BASIC RISOTTO RECIPE - JAMIE OLIVER

Steps:

• Stage 1.
• Heat the stock.
• Then in a separate pan heat the olive oil add the shallot or onion celery and a pinch of salt and sweat the vegetables for about 3 minutes.
• Add the garlic and after another 2 minutes when the vegetables have softened add the rice.
• Turn up the heat now.
• At this crucial point you can`t leave the pan and anyway this is the best bit.
• While slowly stirring continuously you are beginning to fry the rice.
• You don`t want any colour at any point (so remember you`re in control and if the temperature seems too high turn it down a bit).
• You must keep the rice moving.
• After 2 or 3 minutes it will begin to look translucent as it absorbs all the flavours of your base (it may crackle at this point that`s fine).
• Add the vermouth or wine keeping on stirring as it hits the pan it will smelt fantastic!
• It will sizzle around the rice evapourating any harsh alcohol flavours and leaving the rice with a tasty essence.
• I must admit I`m a sucker for dry vermouth. When it cooks into the rice it seems to give it a really full but subtle flavour and leaves a wicked sweetness that works perfectly with the rice. White wine is lovely probably more delicate and fresh.
• Try both see what you think.
• Stage 2.
• Once the vermouth or wine seems to have cooked into the rice add your first ladle of hot stock and a pinch of salt (add small amounts of salt to taste white you are adding the stock).
• Turn down the heat to a highish simmer (the reason we don`t want to boil the hell out of it is because if we do the outside of the rice wilt be cooked and fluffy and the inside will be raw).
• Keep adding ladlefuls of stock stirring and allowing each ladleful to be absorbed before adding the next.
• This will take about 15 minutes.
• Taste the rice is it cooked?
• Carry on adding stock until the rice is soft but with a slight bite.
• Check seasoning.
• Stage 3.
• Remove from the heat and add the butter and the Parmesan saving a little of the latter to go on top if you like.
• Stir gently.
• Eat it as soon as possible while it retains its moist texture.
• Serve it on its own or with a crisp green salad and a hunk of crusty bread.
• If you follow this recipe I promise you`ll be making some of the best risottos out. The real secret of a good risotto I`m afraid is that you have to stand over it and give it your loving and undivided attention for about 17 minutes but it`s worth it. The recipe is in stages; I am going to give you five of my favourite risottos all variants of this basic recipe.
• To find a dry white wine, a good rule of thumb is the greater the alcohol %, the drier the wine.