
• Cover and microwave on high for 5 minutes more.
• Remove the rice from the microwave and let stand (covered), for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the parmesan cheese with fork and season with salt and pepper.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons butter and olive oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium heat. Add onion and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Increase heat to high and add rice; stir to coat. Cook, stirring, until rice is no longer chalky and grains begin to pop, 2 to 3 minutes. Add wine and bring to a boil; let cook until rice absorbs liquid, about 1 minute.
• Add enough broth to just cover the rice, about 2 cups. Simmer, stirring and scraping rice away from sides occasionally. Cook until almost all the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Add another 2 cups of broth, or just enough to cover; simmer, stirring and scraping rice away from sides occasionally, about 5 minutes more.
• Add another cup of broth to rice mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, until rice absorbs broth, about 3 minutes. Add a little more broth, and let simmer, stirring frequently, until almost all the liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes more.
• Reduce heat and stir in asparagus. Season with salt and pepper and add 1/4 cup broth. Simmer, stirring constantly, adding broth, 1/4 cup at a time, until rice is tender. Remove from heat and stir in grated cheese, remaining 3 tablespoons butter, and asparagus puree. Divide evenly between serving bowl and crack a quail egg into each. Garnish with shaved asparagus tops and cheese; serve immediately.