It is dedicated to the old-fashioned cookery of my countryland, the little Val Rilate Community, situated in the bigger Monferrato's wine-district area.

We gathered more than 50 traditional recipes from old cooks or professional restaurateurs: try this risotto, a dish that -in my opinion- pairs very well as main course in a sunny, bright, windy, springlike Sunday like this! Match with a young, pétillant Barbera.

500—600 g Rice for risotto
1 Onion, minced
1 Carrot, chopped
3 Artichokes
200 g Green peas, fresh
500 g Asparagus
400 g Zucchini, cubed
1 l Veal broth
100 g Butter (for whisking)
100 g Parmigiano, grated (for whisking)
10 Fresh basil leaves

-Melt some butter in a pot over a low flame; add the onion,minced, and cook for a few minutes

-Add the carrot, chopped; the artichokes, cleaned and sliced; the green peas, shelled

-When the vegetables are to a golden brown, add the rice

-Pour the broth, one ladleful at a time, and stir, allowing the rice to absorb the liquid slowly, until nearly tender

-By the middle of the cooking-time, add the remaining vegetables: the asparagus (cutting out the points, to be added at last to garnish) and the cubed zucchini

-A couple of minutes before serving, take your pot out of the heat

-Add the butter and the grated Parmigiano for whisking

-Cover with a lid and let the risotto "rest" for 2-3 minutes

-Stir carefully before serving in single plates (preferably shallow)

-Garnish with the asparagus points and some fresh basil leaves

Date User Comment

Sat 03/15/08 04:03:47 PaoloF Initial entry of recipe.