Meatless Monday with Asparagus, Mint & Lemon Risotto

Welcome (back) to the Miratel blog and to the latest entry in our Meatless Monday recipe share series. We support the Meatless Monday movement which promotes the reduction of meat consumption 15% by eliminating it one day per week to preserve the health of our planet. We consider our support part of our CSR business strategies as it spreads awareness of the impact of our food choices on our environment.

Risotto is often thought of as a hearty and warming winter dish; however, this creamy Italian comfort food is very versatile (and reheats very well too). By changing the “mixed in” ingredients, risotto can be a light dish that is perfect for spring and summer. Tonight we’re serving an asparagus, mint & lemon risotto which comes by way of the founder of Food Revolution Day and world-renowned celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Ingredients (serves 8):

For The Risotto Base

• 1 litre organic vegetable stock
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
• 4-5 sticks celery, trimmed and finely chopped
• 600 g risotto rice
• 250 ml vermouth or dry white wine

For The Risotto

• 2 bunches asparagus, woody ends removed and discarded
• 700 ml organic vegetable stock
• 50 g butter
• 1 small handful Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus a block for grating
• 1 bunch fresh mint, leaves picked and finely chopped
• 2 lemons, zest and juice of
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• extra virgin olive oil

Method:

• Finely chop your asparagus stalks into tiny discs, keeping the tips whole. Then start making your basic risotto recipe.
• Stage 1: Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Put the olive oil in a separate large pan, add the onion and celery and cook very gently for about 15 minutes, without colouring, until soft. Add the rice (it will sizzle) and turn up the heat. Don’t let the rice or veg catch on the bottom of the pan, so keep it moving.
• Stage 2: Quickly pour in the vermouth or wine. You will smell the alcohol immediately, so keep stirring all the time until it has evaporated, leaving the rice with a lovely perfume.
• Stage 3: Add the stock to the rice a ladle at a time, stirring and waiting until it has been fully absorbed before adding the next. Turn the heat down to low so the rice doesn’t cook too quickly, otherwise the outside of each grain will be stodgy and the inside hard and nutty (you don’t want to cook it too slowly either, or it will turn into rice pudding!) and continue to add ladlefuls of stock until it has all be absorbed. This should take about 14 to 15 minutes and give you rice that is beginning to soften but is still a little al dente. Put to one side.
• Now put a large saucepan on a medium to high heat and pour in half the stock, followed by all your risotto base and the finely sliced asparagus stalks and the tips. Stirring all the time, gently bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer until almost all the stock has been absorbed. Add the rest of the stock a ladleful at a time until the rice and asparagus are cooked. You might not need all your stock. Be careful not to overcook the rice – check it throughout cooking to make sure it’s a pleasure to eat. It should hold its shape but be soft, creamy and oozy, and the overall texture should be slightly looser than you think you want it.
• Turn off the heat, beat in your butter and Parmesan, mint, almost all the lemon zest and all the juice. Check the seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed. Put a lid on the pan and leave the risotto to rest for a minute. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, a scattering of lemon zest and a block of Parmesan on the table.

If you haven’t already, we encourage you to visit the Meatless Monday website and join us in taking the pledge today. Spread the word at home and at work and promote CSR business initiatives to make your green call centre, office, factory, shop, restaurant or salon even greener.

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Miratel Solutions is a Toronto call centre, eBusiness, and letter shop mail house specializing in professional fundraising services including telephone fundraising, online fundraising, lottery services, donation caging, donation processing and other donor management services. We are committed to our CSR business values in all contact centre services and mail house operations and advancing the missions of the nonprofits we proudly serve.