Rockin’ Red Risotto
Serves: 4
Ingredients
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup carneroli rice
1/4 cup white wine
2-3 medium size organic red beets, chopped into 1/4" - 1/2" cubes
1 quart of homemade or 1 quart Imagine brand organic vegetable or chicken broth
1-2 T dill, to taste olive oil
juice from a 1/4 lemon
sea salt
Directions
1. Rinse and chop beets. Put in bowl and set aside. Chop onions and put in bowl and set aside.
2. Put broth in a large saucepan and heat until hot. Keep warm.
3. Heat large sauté pan and when warm add enough olive oil to cover bottom with some to spare (about ¼ cup).
4. When oil is warm, add onions and a dash of sea salt. Sauté over medium heat until translucent; do not brown.
5. Meanwhile, peel and chop garlic while the onion is cooking. Add to pan. When aromatic (about 30 seconds), add beets and a big pinch of dill and a couple dashes of sea salt. Stir about one minute.
6. Add rice and stir until coated, about 2 minutes.
7. Add wine and stir while it sizzles. Then add 1/2 ladle of broth and stir until it is absorbed. Continue until you use the entire contents of the broth. Taste for doneness; if rice is too al dente (i.e., hard to chew) then add lukewarm water.
(General note about risotto: Start out adding a ½ ladle of broth every time. Once the rice starts to plump up you can gradually increase the amount, up to 1 ½ ladles every time you stir it in. Make sure you stir it constantly or else rice will stick to the pan.)
8. Once risotto is cooked the way you like it, add more dill, to taste, a couple of drizzles of olive oil, lemon juice and salt to taste.
Notes:
• If you are not using organic beets then peel them.
• Regarding what type of white wine to use, any white will add lovely flavor as long as it doesn't cost too much or too little.
• You can add any vegetables - not just beets - to this risotto. You could substitute 2 carrots flavored with cinnamon and turmeric, or use 2 handfuls of shiitake mushrooms, sliced, or add 1 C pureed spinach and serve with minced raw red bell peppers on top. Let your imagination go to town and have fun with this!