Magnificent 1st Prize Risotto Recipes

Steps:

• Warm the chicken stock in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, cover and keep warm while you make the risotto.
• Heat the olive oil in another medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the shallot, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and about 10 grinds of black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves and 3 tablespoons butter, stirring until the butter has melted, about 1 minute.
• Add the rice and toast, stirring only once, until it smells nutty and starts to turn light golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour in the wine and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has evaporated completely, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Ladle one cup of the warm stock into the rice and cook, stirring gently without stopping, until the rice has absorbed the liquid, 2 to 3 minutes (you will know it's time to add more stock when you move the rice aside and no liquid pools in the center).
• Repeat this process, adding more stock a ladleful at a time, until the rice is al dente, 17 to 19 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. (You may have a little stock left over. If so, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.) If you prefer your risotto on the saucier side, add more stock 1/4 cup at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
• Stir in the Parmesan, the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt and a few more grinds of black pepper and serve with more Parmesan, if desired.

Steps:

• In a large, heavy saucepan, heat 1/4 cup of the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and leeks and saute until the onions turn golden brown (about 15 minutes).
• Add the Madeira to deglaze the pan, stirring to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook over medium-high heat to reduce the liquid by half.
• In another saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a gentle simmer and maintain over low heat.
• Add 1 cup of the simmering stock to the onion mixture and continue cooking over medium-high heat until the liquid has reduced and the mixture is quite thick (about 15 minutes longer). Set aside.
• While the onions simmer, in another large heavy saucepan, heat the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat. Add the rice and stir until each grain is well coated with oil and translucent with a white dot in the center (about 3 minutes).
• Add the simmering stock a ladleful at a time, stirring frequently after each addition. Wait until the stock is almost completely absorbed (but the rice is never dry on top) before adding the next ladelful. Save 1/4 cup of stock to add at the end.
• When the rice is tender to the bite but slightly firm in the center and looks creamy (about 20 minutes), stir in the chicken. Cook to heat through, about 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, caramelized onion mixture, and reserved 1/4 cup of stock. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve at once.

Steps:

• Bring broth to a simmer in a saucepan and keep at a bare simmer, covered.
• Cook onion in 2 tablespoons butter in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add rice and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add wine and simmer, stirring, until absorbed.
• Stir in 1 cup simmering broth and cook at a strong simmer, stirring constantly, until broth is absorbed.
• Continue simmering risotto and adding broth, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and letting each addition become absorbed before adding next, until rice is just tender and creamy but still al dente, 18 to 20 minutes (there will be leftover broth).
• Stir in peas, prosciutto, zest, 2/3 cup cheese, parsley, remaining 2 tablespoons butter, and salt and pepper to taste.
• If necessary, thin risotto with some of remaining broth.
• Serve immediately, with remaining 1/3 cup cheese.
• Serves 4 as an entree or 6-8 as a side dish.