Risotto salad is a delightful dish that combines the creamy texture of risotto with the freshness of a salad. This versatile dish can be served warm or cold, making it perfect for any occasion. Whether you're looking for a light lunch, a hearty dinner, or a side dish to impress your guests, risotto salad is sure to satisfy. With countless variations and endless possibilities for customization, this article will guide you through the art of creating the perfect risotto salad, ensuring that each bite is a journey of flavors and textures.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
LEMON-MINT BULGUR "RISOTTO" WITH GARLIC SHRIMP AND TOSSED SALAD
Steps:
- To make the risotto: In a medium saucepan, combine the water and salt and bring to a simmer. Keep warm over low heat. In a medium saute pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the green onions and cook until soft, about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the bulgur and cook until fluffy, about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the warm water, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring frequently until each portion is absorbed before adding the next, about 20 minutes total. Remove from heat. Add the spinach, mint, lemon rind, and lemon juice. Stir until the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes. Keep the bulgur risotto warm until ready to serve.
- To make the shrimp: In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and saute until soft, about 30 seconds. Add the salt, pepper, and shrimp, and saute until the shrimp are just cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- To make the salad: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and toss together. Add oil and vinegar and salt and pepper, to taste.
- Divide the Lemon-Mint Bulgur "Risotto" evenly among 4 small plates and arrange the Garlic Shrimp evenly over the "Risotto". Garnish with lemon wedges, if desired. Serve with Tossed Salad.
CRISPY BACON-WRAPPED CHICKEN WITH THREE CHEESE CREAMY RISOTTO AND ARUGULA FENNEL SALAD
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Sauce:
- In a medium saucepot, over medium heat, combine the wine, shallots, and garlic and bring to a simmer. Add the basil, cloves, and bay leaf, and let simmer until the liquid is reduced to about 1 cup. When reduced, add the chicken stock, and continue to simmer until reduced by half. Strain into another sauce pan and stir in the butter. Season the mixture with salt, and pepper, to taste. Keep warm.
- Chicken:
- Season the chicken lightly with salt, and pepper, to taste. Lay 4 slices of bacon crosswise on a cutting board with the slices slightly overlapping. Put a chicken breast on top of the bacon. Bring the bacon slices up and around the chicken so the entire breast is wrapped. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts and bacon.
- In a large oven-proof skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Get the pan and oil hot, and then add the bacon-wrapped chicken and cook until the bacon is crispy on both sides, about 8 minutes per side. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake, until the chicken is cooked through, about 15 to 18 minutes.
- Salad:
- Whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil. Season the salad with salt, and pepper, to taste. Put the arugula and fennel into a large bowl and toss until well coated.
- Scoop some risotto nicely into the center or each plate, making sure it has some height so the chicken can stand up. Cut the chicken on a bias and put on top of the risotto. Drizzle some of the red wine sauce around the plate and directly over the chicken. Top each plate with some arugula salad and serve.
- Serving suggestion: Three Cheese Creamy Risotto, recipe follows.
- Heat a large pot (wider is better than taller) over medium heat and add the olive oil and pancetta. Cook the pancetta until it begins to crisp, and then add the garlic and shallots. Cook the shallots and garlic until they begin to brown in color. Add the rice and stir well to coat. Cook the rice for 1 minute.
- Add wine and stir well. Stir the rice until the wine is almost completely absorbed. Add in some chicken stock until rice is just covered and stir again until the stock is absorbed into the rice. Continue to gradually add the stock, stirring well after each addition, until the rice is cooked through, but still has a bite. You may not use all of the stock.
- When rice is cooked, stir in the cheeses and basil. Remove from heat and stir in the butter. Season with salt, and pepper, to taste. The risotto should be smooth, creamy, rich, and delicious.
RISOTTO SALAD
I found this great idea in the Times Picayune recipe archives, it's such a uniquely different way to serve risotto. Great in the summer!
Provided by Penny Stettinius
Categories Rice
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 cups, 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Rinse the rice well in cool water.
- Drain well and set aside.
- Bring the stock to a gentle boil in a medium-size saucepan, then reduce to a simmer.
- Heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions and cook, stirring, until just soft, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, until the grains are opaque, about 4 minutes.
- Add the stock and salt to taste.
- Stir gently until the liquid comes to a boil. Cover tightly, reduce the heat to low, and cook until all the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for about 15 minutes before stirring.
- Transfer the rice to a large bowl and gently stir to cool, breaking up any lumps with a wooden spoon.
- Add the lemon juice and toss gently to mix. Cover with a clean towel and let cool.
- When ready to serve, add the capers, tomatoes, parsley, basil, garlic and extra-virgin alive oil.
- Toss gently to mix.
- Season with the black pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Serve at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 629.5, Fat 23.2, SaturatedFat 3.6, Cholesterol 5.4, Sodium 519.5, Carbohydrate 92.1, Fiber 4.3, Sugar 5.5, Protein 12.2
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the quality of your ingredients, the better your risotto salad will be. Use fresh, flavorful vegetables, a good quality rice, and a flavorful broth.
- Cook the rice properly: The rice is the foundation of any risotto salad, so it's important to cook it properly. Cook the rice according to the package directions, or until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it.
- Don't overcook the vegetables: The vegetables in a risotto salad should be tender but still have some crunch to them. Overcooked vegetables will become mushy and unappetizing.
- Add flavorings and mix-ins: Once the rice and vegetables are cooked, you can add a variety of flavorings and mix-ins to your risotto salad. Common additions include herbs, cheese, nuts, and dried fruit. Experiment with different combinations to find your favorite flavors.
- Chill the salad before serving: Risotto salad is best served chilled. This allows the flavors to meld together and the salad to firm up. Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Conclusion:
Risotto salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or as a side dish. It's easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With a few simple tips, you can make a perfect risotto salad every time.
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