Fregola Sarda alla vongele (fregola with clams)

For ➋

200 g fregola Sarda

500 g vongele clams

3 cloves of garlic, pressed or chopped

1 sweet onion, finely chopped

2 stalks of celery, finely chopped

15 cl white wine

100 g Parmigiano

2 tbs mascarpone

zest of 1 lemon

handful of parsley, finely chopped

salt & pepper

olive oil

Fry the onion and garlic in a dash of olive oil over medium heat until they start to colour. Add the celery and let it stew a little. Rinse the clams well under cold water and let them drain. Add them to the pan and deglaze with the white wine. Let them cook for 3-4 m with the lid on until the clams open. Remove them with a slotted spoon, so that the cooking liquid remains in the pan. 

In the meantime, cook the fregola as indicated on the packaging (probably 10 m). 

Let the clam juice in the pan simmer for another 2-3 m for extra flavour. 

Add the cooked fregola to the pan with the reduced clam juice. Stir in the mascarpone, salt and pepper, chopped parsley and grated Parmigiano. Add the clams (either shelled or with shells). Finish with some extra pepper, a drizzle of olive oil and some more parsley.

Green apple & kale salad

For ➍
3 cups ribbed & chopped kale or borecole
handful of chopped parsley
1 cup cooked black lentils
1 green apple, diced
1/2 English cucumber, diced
½ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1 cup shaved Parmigiano, or feta or goat cheese
dressing
one clove garlic
1 tbs honey
1 tbs Dijon mustard
juice of 1 lemon
¼ cup pumpkin seed oil or extra virgin olive oil
salt &pepper

In a large salad bowl, combine the kale, parsley, lentils, apples, cucumber, pepitas and parmesan.
For the dressing, blitz everything in a food processor or blender, with salt and pepper to taste, until the garlic is smooth.
Pour the dressing on the salad and toss well to coat. Garnish with more cheese if you wish. The salad will keep in the fridge for a full day and slowly loose it's crunch from there.

Lemon risotto with fennel

For ➋

150 g risotto rice

50 cl warm vegetable stock

2 knobs of butter

50 g Parmigiano

1 small onion

splash dry white wine

1 lemon, juice & grated peel

1 fennel

75 g peas (frozen)

fresh basil

Chop the onion. Melt a knob of butter in a pan and fry the onion in it. Add the rice, stir and cook for a few m until it starts to turn translucent. Then deglaze with the white wine.

Clean and thinly slice the fennel and cut into strips. Add to the risotto rice. Then add a little of the stock and stir and wait until it is absorbed.

Grate the lemon and squeeze it. Add the juice and half of the grated lemon peel to the risotto rice as well. Meanwhile, keep adding stock little by little, stirring occasionally. Add the frozen peas after approx. 10 m. After a total time of about 20 to 25 m, the risotto is cooked, you may still have a little stock left.

Tear some basil into pieces and stir through the risotto together with the grated Parmesan and a knob of butter. Taste to see if the risotto might need a little more salt or pepper. When serving, garnish the risotto with some basil and grated lemon peel.

*For a non-vegetarian meal, it can be served with fried shrimps.

Veal piccata

For ➍

600 g veal steaks

½ cup flour

50 g butter

3 dl olive oil

1.5 dl dry white wine

3 dl chicken stock

2 lemons*

30 g capers

flat leaf parsley

fresh pasta

parmigiano

arugula salad

sun dried tomatoes

white wine vinegar

Ask your butcher to flatten your veal steaks. Or place the pieces between plastic wrap that you have slightly moistened, and then gently flatten the meat with a large flat object such as a pan. .

Season the veal steaks to taste with salt and pepper and then roll them in the flour. Gently knock off the excess flour. 

Heat some butter and olive oil in a pan and fry the veal steaks for about one and a half to two minutes on both sides over a medium heat. Do not bake all the veal steaks at the same time, because then they will not have enough space and you will cook them rather than bake them. Remove the steaks when they are baked, cover them with aluminum foil, add butter and olive oil and fry the rest of the veal steaks.

Once the veal steaks are cooked, add the white wine and gently stir all the browning bits off. Let the wine reduce for a few minutes. Then add the chicken stock. Cut 1 of the lemons into thin slices, them  and let everything reduce by 7-8 m.*

Add 20 g of soft butter, some lemon juice, the finely chopped parsley and the capers and season with salt and pepper. Allow the butter to completely dissolve into the sauce over a low heat. 

Place the veal steaks in the sauce, make sure they are nicely covered, and let them warm up a bit over a low heat.

Serve with fresh pasta, with some olive oil and Parmigiano. Delicious with a rucola salad with some semi-sun-dried tomatoes with pepper, salt, some olive oil and a dash of white wine vinegar. Sprinkle some Parmigiano flakes on the salad.

*or replace lemon slices with lemon zest and add at the end

Risotto agli asparagi al mente e limone (risotto with asparagus, mint & lemon)

For ➑
risotto base:
1 l organic vegetable or chicken stock
2 tbs olive oil
1 large onion, peeled & finely chopped
4-5 sticks celery, trimmed & finely chopped
600 g risotto rice
25 cl vermouth or dry white wine
risotto:
2 bunches asparagus, woody ends removed & discarded*
70 cl organic vegetable or chicken stock
50 g butter
1 small handful Parmigiano cheese, freshly grated, plus a block for grating**
1 bunch fresh mint, leaves picked & finely chopped
zest & juice of 2 lemons
sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
extra virgin olive oil

Slice the asparagus stalks finely sliced to 2.5 cm below the tips. Finely chop your asparagus stalks into tiny discs, keeping the tips whole.
Then start making your basic risotto recipe.
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 m, 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.
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.
Add the stock to the rice a ladle at a time, stirring and waiting until it has been fully absorbed before adding the next. Continue to add ladlefuls of stock until it has all be absorbed. This should take about 14 to 15 m and give you rice that is beginning to soften but is still a little al dente. Put aside.
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. 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 cheese, 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 1 m.
Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, a scattering of lemon zest and a block of Parmigiano on the table.

*Or microwave the asparagus, then gril for a few m. Add some good pepper. Serve with the risotto.
**Make a non-vegetarian variation with sprinkling in a little picked crab or lobster meat or fresh, peeled shrimps or sliced scallops. Reduce your cheese by half.

Tip: cooking asparagus
Tip: a quick and fine risotto

Seared tuna on risotto with samphire & tomatoes

For ➋

tuna:

1 lime (juice only) 

1 garlic clove (peeled & crushed)  

2 tbs olive oil      

sea salt & pepper (freshly ground) 

2 x 200 g tuna steaks

risotto:  

2 tbs olive oil 

200 g risotto rice

50 g leek, chopped  

20 cl white wine  

80 c fish fumet    

sea salt & pepper (freshly ground) 

10 cherry tomatoes  

150 g samphire 

1 tbs Parmigiano

1 lime (quartered)

Mix together the lime juice, garlic, olive oil and salt & pepper in a shallow dish. Add the tuna and turn over several times to coat in the marinade. Place in the refrigerator until required.

Heat the fish fumet.

Heat some olive oil. Add the leek. Cover and cook mildly on moderate heat for 10-15 m. 

Add the rice until coated in the oil.

Slowly add the wine, and stir it through the rice.

Add most of the fumet. Cover and cook on moderate heat for 10-15 m, depending on the rice. Add some more fumet if needed.

Meanwhile, half the cherry tomatoes, and bake them in some oil.

Bring some of the fumet to boil and cook the samphire for 2-3 m.

When the risotto is soft and creamy, add 1 tbs Parmigiano. Add the tomatoes and samphire. Cover and let stand for 1 m. Spoon the risotto on plates

Bake or grill the tuna for 1 m on each side. Cut the tuna in nice slices and add to the plates. Serve immediately with quartered lime.

Risotto with asparagus, lemon & mint

For ➍

50 cl vegetable stock 

2 tbs olive oil 

½ large onion, peeled & finely chopped 

2 sticks celery, trimmed & finely chopped 

200-250 g risotto rice 

10 cl vermouth or dry white wine 

1 bunch asparagus, woody ends removed 

35 cl extra vegetable stock 

25 g butter 

1 small handful Parmigiano, freshly grated, plus a block for grating 

½ bunch fresh mint, leaves picked & finely chopped 

1 lemon, zest & juice 

sea salt & freshly ground black pepper 

extra virgin olive oil

Finely chop your asparagus stalks into tiny discs, keeping the tips whole. 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 m, without colouring, until soft. Add the rice and turn up the heat. Don't let the rice or veg catch on the bottom of the pan, so keep it moving. Quickly pour in the vermouth or wine. Keep stirring all the time until it has evaporated. 

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 and continue to add ladlefuls of stock until it has all be absorbed. This should take about 14 to 15 m** and give you rice that is beginning to soften but is still a little al dente. Put to one side. 

Put a large saucepan on a medium to high heat and pour in ½ the extra 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. Turn off the heat, beat in your butter and Parmigiano, 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 1 m. 

Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, a scattering of lemon zest and a block of Parmigiano. 

*You can replace ½ of the cheese with a little picked crab or lobster meat or fresh, peeled prawns or sliced scallops.

**Adjust cooing times to your kind of rice.  The asparagus will take about 8-15 m to be cooked al dente.

Read a tip for a quicker risotto.

Spinach & mushrooms

For ➍

125 g smoked bacon

1 clove of garlic

250 g chestnut mushrooms

600 g spinach (washed)

50 g Parmigiano Reggiano

Heat a frying pan without oil or butter and fry the bacon in 6 m. Turn regularly. Remove from the pan and drain on kitchen paper. Clean the mushrooms with kitchen paper. Slice the mushrooms and garlic.

Fry the garlic 1 m g. Add the mushrooms and fry for 5 m. Heat another frying pan without oil or butter, add the spinach in parts and let it shrink while stirring. Drain in a colander.

Use the convex side of a spoon to push out as much liquid as possible. Season with pepper and salt if desired. Mix in a bowl with the mushrooms and bacon.

Grate the cheese on top and serve.

Gnocchi with tomato & fennel

For ➋

1 vegetable stock cube

pepper & salt

1 ts rosemary

1 large fennel

250 g gnocchi

130 g raw ham*

1 toe garlic

150 g sun-dried tomatoes in oil

60-70 g Parmigiano, finely grated

Bring a cooking pot with water and the stock cube to the boil.

Place the fennel on the side, cut off the lower end and then cut it in half. Cut into fine rings. Keep the fennel greens aside. Cut the ham into rough slices.

Cook the fennel and gnocchi in the pot for about 2 m until tender and drain. **

Put the same pot back on the fire and add a spoonful of tomato oil. Fry the ham until crispy.  Fry  the gnocchi, fennel and garlic together. Add the tomatoes a little later. Add baked ham.

Serve and sprinkle generously with poor man's parmigiano and fennel greens.

* Or try chorizo ​​sausage, cut into cubes.

** Or steam the fennel almost done in the microwave (5-7 m per 500 g).

Mushroom lasagne

For ➏

750 g chestnut mushrooms, halved 

500 g oyster mushrooms 

13 cl olive oil, plus extra for greasing 

60 g dried porcini 

30 g dried wild mushrooms 

2 dried red chillies, roughly chopped, (remove the seeds for a less spicy result) 

50 cl hot vegetable stock 

1 onion, peeled, quartered 

5 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped 

1 carrot, scraped, quartered, 90 g 

2-3 roma tomatoes, quartered, 200 g 

75 g tomato paste 

13 cl whipped cream* 

60 g pecorino romano, finely grated* 

60 g Parmigiano, finely grated* 

5 g basil leaves, finely chopped 

10 g parsley leaves, finely chopped, plus 1 ts extra for dressing 

250 g dried lasagne sheets (approx. 14 sheets)** 

salt & black pepper

Heat the oven to 230 °C. 

Place the chestnut and oyster mushrooms in three or four batches in the large bowl of a food processor and chop finely using the pulse button (or chop by hand). In a large mixing bowl, toss the chopped mushrooms with 3 tbs oil and 1 ts salt and spread on a large, parchment-lined baking tray with a raised edge measuring 40 x 35 cm. Bake them in the top of the oven for 30 m, turning them three times in between until the mushrooms are golden brown; the volume will have shrunk considerably. Set them aside. Lower the oven temperature to 200 °C.

Meanwhile, in another mixing bowl, mix the dried mushrooms with chilies and hot stock and soak for 30 m. Strain the liquid into a third bowl and press as much moisture as possible out of the mushrooms, you will need about 34 cl in total; top up the soaking water with fresh water if necessary. Chop the soaked mushrooms very coarsely (so that there are also large pieces) and chop the chilies. Set aside the stock and mushrooms separately. 

Chop the onion, garlic and carrot in the food processor with the pulse button (or by hand). Heat 6 cl oil in a large sauté pan over medium to high heat. When hot, add the onion mixture and cook for 8 m, stirring occasionally, until cooked through and golden brown. 

Chop the tomatoes in the food processor with the pulse button (or chop them by hand), add them with the tomato paste, 1½  ts salt and 1¾ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper. Let everything simmer for 7 m, stirring occasionally. Add the soaked mushrooms, chilies and toasted mushrooms and let everything cook gently for 9 m, resist the urge to stir: the mushrooms should be slightly crispy and brown on the underside. 

Stir in the reserved stock and 80 cl water, turn the heat to medium-high when everything is simmering gently and let the sauce simmer for about 25 m, stirring occasionally until it has the consistency of ragout. Stir 10 cl of whipped cream into the sauce and let it simmer for 2 m more then take the pan off the heat. 

Mix the pecorino and Parmigino with basil and parsley in a small bowl. When assembling the lasagna, spread one-fifth of the sauce over the bottom of a round baking dish of 28 cm in diameter (or a rectangular dish of 30 x 20 cm), spread one-fifth of the cheese mixture on top, followed by a layer of lasagne sheets, broken where necessary to make them fit. Repeat these layers three times in the same order, finishing with a layer of sauce and cheese: a total of five layers of sauce and cheese, and four layers of pasta. 

Drizzle the top with 1 tbs of cream and 1 tbs of oil, cover the dish with aluminum foil and put it in the oven for 15 m. Remove the foil, increase the oven temperature to 220 ° C and bake the lasagna for another 12 m, turning the dish halfway through the baking time. Switch the oven to the grill setting and grill the lasagna for 2 m until the edge is brown and crispy. 

Put the bowl aside, let the lasagna cool for about 5 m, then drizzle the top with the remaining whipped cream and oil. Sprinkle with the remaining parsley, finally grind a generous twist of pepper and serve. 

*Discard for vegan version.

**Make it ahead of time and refrigerate it to serve it with pasta or polenta and save yourself the trouble of putting together a lasagna if you don't have much time. You can prepare the lasagna in advance, put it in the refrigerator and bake it the next day (after it has reached room temperature). 

This special ragout pays tribute to the penne all'Aconese,  served at Restaurante Pizzeria Acone, a community-run restaurant in the Tuscan town of Acone. The recipe is a carefully kept secret, but the complex, earthy and full umami flavor of dried porcini is not to be missed. This is Ottolenghi's meatless take on that mythical sauce.

Salmon fillet with beech mushrooms & green risotto

For ➍ 

150 g white & 150 g brown beech mushrooms (shimeji mushrooms) 

4 pieces  salmon with skin

300 g risotto rice

1 l stock

1 tsp turmeric 

100 g frozen peas 

1 bunch parsley or chervil, finely chopped 

2 tbs ground Parmigiano 

1 shallot 

olive oil 

3 lumps butter 

1 onion, cut 

5 cloves of garlic, sliced 

Fry the onion and 2 cloves of garlic in the oil for a few m. Add the rice and make sure it is well mixed with the oil. Extinguish with a dash of wine and let the alcohol evaporate. Add the stock, pepper and turmeric and simmer under the lid over a low heat for 15 m. Add the frozen peas and let it cook for a further 5 m. Add the finely chopped parsley or chervil along with the cheese and the knob of butter to the rice, heat well and season if necessary. 

Cut the feet of the beech mushrooms because they are tough, but use the stems. Heat the oil and fry the shallot and 3 cloves of garlic. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5 m. Add pepper and salt.

Season the salmon with salt and pepper. Heat the oil with the butter and fry the salmon skin side down in the pan for a few m. Brown the salmon briefly and firmly on the other side. The salmon can still be pink on the inside, but salmon that has been baked for too long is dry. 

Spoon rice in a deep plate, then dress the salmon and mushrooms. Finish with parsley, chervil and possibly violets.

Winter risotto with turnips & wild mushrooms

For ➍ 

2 scallions, chopped 

2 turnips, peeled & cut into 1 cm cubes 

200 g wild mushrooms, larger ones cut in 2  

2 tbs olive oil 

250 g risotto rice 

10 cl white wine 

70 cl vegetable stock 

Parmigiano, grated

Heat 1 tbs olive oil in a cooking pot and stir-fry the scallions and mushrooms for 5 m. Drain on kitchen paper. Heat 1 tbs olive oil in the cooking pot again and fry the turnips for 2-3 m. 

Add 250 g risotto rice to the turnips and stir until the rice becomes translucent. Pour the white wine over and let it evaporate completely, whil sirring. Add the vegetable stock to the rice and stir well. Cook covered for 20 m over a low heat. 

Mix the grated Parmigiano into the risotto. Season with salt and pepper. 

Sprinkle with the mushrooms and spring onions.

Read the tip on making a quick risotto.

Tagliatelle with dill & mushrooms

For ➋ 

25 g dill 

125 g grated Parmigiano 

25 cl whipped cream 

200 g king oyster mushroom* 

150 g brown shimeji or other small mushrooms* 

30 g chanterelles or other wild mushrooms* 

30 g butter 

3 tbs olive oil 

250 g tagliatelle or fettucine 

Chop the dill and Parmigiano into a fine crumb in a blender or food processor. Pour into a pan, add the cream and bring to the boil while stirring until the cheese has melted. Cover the pan, remove from heat and set aside. 

Cut the oyster mushrooms into 3 mm thick pieces. Clean the other mushrooms and remove the feet. Melt the butter in a shallow pan over medium heat. Fry the king oyster mushroom in 3-4 m until done, add the remaining mushrooms and fry for another 3 m. 

Bring a deep pan of water to the boil, add generous salt and cook the pasta al dente. Drain and return to the pan and toss in the cream, herbs and cheese mixture, followed by the fried mushrooms. 

Divide the dish between two plates. 

* Use any kind of mushrooms you have on hand. Chestnut and small white mushrooms are also fine. Divide the dish between two plates.

Gnocchi with ricotta, Parma ham & green asparagus

For ➍

1 red onion 

1 clove garlic 

90 g Parma ham 

350 g green asparagus 

200 g (frozen) garden peas 

800 g gnocchi 

1 tbs mild olive oil 

100 g ricotta 

90 g Parmigiano Reggiano flakes

  

Chop the onion and finely chop the garlic. Cut the Parma ham into ½ cm strips. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. 

Cut the bottom 2 cm of the green asparagus and cut the asparagus into 3 cm pieces. Boil the asparagus, garden peas and gnocchi 2 m. Drain in a colander, keep 50 ml of the cooking liquid (per 4 persons) and rinse under cold running water. 

Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the onion and garlic 2 m over medium heat. Add the Parma ham and fry for 1 m. 

Add the asparagus, garden peas and gnocchi. Bake 2 m. Mix the ricotta with the reserved cooking water and stir through the gnocchi. 

Mix in the Parmigiano Reggiano. Season the gnocchi with salt and pepper.

Risotto with prawns & zucchini

For ➍
400 g risotto rice
1 l chicken stock (or fish stock )
1 onion, cut into fine pieces
olive oil
16 big shrimps (scampi)
1 large zucchini, cut into 3 mm slices
1 tbs mild curry

a splash of lemon juice
[Parmegiano cheese, grated
60 g butter***]

Clean the shrimps by removing the intestine through a notch. Fry the shrimp in olive oil and add 1 tbs of mild curry, salt and pepper*.  Bake for 3-4 m**. When ready, remove the shells, and cut into bite-size pieces***.
Put some olive oil in the pan and cook the sliced zucchini for about 6 m.
Fry the onion in olive oil for 3 m, without browning. Add the rice and stir so that each grain of rice is surrounded by a shimmering layer of oil.
Pour a ladle stirring hot chicken broth or fish stock over it.
Let it boil quietly, stir and add each time the moisture has evaporated a ladle of broth.  Adjust salt & pepper after 10 m. Add some fresh lemon juice***. 5 m before the end of the cooking time (about 20 m), add the zucchini and shrimps and stir.
Remove from heat.
[Add the butter*** and cheese***] Finish with some broth, to make it moist and smooth. Serve on warm plates.

*Or prepare a marinade: 2-3 tbs of olive oil with 1-1.5 tbs of mild curry or vadouvan. Marinade for 15 m.
**Grilling is a good alternative.
***Optional. Remove [] ingrdients for heart-friendly version

Read the tip on making a quick risotto.

Risotto with broccoli

For ➍-➏
20 cl well-seasoned chicken or vegetable stock, as needed
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
75 g / 8 tbs minced onion
200 g / 24 tbs arborio or carnaroli rice
1 - 2 garlic cloves (to taste), green shoots removed, minced
freshly ground pepper to taste
10 cl dry white wine, (pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc)
500 g broccoli (2 good-size stalks), stems peeled &d cut in small dice, flowers thinly sliced*
8 tbs freshly grated Parmigiano cheese
2 tbs minced flat-leaf parsley

Put your stock or broth into a saucepan, and bring it to a simmer over low heat with a ladle nearby or in the pot. Make sure that the stock is well seasoned.
Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet or in a large, wide saucepan. Add the onion and a generous pinch of salt, and cook gently until it is just tender, about 3 m. Do not brown.
Add the rice and the garlic, and stir until the grains separate and begin to crackle. Add the wine, and stir until it has been absorbed. Begin adding the simmering stock, a couple of ladlefuls (about 8 tbs) at a time. The stock should just cover the rice and should be bubbling, not too slowly but not too quickly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock, and continue to cook in this fashion, stirring in more stock when the rice is almost dry. You do not have to stir constantly, but stir often.
After 10 m, stir in the diced broccoli stems. Continue to add broth and stir the rice for another 5 m minutes*. Stir in the thinly sliced flowers. Continue to add broth and stir the rice for another 10 m*. When the rice is tender all the way through but still chewy, it is done. 
Adjust seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste. Add another ladleful of stock to the rice, along with the Parmigiano and the parsley, and remove from the heat. The mixture should be creamy (add more stock if it isn’t). Stir for about ½ m, then serve in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading the risotto in a thin layer rather than a mound.

*Partially microwave the broccoli (about 5m for 500g) and add 10 m before ending cooking.

Read the tip on making a quick risotto.

A zen risotto

For ➍*
225 g butter
1 clove garlic, chopped
225 g fresh shallots, chopped
50 g fresh oregano, chopped
8 bay leaves
450 g shiitake, torn**
1 kg Arborio rice***
50 cl dry white wine
1 l warm chicken stock (not boiling)****
20 cl olive oil
50 g parsley
100 g grated Parmigiano cheese

Melt the butter. Add shallots (with oregano, bay leaves) and stir 5 m until translucent.
Add shiitake and cook for 5 m.
Add rice and stir to coat. Add wine and simmer until most of the wine is absorbed.
Stir in stock in small portions until rice is ready (20 m). It might not be necessary to use all stock***.
Put on serving plates, with a few spots of olive oil, add parsley. Add Parmigiano.

*As a main dish. Half the quantities as an entrée or side-dish.
**When using dried shiitaken let them simmer in boiling water for 40 m. Use the liquid as apart of the stock.
***Or any slow cooking risotto rice. Not suitable for sushi rice if creamy aspect is wanted.
****Use a vegetable stock to make this a veggie dish. Probably you'll need only 70 cl. Save excess fluid to make another dish.

Read the tip on making a quick risotto.

Oven-roast salmon with fennel

For ➍
4 pieces salmon fillet
1 kg fennel
800 g potatoes
50 g Parmigiano
garlic paste
thyme
pepper & salt
fleur de sel

Peel the potatoes and cut into slices.
Cut the fennel into slices and finely cut the fine greenery from above. Keep this separate.
Boil or steam the fennel and potatoes until done.
Mix the fennel with garlic paste, pepper, salt and thyme.
Arrange the fennel in a baking dish and place all the slices of potato on top. Season with pepper and salt.
Sprinkle the grated Parmigiano and the green of the fennel over it.
Then place the salmon fillets on the grated cheese, season with pepper and fleur de sel and place in a preheated oven at 225° C under the grill.*
Try to have a crispy exterior and tender fish meat.

*Or grill the salmon separately.

Pasta battuto (pasta with Ligurian pine nut sauce)

For ➍
100 g crushed pine nuts
2 sprigs of marjoram
50 g Parmigiano
pinch of salt
extra virgin olive oil
a little milk

Blend the ingredients, just adding enough olive oil and milk to make the mixture smooth.
Cook the pasta as usual and mix in the fresh sauce when it's ready. Use a roughly textured pasta with battuto.
Serve pasta battuto with a fresh salad. (Or eat it first and follow it with the salad).

Liguria is the Italian Riviera, with San Remo as main attraction. This battuto is close to pesto, and quite different from the traditional battuto, used in Roman cooking, an initial preparation, that can be developed into a sauce, a stew or a soup, like the Lazio minestra col battuto alla romana. Read a related Ligurian recipe, pasta with walnuts sauce.

Risotto con coniglio (rabbit risotto)

For ➍
4 rabbit thighs, boned & cut into small pieces*
20 g butter
1 tbs rosemary
200 g fresh porcini mushrooms, cleaned & torn
3 tbs olive oil
60 g onion, peeled & finely chopped
350 g Arborio rice
1 dl dry white wine
1 l warm chicken or vegetable stock
salt & pepper
40 g Parmigiano cheese, freshly grated**
10 g butter**

Melt a knob of butter and sauté the rabbit pieces with the rosemary very gently for 3 m. Season. Set aside. 

Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan, add the onions and sweat gently for 2 m with a pinch of salt to help release the juices, then add the fresh mushrooms. Cook for 3 m. 

Add the rice and stir with a spoon. Increase the heat slightly and continue stirring until the rice turns opaque.

Pour in the wine, stir once only, and then leave to cook until two-thirds of the liquid has evaporated. Add two thirds of the hot chicken stock and a little salt. Stir every 3 m to encourage the starch to leave the rice and cook gently for about 12-15 m, adding a little more hot stock as necessary. 

Stir in the rabbit pieces. 

Add (some of) the rest of the stock and cook for another 3 m. 

Just before serving, stir in the cheese and butter.** 

Serve with a dry spicy white wine like viognier.

*Replace with 300 g boneles rabbit meat, cut into 4x4 cm chunks. Or use 400 g chicken meat, cubed< **Optional. Half quantities as entrée.

Read the tip on making a quick risotto.