September 18, 2009

Tomato Risotto


One thing about Facebook is you would have someone you could barely remember by looking at his/her name wishing you "happy birthday" on your birthday. That made me realize one cruel truth - without Facebook, your barely remembered friends wouldn't care less about your birthday! It just takes too much for them to send you a greeting through other ways, like email or phone. Don't mention a party! Over Facebook, you are reminded of all your friends' personal events. What you have to do is just type and send a greeting message. No strings attached!

And how ironic it is, when I've been trying to forget my birthday, I am actually being reminded by some really not close friends.

Except being away from my really close friends (which sucks!), my birthday was actually pretty much what I've been asking for - a very first one with my lovely son, Ethan!

This risotto was not part of the birthday dinner. This is actually Ethan's daily meal. Yes, who said baby can't eat gourmet food!

(serves 4)
Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 small onion, minced
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1 1/4 cup Arborio rice
1 cup white wine (replace with 1 cup chicken broth for Ethan)
5 medium sized tomato, chopped (peeled for Ethan)
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth, warmed
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

Directions:
Heat oil and butter in a skillet on high heat, cook for 1 minute.

Add onion and garlic. Cook for 2 mins. Add rice and stir to coat. Cook for another 2 mins, or until a white dot is visible in the center of each grain.

Stir in wine and cook for 1 min or until almost absorbed, stirring constantly.

Add chopped tomato and 1/2 cup chicken broth and cook until the liquid is absorbed.

Add 1/2 cup broth at a time, cooking until the broth is absorbed before adding more. Stir constantly.

When all chicken broth has been added, rice should be tender but still firm when done. The total cooking time should be about 30 mins. Season with salt and pepper.

Remove from heat, stir in Parmersan cheese. Top each serving with chopped fresh basil.

29 comments:

MaryMoh said...

Mmmm...looks delicious. Surely good for adults too. I love risotto. Adding wine? I have never done that before. I will have to try the next time I cook that. Lovely, adorable baby photo!

ann low said...

This is really yummilicious! Good for adult and kids.

penny aka jeroxie said...

nice and healthy meal. I don't mind being the baby if that is what I get to eat regularly!

Family Cuisine Food And Recipe said...

Yummy ! Thank you for sharing. Cheers !

Divina Pe said...

I love rice and tomatoes. Whether it's a soup or a casserole but with risotto and it's chewy texture, I will still love it. I also love adding wine for a another layer of flavor. Good thing your son is eating your risotto because my nephew won't eat it. He's very picky though.

Angelia McGowan said...

Looks delicious, I have never tried with tomatoes, but I will next time. Love the wine addition! I always add wine too.

Simply Life said...

Oooh that looks great! Ha, I'm with you - if I don't have my calendar in front of me I'm lucky if I get people's "birthday month" right :)

Simply Life said...

Oooh that looks great! Ha, I'm with you - if I don't have my calendar in front of me I'm lucky if I get people's "birthday month" right :)

DINING WITH BATALI said...

I know what you meant about Facebook - -My email got cluttered with strings of messages - -why do they have to tag me anyway? Love the risotto,my batali challenge taught me a lot on this one --but did your arm got tired on tossing and turning the rice? Hope not...mine did..Food looks lovely as always - -Enjoy!

Jessie said...

i love this risotto recipe! I've been wanting to make some, this tomato risotto is on the very top of my list!

My Little Space said...

I know you don't want anyone to mention this again, but I have to...HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! ha ha....Well, I used to eat my babies' porridge when they are little! he he...

Olive said...

We don't personally know each other but just the same, I'd like to greet you a Belated Happy Birthday (same date as my son's).

Lovely risotto, good for budding gourmets :)

Susan said...

I love that your son is a gourmand already! I am a big believer in feeding babies real food, not processed stuff from jars. Do you have other recipes that you make for him?

Buckeroomama said...

I love risotto and your recipe looks yummy! Will try it this coming week. :)

theUngourmet said...

The birthday FB thing is pretty silly!

Your risotto is fabulous! I've never had risotto with tomatoes. What a wonderful addition!

Cookin' Canuck said...

That looks like a lovely risotto. I'm glad your birthday turned out to be what you wanted.

lisaiscooking said...

This sounds like a delicious risotto! I had a tomato risotto at a dinner party once, and I still think about how good that was.

pigpigscorner said...

Delicious! I love risotto, so creamy and tasty. haha...I'm normally very bad with dates.

Anonymous said...

I always wondered about risotto. Can you make it with brown rice?
I have to say, generally speaking, I'm more of a bulgur/quinoa sort of person (probably my obsession with nuts and seeds), but rice seems so much easier sometimes.

Unknown said...

Wow this looks amazing. I have so many tomatoes to use still and this is a great idea

Angie's Recipes said...

I don't eat risotto often because of my stomach problem....your tomato risotto makes me again crave for some!

Angie's Recipes

CheapAppetite said...

beautiful risotto. Happy belated birthday lululu:)

Andrea@WellnessNotes said...

What a great family meal! What a lucky baby! :) Yes, babies can totally eat gourmet food! :)

Tasty Eats At Home said...

This looks lovely. And if it pleases mama and baby alike, even better! Happy birthday.

Cajun Chef Ryan said...

Great risotto recipe!

Fearless Kitchen said...

This looks delicious! And I'm glad you got to spend your birthday with your son.

Nicole said...

this looks amazing! i love love love risotto !

Debi (Table Talk) said...

Our children have always eaten what we were having for dinner--they have been exposed to a variety of foods, and have learned about different cultures as they go. Your son is fortunate to have a mom who is giving him a great start at the dinner table!

RDU Gonna Eat That? said...

Hmm,the risotto does look great. I definitely agree with your facebook sentiments, I get birthday wishes form people who I haven't seen in like 10 years.