I remember when my son was a baby (maybe 7-8 months old), the bored and cheeky me decided to give him a lemon to try, thinking that he will have a sour-face and spat the lemon on me... I had a towel and his water bottle on my side while I was doing this and I was totally surprised that he loved it. He eventually sucked all the juice out of the lemon wedges that I gave him and finished them with a satisfying smile! Is my son a strange baby? I think so too - LOL!
After cooking and enjoying Bill Granger's risotto with a good hint of lemony tang, I'm brave enough now to cook another risotto and this time, I like to cook this with lots and lots and lots and lots of lemons!!! I Googled the words, "Lemon Risotto" and found a few good recipes... Among all, I'm keen to try this recipe from Rachael Ray after reading its description, "This risotto is super-tangy but you'll still want to kiss it...
In this recipe, Rachael Ray has described the entire process of cooking risotto very well. After cooking this, I reckon that I have fully conquer the fear of cooking risotto. However, the only disadvantage of this recipe is that I have to stand next to the hot stove, cook and stir the rice for 18 minutes. With Bill Granger's oven baked recipe, I don't.
With no doubt, we love "kissing" our very-lemony-cheesy risotto... not purely because we are fans of lemon as this risotto dish is really really really good. To be honest, I reckon that in a perspective of most ordinary non-sour-food tolerating person, the sourness of this dish is actually pretty good... Good in term of tasty and also having a good balance for most taste buds.
Now, check out these feedback after our dinner...
Boy: Are these all the lemon you have?
Dad: Where is the meat?
As usual... LOL! I like to ignore these feedback. I know that they like this risotto because all four servings of these were gone!
Very lemony risotto
Making full use of these two lemons to cook this dish :)
Heat stock prior and while cooking the risotto...
Start by doing this...
then this...
Keep adding hot stock and cook for 18 mins
Stir in these plus lemon juice and sections...
Serve with herbs and freshly ground pepper
Every spoonful of these is so kiss-able!!!
Thumb up from my boy: Lemon is yummmm...
Here is the recipe from Food Network
(with my modification and notes in blue)
1 quart chicken stock (I used 1L of salt reduced one)
2 cups water (I didn't need to use this at all)1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 small to medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
1 cup Arborio rice
2 lemons
1/2 cup white wine
(I used Semillon Sauvignon Blanc)
1/2 tsp sugar
2 tbsp butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup grated pecorino cheese, a couple of handfuls
( I used the aged ones, added 80g into risotto and had 50g to serve)
2 tbsp slivered mint leaves
(replaced with chervil which has slight minty and liquorice-like after-taste)
A handful basil tops, shredded or torn
salt and freshly ground black pepper
(Didn't need to add anymore salt as the saltiness is just right for us)
In a large pot, heat the stock and 2 cups water (I didn't add the water) over medium low heat.
In a risotto pot or large skillet with a rounded bottom, heat the extra-virgin olive oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic to pan and saute to soften 3 to 4 mins.
Stir in the rice and add the zest of 1 lemon. Heat the rice for 1 to 2 mins, then add the wine and cook until evaporated. Add in the hot stock, a few ladles at a time, and stir for a minute with each addition, to develop the starch and the creamy aspect. Total cooking time will be about 18 mins or so. Keep adding stock each time the pan starts to become dry at the edges.
While the rice cooks, peel and supreme or section the flesh of a lemon and finely chop. Sprinkle with sugar. When rice is cooked to al dente, stir in the butter, lemon sections, juice of 1 lemon, the cheese and herbs. Season with salt (no extra salt for us) and pepper, to taste, and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve immediately.
Happy Cooking
This post is linked to the event, Little Thumbs up organised by Doreen from my little favorite DIY and me, Bake for Happy Kids, hosted by Grace from Life can be simple at this post.
The Little Thumbs Up event starts on first Tuesday of the month until the last day of the month. Please join us! To join, simply cook or bake any recipe with the theme of the month which is LEMON for Feb 2014 and link with us at this post anytime until 28 Feb 2014.
Don't forget your thumbs up or display this badge! And make sure that: (1) Your post must be a current post preferably within this month. (2) Please mention Little Thumbs Up in your post and link back to Bake for Happy Kids, my little favorite DIY or/and Grace from Life can be simple For more details, please see this.
What after Feb 2014? Moon from Food Playground will be the next hostess of March 2014 and her theme is PRAWN!
