RISOTTO VEGGIE RECIPES

1. Heat the stock. Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic, trim and finely chop the celery. Finely grate the Parmesan.
2. In a separate pan, heat the oil and 1 small knob of butter over a low heat, add the onions, garlic and celery, and fry gently for about 15 minutes, or until softened but not coloured.
3. Add the rice and turn up the heat – the rice will now begin to lightly fry, so keep stirring it. After 1 minute it will look slightly translucent. Add the vermouth or wine and keep stirring — it will smell fantastic. Any harsh alcohol flavours will evaporate and leave the rice with a tasty essence.
4. Once the vermouth or wine has cooked into the rice, add your first ladle of hot stock and a good pinch of sea salt. Turn the heat down to a simmer so the rice doesn’t cook too quickly on the outside.
5. Keep adding ladlefuls of stock, stirring and almost massaging the creamy starch out of the rice, allowing each ladleful to be absorbed before adding the next. This will take around 15 minutes. Taste the rice — is it cooked? Carry on adding stock until the rice is soft but with a slight bite. Don’t forget to check the seasoning carefully. If you run out of stock before the rice is cooked, add some boiling water.
6. Remove the pan from the heat, add 1 knob of butter and the Parmesan, then stir well.
7. Place a lid on the pan and allow to sit for 2 minutes – this is the most important part of making the perfect risotto, as this is when it becomes outrageously creamy and oozy like it should be. Eat it as soon as possible, while the risotto retains its beautiful texture.

1. Heat the stock. Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Trim and finely chop the celery.
2. Put 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the knob of butter into a separate pan, add the onion, garlic and celery, and cook very slowly for about 15 minutes without colouring. This is called a soffrito. When the vegetables have softened, add the rice and turn up the heat.
3. The rice will now begin to lightly fry, so keep stirring it. After a minute it will look slightly translucent. Add the vermouth or wine and keep stirring – it will smell fantastic. Any harsh alcohol flavours will evaporate and leave the rice with a tasty essence.
4. Once the vermouth or wine has cooked into the rice, add your first ladle of hot stock and a good pinch of sea salt. Turn the heat down to a simmer so the rice doesn't cook too quickly on the outside. Keep adding ladlefuls of stock, stirring and massaging the creamy starch out of the rice, allowing each ladleful to be absorbed before adding the next. This will take around 15 minutes.
5. Taste the rice to check if it’s cooked. If not, carry on adding stock until the rice is soft but with a slight bite. Don’t forget to check the seasoning carefully. If you run out of stock before the rice is cooked, add some boiling water.
6. Remove from the heat and add the 70g butter and grate in the Parmesan. Stir well. Place a lid on the pan and allow to sit for 2 minutes. This is the most important part of making the perfect risotto, as this is when it becomes amazingly creamy and oozy like it should be. Eat it as soon as possible, while it retains its beautiful texture.

Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the butternut squash and cook for 5 mins, stirring over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for a further 5 mins until the onion is translucent. Meanwhile make up 2 litres of stock using the stock cubes.

Add the rice and stir for 1 min to heat, then add a ladleful of stock and stir. Cook until the rice absorbs the stock before adding more, a ladleful at a time. Continue cooking for 10-15 mins, stirring, until the rice is almost cooked and all of the stock has been absorbed.

Stir in the peas and dill. Cool half the rice on a baking sheet and when cold put into a freezerproof container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly and reheat until piping hot.

Cook the remaining rice for a further 4-5 mins until just tender. Season with freshly ground black pepper and serve. Top with parmesan shavings, if desired.

Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the butternut squash and cook for 5 mins, stirring over a medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for a further 5 mins until the onion is translucent. Meanwhile make up 2 litres of stock using the stock cubes.

Add the rice and stir for 1 min to heat, then add a ladleful of stock and stir. Cook until the rice absorbs the stock before adding more, a ladleful at a time. Continue cooking for 10-15 mins, stirring, until the rice is almost cooked and all of the stock has been absorbed.

Stir in the peas and dill. Cool half the rice on a baking sheet and when cold put into a freezerproof container and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly and reheat until piping hot.

Cook the remaining rice for a further 4-5 mins until just tender. Season with freshly ground black pepper and serve. Top with parmesan shavings, if desired.