Risotto with Poached Pears Recipe

Risotto with Poached Pears makes a fantastic main dish to serve your family or friends.  Poached pears are a delicious treat anytime of the year.  Try them in this wonderful homemade Risotto with poached pears.

Learn How To Make Risotto Ahead of Time – With this technique, described when clicking on the link, that is used by restaurant chefs, you never have to stand at the stove, stirring, for 20 minutes while your guests wonder where you have gone.  You can make any kind of risotto you want using the below method.

Check out Linda’s Pasta, Rice, and Main Dish Recipes.

Risotto with Poached Pears Recipe:
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
22 mins
Total Time
37 mins
 
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Risotto with Poached Pears Recipe
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients
Risotto:
  • 2 1/2 to 3 cups chicken broth or stock*
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons onion, finely chopped
  • 3/4 cup arborio rice**
  • 1/3 cup Pinot Gris wine
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley leaves, chopped
  • Salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste
Poached Pears:
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1/4 cup Pinot Gris wine***
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, coarsely ground
  • 1 ripe (not soft) pear (Bosc, Bartlett, Anjou, or Comice)
Instructions
Risotto Instructions:
  1. When preparing risotto, use the Mise en Place technique and assemble and measure out all the ingredients before starting your risotto.

  2. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring chicken broth to a slow, steady simmer.

  3. In a large heavy 4-quart pan over medium heat, melt the butter; add onion and saute for 1 to 2 minutes or until soft (be careful not to brown the onions).

  4. Add the rice.  Using a wooden spoon, stir for 1 minute, making sure all the grains are well coated (toasting the rice in melted butter keeps it from getting mushy). Add the wine and stir until completely absorbed.  Add the hot chicken broth (1/2 cup at a time), stirring frequently.  Wait until each addition is almost completely absorbed before adding the next 1/2 cup, reserving about 1/4 cup to add at the end.  Stir frequently to prevent sticking.

  5. NOTE:  Risotto does not need constant attention during its 18 minute cooking time.  You will just need to check on the pan every few minutes, give the rice a stir to keep it from sticking, and add more stock.

  6. After approximately 18 minutes, when the rice is done (it should be tender, but firm to the bite).  Turn off the heat and immediately add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, cheese, parsley, and pear cubes, stirring vigorously to combine with the rice.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

  7. NOTE:  To test the risotto for proper consistency, spoon a little into a bowl and shake it lightly from side to side.  The risotto should spread out very gently of its own accord.  If the rice just stands still, it's too dry, so add a little more stock.  If a puddle of liquid forms around the rice, you have added too much stock.  Spoon some liquid off, or just let the risotto sit for a few more seconds off the heat to absorb the excess stock.

  8. Transfer risotto to warmed serving plates and garnish with the reserved Poached Pear slices.

  9. Makes 2 servings.

Poached Pears Instructions:
  1. Peel skin off the pear; cut in half, core, and then cut into 8 slices (I use my pear cutter that also cores them).

  2. In a small saucepan, add lemon juice, wine, water, sugar, and pepper; heat until just comes to a boil; reduce heat to low and add pear slices.  Simmer approximately 3 minutes or until pears are tender.  NOTE:  Judge the tenderness of pears by probing carefully with a thin bladed knife - it should meet little resistance.  Do not poach for too long as the pears will quickly disintegrate to mush.  When done, carefully transfer pears with a slotted spoon to a cutting board.

  3. Cut six of the pear slices into small cubes; set aside.

Recipe Notes

* Learn how easy it is to make your own homemade chicken stock/broth.

** To purchase Arborio Rice, check out What's Cooking America's Kitchen Store.

*** Any dry white wine may be substituted.

Risotto Etiquette:

In Italy, risotto is serve mounded, steaming hot, in the center of warmed individual shallow bowls.

Among the myths associated with risotto, there is the one that you must eat it piping hot, as it comes from the pot!

Unlike pasta, risotto tastes better when it has rested on your plate a minute or so.  When Italians are served risotto, they often spread it on their plate from the center toward the rim, to dissipate some of the steam.

Using a fork or a spoon, push the grains of cooked rice out slightly toward the edge of the bowl, eating only from the pulled out ring of rice.

Continue spreading from the center and eating around the edges in a circle.  This will keep the risotto hot as you enjoy your risotto.

Categories:

Cheese    Dinner    Pears    Risotto Recipes   

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