Indulge in the tantalizing flavors of risotto with asparagus and pesto, a culinary masterpiece that combines creamy arborio rice, tender asparagus spears, and vibrant pesto sauce. This delectable dish is a symphony of textures and flavors, featuring the delicate crunch of asparagus, the nutty richness of arborio rice, and the aromatic freshness of pesto. Whether you are a seasoned chef or a novice cook, this step-by-step guide will help you create a restaurant-quality risotto with asparagus and pesto that will impress your family and friends.
Here are our top 11 tried and tested recipes!
SPRING RISOTTO
With asparagus, peas, and fiddlehead ferns, plus pesto mixed in at the last minute, this whole dish becomes perfumed with basil and a vernal green.
Provided by Elisabeth Prueitt
Categories Spring Rice Risotto Asparagus Pea Sugar Snap Pea Parmesan White Wine Stock Wheat/Gluten-Free Dinner
Yield 4-6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Prepare a bowl of ice water. Add the asparagus to the pot and blanch, just until bright green, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking, about 30 seconds. Transfer the asparagus to a colander to drain. Repeat with the English peas, sugar snap peas, and fiddleheads.
- Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and sauté just until translucent, about 30 seconds. Add the rice and stir until opaque, about 1 minute.
- Stir the wine into the rice, bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring periodically, until the rice absorbs the wine, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup/240ml stock and 2 teaspoons salt, return to a simmer, and let cook until the liquid has been absorbed. Spread the rice mixture on a baking sheet and set aside until you are ready to finish the dish, or skip this step and keep cooking, continuing with adding the hot stock.
- About 15 minutes before you're ready to serve, return the rice mixture to the sauté pan and cook over medium heat. Stir 1 cup/240ml of the hot stock into the rice mixture and cook until the moisture has been nearly absorbed. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat for the remaining 3 cups/720ml of stock, adding 1 cup/240ml at a time. When you still see liquid pooling here and there in the pan, remove from the heat and stir in the blanched vegetables and the Parmesan. Quickly stir in the pesto and serve.
- Store risotto, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Do Ahead
- To prepare the risotto ahead of time, cook the vegetables and the rice up until you add the wine and 1 cup/240ml of stock. Once the rice has absorbed the liquid, spread the rice and onion mixture on a baking sheet to hold until you're ready to finish cooking. Just before dinner, return the rice to the pot and resume cooking until done.
RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 50m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
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.
RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS AND PESTO
The last step in most of my risottos is to stir in a final ladleful of stock and some Parmesan cheese. This time, I also stirred in some pesto, which enriches the risotto deliciously, and also dresses it up with flecks of green. The risotto would also work with green beans or peas, or with no added vegetable at all.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories main course
Time 30m
Yield Serves 4 to 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Put well-seasoned stock or broth into a saucepan and bring it to a simmer over low heat, with a ladle nearby or in the pot.
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy nonstick skillet or a wide, heavy saucepan. Add onion and a generous pinch of salt, and cook gently until it is just tender, about 3 minutes. Do not brown.
- Stir in rice and garlic and stir until the grains separate and begin to crackle. Add wine and stir until it is no longer visible in the pan. Begin adding simmering stock, a couple of ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover rice and should be bubbling, not too slowly but not too quickly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock and continue to cook in this fashion, adding more stock and stirring when rice is almost dry. You do not have to stir continually, but stir often. After 10 minutes, add asparagus and continue to stir and add stock for another 10 to 15 minutes, until rice is cooked through but still al dente.
- Add another ladleful of stock to the rice. Stir in pesto and additional cheese and remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning. Mix should be creamy (add more stock if it isn't). Serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading risotto in a thin layer rather than a mound.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 425, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 55 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 15 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 1035 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams
LEMON RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS AND PEAS
If you would prefer a simple lemon risotto, omit the asparagus and peas.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring stock to a boil in a medium saucepan; turn off heat.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat in another medium saucepan. Add onion; cook, stirring constantly, until translucent, 6 to 7 minutes. Add rice; cook, stirring constantly, until edges of grains are translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Raise heat to medium-high. Add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until wine has completely evaporated.
- Add 1/2 cup stock; cook, stirring constantly, until stock has been completely absorbed and a wooden spoon drawn through rice leaves a trail in its wake. Continue adding about 4 more cups stock, 1/2 cup at a time, waiting for each addition to be absorbed before adding the next. (It should take about 13 minutes.)
- Stir in the asparagus. Add 1/2 to 1 cup more stock, in same manner as described above. About 1 minute before risotto is done, stir in the peas. Risotto is done when liquid looks creamy and grains are cooked but still slightly firm in centers. (The total cooking time will be 16 to 20 minutes.)
- Remove from heat; stir in 1/2 cup stock. (You may have stock left over.) Stir in zest, juice, remaining 2 tablespoons butter, parsley, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with more cheese.
LEMON ASPARAGUS RISOTTO
Lower in fat than most risotto recipes but no one will know! I like to serve this as a main dish under some steamed halibut or other white fish.
Provided by stefychefy
Categories Main Dish Recipes Rice Risotto Recipes
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add asparagus, cover, and steam until tender, about 5 minutes. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces; set aside.
- Heat chicken broth in a saucepan over medium heat; keep at a simmer while preparing risotto.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion and celery until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Stir in garlic and arborio rice; cook and stir until rice is lightly toasted, about 5 more minutes.
- Pour white wine into rice mixture, stirring constantly, until liquid is evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir chicken broth into rice, one ladleful at a time, allowing liquid to absorb completely before adding more while stirring constantly, about 20 minutes. Add asparagus and stir.
- Remove from heat and mix in Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and lemon zest. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 356.9 calories, Carbohydrate 53.4 g, Cholesterol 7.6 mg, Fat 8.7 g, Fiber 2.8 g, Protein 11.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 355.2 mg, Sugar 3.7 g
ROASTED ASPARAGUS RISOTTO
This recipe's wow factor makes it perfect for special occasions. To save time, the asparagus and prosciutto can be roasting while the rice cooks on the stovetop. They'll be ready to stir into the risotto by the time the rice is done. -Deonna Mazur, Buffalo, New York
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Side Dishes
Time 1h5m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Place asparagus in an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking sheet. Bake, uncovered at 400° until crisp- tender, stirring occasionally, 20-25 minutes., Meanwhile, place prosciutto in another ungreased baking pan. Bake at 400° until crisp, 10-12 minutes. Crumble prosciutto; set aside prosciutto and asparagus., In a large saucepan, heat broth and keep warm. In a large skillet, saute shallot and garlic in oil until tender. Add rice; cook and stir for 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat; stir in the wine, pepper and salt. Cook and stir until all the liquid is absorbed., Add heated broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly. Allow the liquid to absorb between additions. Cook until risotto is creamy and rice is almost tender, 20 minutes., Add the asparagus, prosciutto and cheese; cook and stir until heated through. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 311 calories, Fat 7g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 28mg cholesterol, Sodium 962mg sodium, Carbohydrate 44g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 16g protein.
PESTO RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS
Make and share this Pesto Risotto With Asparagus recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Lori Mama
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h15m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In small food processor bowl, place the parsley, green onions and pesto.
- Pulse until well combined.
- Set aside.
- In medium pot, bring stock to a boil.
- Cook leeks in stock for about 4 minutes.
- Remove with slotted spoon to a bowl.
- Set aside.
- Keep stock on low simmer.
- In large pot, over medium high heat, melt the butter and saute the rice until well coated.
- Add the wine and cook until almost absorbed.
- Add 2 cups of the stock and continue to simmer until almost absorbed.
- Continue this process until rice is cooked and creamy.
- Add the leeks, ham, asparagus, Parmesan cheese and 2/3 cup of the pesto.
- Taste for seasoning.
- Lastly stir in the cheese balls.
- Serve immediately in hot serving bowls and top with remaining pesto.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 482.3, Fat 14.3, SaturatedFat 7.1, Cholesterol 37.1, Sodium 783.4, Carbohydrate 63.2, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 8.7, Protein 19.5
RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS AND RICOTTA SALATA
Provided by Moira Hodgson
Categories main course, side dish
Time 45m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a heavy skillet, heat three tablespoons butter and add the shallots. Cook until soft. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until the grains become opaque and are thoroughly coated with the butter.
- Turn up heat and add white wine, stirring continuously. When evaporated, add hot chicken stock a ladle at a time and keep rice at a gentle simmer, stirring all the time.
- Cut the asparagus into one-inch slices on the diagonal. When the rice is still slightly hard in the middle (after about 15 minutes), stir in the asparagus and continue cooking, ladling in more stock, until the rice is al dente. It should be creamy, a little chewy but firm to the bite. Add the peas to the mixture about three minutes before the end of cooking.
- Off heat, stir in remaining tablespoon of butter, a tablespoon of Parmesan and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle risotto with crumbled ricotta salata. Freshly grated Parmesan may be passed at the table.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 654, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 75 grams, Fat 25 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 25 grams, SaturatedFat 14 grams, Sodium 1291 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 1 gram
ASPARAGUS RISOTTO
Put asparagus centre stage in this satisfying risotto. Top with a sprinkling of parmesan for an easy midweek meal for two
Provided by Barney Desmazery
Categories Dinner, Main course, Supper
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 8
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 623 calories, Fat 22 grams fat, SaturatedFat 10 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 80 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 8 grams sugar, Fiber 6 grams fiber, Protein 15 grams protein, Sodium 1.5 milligram of sodium
ASPARAGUS AND PARSLEY PESTO RISOTTO BAKE
From April 2007 Everyday with Rachael Ray--looks delightful. I love asparagus so this caught my eye.
Provided by Mommy Diva
Categories Rice
Time 45m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- In a heavy oven-proof pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the shallot and cook until translucent and softened, about 4 minutes.
- Add the garlic and rice; season with salt and pepper.
- Cook, stirring, until the rice is toasted, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the broth and 1 1/4 cups water. Transfer immediately to the oven and bake for 25 minutes.
- Meanwhile, using a food processor, finely chop the parsley, 1/2 cup Parmesan, the pine nuts and the lemon peel.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and process until blended; Set the pesto aside.
- Remove the risotto from the oven and stir in the asparagus and the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan.
- Continue to bake until the rice is tender, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the reserved pesto and serve with extra Parmesan.
- Enjoy! ;).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 678.1, Fat 27.3, SaturatedFat 6.8, Cholesterol 22, Sodium 408.8, Carbohydrate 88.2, Fiber 5.9, Sugar 2.1, Protein 20.7
BEST EVER ASPARAGUS & PEA RISOTTO
Enjoy this stunning risotto. It requires a little more effort but you're repaid with vibrant spring veg in every forkful
Provided by Tom Kerridge
Categories Dinner
Time 1h20m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Snap the woody ends off the asparagus stalks and roughly bash with the blade of a knife. Tip the ends into a saucepan along with the reserved pea pods, if using, and parmesan rind, if you have it. Pour over 700ml of the stock, set the pan over a low heat and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, cut the tips off the asparagus, set aside, and slice the stalks into rounds.
- Bring the rest of the stock to the boil in a small saucepan, tip in the asparagus tips and cook for 1 min. Scoop out into a bowl using a slotted spoon and set aside. Tip the rest of the asparagus and the peas into the pan and simmer for 3-4 mins until just tender. Tip half the cooked veg and the stock from the pan into a blender and blitz until frothy and green. Return to the pan with the whole vegetables and set aside.
- Heat most of the oil in a large, shallow saucepan over a low heat and cook the onions for 8-10 mins until soft but not translucent. Stir in the rice to coat in the onions and oil, turn the heat up slightly and cook for 3 mins. Pour over the wine or vermouth, then stir and simmer until the liquid has evaporated.
- Add a ladleful of stock from the large pan, avoiding the pea pods and asparagus ends, stirring vigorously and only adding more when the first ladle has been absorbed by the rice. Keep adding stock in this way until it is absorbed, the pan is dry and the rice is al dente (about 15 mins), then add the green stock, along with the veg, and cook for 3-4 mins more until the rice is just tender and you can see the bottom of the pan when you draw a spoon through it.
- Remove from the heat and leave to stand for a minute, then beat in the butter, most of the cheese, a squeeze of lemon juice and some seasoning. Stir until the cheese has melted and the risotto is thick. Serve in warmed bowls topped with the asparagus tips, pea shoots (if using), the rest of the cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 842 calories, Fat 31 grams fat, SaturatedFat 13 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 97 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 12 grams sugar, Fiber 10 grams fiber, Protein 31 grams protein, Sodium 3.4 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your risotto. Look for fresh asparagus, good-quality pesto, and a flavorful broth.
- Don't overcook the rice. Risotto should be cooked until it is al dente, with a slight bite to it. If you overcook the rice, it will become mushy.
- Stir the risotto constantly. This will help to prevent the rice from sticking to the pan and will also help to create a creamy sauce.
- Add the pesto and asparagus at the end of cooking. This will help to preserve the flavor of the pesto and asparagus.
- Serve the risotto immediately. Risotto is best enjoyed when it is hot and fresh.
Conclusion:
Risotto with asparagus and pesto is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. With its creamy texture, fresh asparagus, and flavorful pesto, this risotto is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting risotto recipe, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed!
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