This wonderful risotto dish combines three of my favorite summer ingredients -
fresh corn. vine-ripened tomatoes, and basil.
Photo by Scott Phillips of Fine Dining magazine.
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.
More of Linda's favorite risotto
recipes -
Lemon Wild Rice Risotto,
Risotto with Poached Pears,
and
Saffron Risotto.
Risotto with Corn,
Tomatoes, and Basil
Recipe Type:
Risotto,
Corn,
Tomatoes,
Basil,
Arborio Rice,
Wine
Yields:
4 servings as a main dish and 8 servings as a side dish
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 18 min
Ingredients:
Before making risotto, please read my web
page on
Making Perfect Risotto.
Lots of hints and tips to help you.
3 ears fresh
corn
shucked and silk removed
Tomato-Basil Mixture (see recipe below)
3 1/2 cups to 4 cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons butter
1 shallot or small
onion, minced
1 cup
Arborio Rice*
1/3 cup dry white
wine
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
* To purchase
Arborio Rice, check out What's
Cooking America's Kitchen Store.
Prepare Corn:
Choose a pot large enough to hold the amount of corn you
want to cook, with room for water to cover the corn. Cover pot and bring water
to a boil on high heat. Add husked corn ears and continue to cook on high heat
(covered or not) three to four minutes or until kernels are very hot.
Immediately remove from heat and place in ice cold water to cool; remove from
water when cool. Using a sharp knife, slice the corn kernels off the cob into a large bowl. You should
have about 1 1/4 cups corn kernels; set aside.
Prepare Tomato-Basil Mixture: Set aside until ready to use.
Prepare Risotto:
In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring chicken broth to a slow, steady simmer.
In a large heavy 4-quart pan over medium heat, heat butter; add shallot or onion and
sauté for 1 to 2 minutes or until soft (be careful not to brown the onions).
Add the Arborio 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 white 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.
NOTE: Risotto doesn't need constant attention during its 18 minute cooking time. You'll just need to check on the pan every few minutes, give the rice a stir to keep it from sticking, and add more stock.
After approximately 18 minutes, when the rice is tender but still firm, add the reserved broth. The rice is done when it is tender, but firm to the bite.
Turn off the heat and immediately add corn kernels, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and
remaining 1 tablespoon butter, stirring vigorously to combine with the rice. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Remove from heat.
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've 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.
Fold in the prepared Tomato-Basil Mixture.
Transfer risotto to warmed serving plates garnished with the remaining basil
leaves, and serve immediately
Makes 4 servings
as a main dish and 8 servings as a side dish.
Tomato-Basil Mixture:
1 cup chopped plum or cherry
tomatoes
2 teaspoons extra-virgin
olive
oil
3 tablespoons torn fresh
basil
leaves, divided
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of the basil. Season with salt and
pepper; set aside.
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.
