Chicken and Asparagus Risotto

OK so I should start by saying thank you for your loyalty in coming back here after a "pause in proceedings" I haven't meant to neglect my blog like this but well... This year has been a little crazy. I've made it out the other side of things which is great so the cooking is back on track. Here is the first of a few posts that should be coming your way in the next little while!

Dinner is served

Ingredients

Chicken and Asparagus Risotto

Serves 4

Prep Time: 10mins Cook Time: 45mins

2 Chicken breasts

1 1/2L of Chicken Stock

2tsps sunflower oil

1 onion

2 garlic cloves (crushed)

2 cups risotto rice

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 bunch asparagus, cut into 4cm lengths

1 small head of broccoli

1 tsp grated lime rind

juice of a lime

1. Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Cook the chicken breasts 8mins per side (or until cooked through). Transfer to a plate, stand and cover for 5mins before slicing.

Food on the go!

2. Meanwhile bring the stock to the boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to low and then continue simmering until it is needed.

3. Heat the oil in a large, heavy based pan over medium heat. Add the onion, cook for 5 minutes or until soft. Do not allow it to go brown. Add in the garlic and the rice. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. 

Cooking the rice without any liquid seemed a little weird,
but it worked!

4. Add the wine and bring to the boil. Stir and cook until the liquid has evaporated. Reduce heat to low. Add in 1 ladle of stock to the rice. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat with the remaining stock, 1 ladle at a time.

5. When there is approximately 3 ladles of stock left, add in the asparagus and broccoli to the rice. Finish adding in the remaining stock as before, stirring gently. Add in the lime juice and rind. Serve topped with the chicken.

Absorbing the last of the stock

I think next time I would mix the chicken through with the risotto so that it could absorb some more of the flavour, that said, for a first try at risotto I was pretty chuffed with the results. I've never been a fan of risotto before now, in my head I always thought risotto was nothing more than badly cooked rice. The flavour of tonight's dinner though as me rethinking!

Feedback from Rory: "I really didn't expect you to get this right first time, but it's really good." 

Hmmm, thanks for the vote of confidence!